CAIRO - Once again, Tahrir Square has turned into a self-sustaining capital with tents, clinics and all kind of food and drinks. Street vendors are doing brisk business, selling sandwiches, popcorn and hot and cold drinks. Some of these vendors call themselves 'protesters', while others aren't at all bothered about protesting, just so long as the cash keeps rolling in! "I was actually against the November protest, but it has meant great business for me," says Gamal Oweis, busy making sandwiches in Tahrir. "I make a variety of sandwiches for the protesters as I need to make a living.” The square has played a vital role in the revolution, as well as providing a wonderful source of income for hundreds of Egyptian families. "My sandwiches cost between LE1.50 and LE3, according to what the protesters can afford," Oweis told The Egyptian Gazette in an interview. Oweis, who recently spent three years behind bars, can't find any job other than making sandwiches on his little cart. He regrets the fact that the Government doesn't help ex-convicts find jobs when they've finished their sentences. “I protested in the January 25 Revolution because I believe that the former regime was unfair and oppressive. But now I'm only in Tahrir for the business,” he continued, arguing that the Egyptians should give the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) a chance to improve security. Although most of the vendors are uneducated, they all have something to say about the political situation. Mohamed el-Menshawi, another vendor in Tahrir, took part in both the January and November protests. He believes that many of the revolutionaries' demands have yet to be met, which is why he's continued protesting. "I started protesting here in January and then I began selling tea and coffee to the other protesters, helping both myself and them. I sell tea for LE1 and, if you want to sit down to drink it, you have to pay PT50 extra. “I used to sell tea and coffee on the Corniche, but I earn much more in Tahrir, where there are so many protesters and visitors to this iconic square,” el-Menshawi says. Some vendors sell everything for twice the price, while the kinder ones offer the protesters discounts. There are around 200 street vendors who have started working in Tahrir Square since the January Revolution, according to el-Menshawi. "Our prices are the same for tourists and Egyptians, as we want the world to get a good picture about the Egyptian people and their revolution," he adds. "There is a big different between the soul of January and November," says Ali Mohamed, popcorn-maker. "In January, all the Egyptians were united with one aim, but now they are aimless, divided by many different opinions.” Mohamed started protesting in Tahrir on January 25 and soon started making money too. "Here in Tahrir we can earn a lot of cash, especially on Fridays, which are like feast days for us," he explains. "I sell my popcorn for between PT50 and LE3, depending on the size of the bag.” (1$US = LE6.02)
