CAIRO - It seems that Egypt's flag symbolises what's happening here at the moment. Red symbolises the Egyptian blood being shed everywhere; white symbolises the shroud on a coffin and therefore martyrdom; and black symbolises the Egyptians mourning the martyrs and what is happening in their country. The eagle on the flag is a symbol for the Egyptians, who don't know what they can do to put an end to these problems. A year after the January 25 revolution, which witnessed many deaths, we're witnessing similar incidents again. The protests continue in the epicentre of last year's popular uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak. People gathered in Tahrir Square, following the deaths of at least 75 football fans, killed in clashes after Al-Masry's amazing 3-1 win against Al-Ahly, one of Egypt's giant clubs, in Port Said Stadium. Many Egyptians blame the police and the country's ruling military for failing to stop the world's worst soccer violence in 15 years. Police fired tear gas at rock-throwing protesters as popular anger over a deadly soccer riot spilled over into the street, resulting in hundreds being injured and treated in the field hospitals in Tahrir. Like a year ago, most of the martyrs are young; again, many were injured; again parents are grieving; again, the morgues have been receiving many bodies; again, protesters are demanding the martyrs are given their rights and those responsible are punished. Again, there are clashes with the security forces; again, the Egyptians in Tahrir are chanting against the police, who are responding with tear gas; again, insecurity has returned to the country; again, the prisons have opened and the prisoners are fleeing; again, there's chaos; again and again and again. Demonstrators in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Assiut and several other cities are directing their anger at the military, calling for a swift transfer of power and blaming them for the mismanagement of the country's transition to democracy. According to eyewitnesses, Al-Masry supporters, armed with knives, rocks and clubs, chased the Ahly players and fans, who ran towards the exits to escape. "Some of the victims were stabbed to death, while others died of brain hemorrhages and concussion," a Health Ministry official, Hisham Sheha, told a TV satellite channel. "The players' dressing room became a field hospital," said Ihab Ali, Al-Ahly team's doctor. "There was nowhere to treat the injured; many of them were seriously injured and died between my hands," he told a local newspaper. According to Dr Ali, the Ahly players helped him treat the injured until the ambulances arrived, while they had to lay out the bodies of the martyrs on one side. “How were these thugs able to enter the Stadium with weapons?! This tragedy has had a bad psychological effect on us all,” he said. Meanwhile, Al-Masry supporters deny they were to blame for what happened to Ultras Ahly. Manuel José, Al-Ahly's coach, who has decided to return to Portugal for a break because of the shock, says that he was badly beaten; however, he denies that he has any intention of resigning. Meanwhile, Saad el-Katatni, the Speaker of the People's Assembly, says that the police didn't do enough to prevent this lamentable incident. He has ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to find out the truth. Akram el-Shaer, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party who himself comes from Port Said, says that 20 of the martyrs were from this North Coast city. "Egyptians are lamenting the dead, but they also want those responsible for this to be punished," said Mohamed Moustafa, an Ahly fan. "Last week, Egypt also witnessed armed robberies at some of its banks and currency exchange companies. The chaos must end," Moustafa, 26, told The Egyptian Gazette. “Everyone must live up to their responsibilities; if not, they should leave office immediately.” What happened in Port Said Stadium reminds the Egyptians of the ‘Battle of the Camel', when some Mubarak supporters rode on camels and horses into Tahrir Square, killing many demonstrators. In this battle on February 2, 2011, the fight between protesters and the former regime reached its peak. Nothing is clear. Some people blame the SCAF, others the police. But, as the thugs mingle with the revolutionaries, we're back to where we were a year ago.
