SCZONE chief discusses strengthening maritime, logistics cooperation with Panama    Supply minister discusses strengthening cooperation with ITFC    Egypt launches initiative with traders, manufacturers to reduce prices of essential goods    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt's bourse to launch low-volatility stock index EGX35-LV on Aug. 1    Egypt offers 'out-of-the-box' incentives to lure electric vehicle makers    Egypt's FM urges UK to pressure Israel to stop Gaza war    H. Kong's trade volume jumps in June '25    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



25 January between past and present
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 26 - 01 - 2011

On 25 January 1952, Brigadier Exham--head of a British military operation in Ismailia--called Egyptian Communication Lieutenant Sherif al-Adad to tell him to evacuate the headquarters of the governorate and police stations on the grounds they had become safe havens for fighters against British occupation forces. Fouad Serag al-Din, minister of interior at the time, refused to accept the warning and ordered police forces to defend the building in the event of a British attack.
This enervated Exham, leading him to rally seven thousands soldiers, armed with tanks and field cannons, and lay siege to the targeted buildings. Without hesitation, the brigadier ordered his men to fire when the police officers refused to give up their weapons and evacuate the building. The heroic police officers had nothing but small arms and were fully aware that armed confrontation would be deadly. Despite this, they preferred to die rather than surrender. They remained steadfast until the last standing officer, thereby marking 25 January as a day to celebrate the heroism of Egypt's police.
Today, 59 years later, the situation is drastically different. Egypt is no longer occupied by British troops. Nevertheless, Egypt has lost its political independence, having become all but an American protectorate. Egypt is ruled by a corrupt and authoritarian regime whose policies serve a narrow segment of the population and harm the interests of the majority. The regime relies on the security apparatus to rule the country. It disregards the law and employs torture, sometimes with fatal consequences. Not only does the regime insist on keeping its grip on power, it also seeks to move forward with a plan for hereditary succession of the presidency.
It's no surprise that some political activists have chosen this occasion to call on the Egyptian public to take to the streets and demand the regime provide jobs for the unemployed, improve living standards for the poor and marginalized, and stop the systematic torture of protesters and members of the opposition. I believe the 6 April Youth movement, the primary force behind this mobilization, has rightly picked this politically significant day for a nation-wide protest.
A new spirit has taken hold among political elites in several Arab countries, including Egypt, after the Tunisian people's successful overthrow of one of the most entrenched authoritarian regimes in the region. Notwithstanding the ongoing debate about the viability of the Tunisian experience for other Arab countries, an increasing number of Arab political elites have become convinced that street mobilization is the most effective way to pressure existing regimes and achieve desired political results.
The Tunisian experience offers a particularly important lesson in this regard. The Tunisian elite did not drive the public to revolt. Instead, it was the Tunisian people that mobilized spontaneously and prompted the elites to take part in this historic event.
The next few weeks will show whether the primary obstacle to the spread of a Tunisian-style uprising to other Arab countries, especially ones facing similar political and socio-economic challenges, stems from the weakness of political elites or the fact that other Arab people fear taking to the streets to demand their political rights.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.


Clic here to read the story from its source.