Egypt's FM highlights 'soft power' in Mali meeting with alumni    Egypt's foreign minister opens business forum in Niger, targets new partnerships    Egypt's FM delivers Al-Sisi message to Niger's leader, seeks deeper security ties    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Al-Sisi urges accelerated oil, gas discoveries, lower import bill    SCZONE signs $52.6m textile industry deals during China investment tour    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi calls for boosting oil & gas investment to ease import burden    EGX to close Thursday for July 23 Revolution holiday    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    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    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    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    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    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.



Violence averted during solidarity protests
Published in Daily News Egypt on 26 - 05 - 2006

CAIRO: The much-anticipated "Black Wednesday anniversary went smoothly, as hundreds of Kefaya (Enough) movement and other activists gathered in front of the journalists syndicate. Despite an attempt to march down the road, which was blocked by black clad soldiers, they stayed on the steps and yelled out chants and opposition slogans for hours, Thursday.
From before 11 a.m. demonstrators had gathered at the journalist' syndicate in order to show their support for the judiciary and their disdain at last year's events. Always at the top of the list of chants is President Hosni Mubarak.
"Down with Hosni Mubarak, "He who is ruling by force, all the nation feels your oppression, were just a few of the numerous chants that could be heard.
A few hundred activists were assembled at the syndicate, showing their dislike and solidarity for their cause. They wore Kefaya stickers and held banners in the face of thousands of soldiers and plainclothes policeman holding clubs.
Many of the activists also wore buttons that read, in Arabic, "Long live justice, a sign that the judiciary was still on many minds.
"The situation has really gone beyond Kefaya, activist Aida Seif El Dowla argues. "Kefaya has become a slogan that is united everybody who wants to work for change.
Despite the decent size turnout to the syndicate, the atmosphere turned somewhat sour after the soldiers refused to allow the activists to pass through and onto the street.
George Ishaq, head coordinator for Kefaya, tried to calm the people as he argued for patience in their movement.
"Freedom takes time, he says. "We want to go little by little until we have the trust of all the people in this movement.
"The people won't be afraid again if we keep up our demonstrations and show them there is nothing to be afraid about, Ishaq says, referring to the peaceful nature of the demonstration.
A phone call from El-Bastawisy to the demonstration helped to ignite some emotional outbursts from the activists as they chanted "freedom for judges, freedom for Ayman Nour, freedom for Egypt.
A short while later, a group of judges led by Mahmoud Mekki, one of the judges who had charges dropped against him last week, gathered behind the four deep line of soldiers. This helped bring the judges and activists together.
As they stood and waved, an air of optimism could be felt in the atmosphere as people began to smile and wave at Mekki and the other judges.
"I wish we could go to the street and walk with them, a nearby activist says.
The only incident of violence was when the demonstrators attempted to leave and reach the street. According to one activist, a man in yellow came over and sprayed the group with pepper spray.
"That man sprayed pepper spray at us when we tried to leave, he says, not giving his name.
Despite the optimistic nature of the demonstration, questions were raised to the futility of such endeavors.
"People often use the opposition for their own benefit, even though I am sure that most of them are patriotic and honest, says Dr. Abdel Aziz Saleh, vice-president of the Egyptian Youth Opposition party. "We can't have that if we are to become large and make real change in this country.
Most notable through their absence was the Muslim Brotherhood, who had galvanized thousands of people over the past month in demonstrations in central Cairo.
"They are respectable and much more organized than the Kefaya led opposition, says Rabab Fahmy, professor and activist. "Frankly, they are better than us in this.
If the activists learned anything from yesterday's demonstration it was the need to re-evaluate their tactics in the face of growing indifference and the government's desire to crackdown on such demonstrations. Ishaq, however, was pleased with the day's events.
"The government didn't do what happened last May 25, Ishaq says. "It isn't good to treat people that way and today showed that they might be willing to let peaceful demonstrations go on.
El Dowla called on the government to give up their continued pressure on activism.
"If we are small groups who work for personal interests, then everybody is going to expose us, says El Dowla . "So let the people expose us; why does he [Mubarak] want to do the people's job? If it's really so small and insignificant and egocentric then let them be.
Ashraf Abdel Aziz, a Kefaya coordinator in Qena was arrested in that city in the early afternoon. Also, three of the eight activists who had been recently released from prison were detained as they attempted to leave the journalists syndicate. Karim Al Shaer, Mohamed Sharkawy and Ahmed Salim, three leading activists, will once again call prison home in the immediate future.
Yesterday also saw two minor demonstrations at the American University in Cairo and Cairo University, where a few hundred students demonstrated in support of the past months actions.


Clic here to read the story from its source.