DESPITE the many reservations one might have over Muslim Brotherhood (MB) rule, the second anniversary of January 25 Revolution could have passed virtually unnoticed with peaceful demonstrations from the opposition and revolutionary powers and some supporting celebrities as was the case last year under rule of the Military Council. However, what escalated tensions during this year's anniversary and raised it to the level of a second revolution was the repeated mistakes of the security agency as well as the ruling regime in violently dealing with the protests in some sensitive cities such as Port Said. Suez was the torch for the January 25 Revolution of 2011 when the police violently dealt with the demonstrations causing the fall of the first martyr. Similarly, Port Said could be the cause of turning the second anniversary of the revolution into a second uprising against the security agency and MB rule that supported the use of violence against the protesters. This proves that the security as well as our political leaders lack good knowledge of the history and nature of these patriotic cities that since their creation on the Suez Canal more than 150 years ago have played the role as the protective shield of Egypt against repeated foreign attacks. The heroic role the people of the canal is unforgettable to the Egyptians for being recorded in their history books as well as many documentary films and featuring in movies. Many of our fathers and grandfathers remember the hard years Egypt lived under the rule of Nasser when the Western powers as well as Israel targeted Egypt by two aggressions in 1956 and 1967 and how the three cities were massively harmed by the cruel assaults of the foreign powers. Thousands of families were forced to evacuate the cities that turned into battlefields against the invaders. At the time, the men of the three cities shared with the police the struggle to resist the 1956 tripartite aggression led by Britain, France and Israel that was directed against Egypt after Nasser's decision to nationalise the Suez Canal Company. The President decided to withdraw the army from the canal to protect it against inevitable destruction by the weapons of heavy warfare. Only the citizens of the Canal cities, especially those of Port Said, remained resisting the assault with the police forces there. The main battles occurred in Port Said, which played a historic role in resisting the tripartite aggression that failed to achieve any of its objectives. The withdrawal of the last soldier of foreign troops was on December 23, 1956. Since then, this day has been marked as Port Said's national day and widely celebrated annually in the valiant city. Is it not ironic to see some members of the security forces today point their weapons against, their mates of yesterday in Port Said and Suez causing the death of around 40 citizens during the January 25 and 26 demonstrations? How have yesterday's strugglers turned into enemies today fighting each other? How can a security man in uniform not fear walking in these cities today in anticipation of public retaliation? This foolish policy ended in losing control on the three cities of the canal forcing the President take the decision to deploy the army there, impose a state of emergency for 30 days and curfew between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The decision has been persistently violated by the citizens who decided to launch their daily demonstrations and keep their shops open during these hours in a clear challenge of the order that was seen as mass punishment of the citizens. This decision apparently ignored the character of the citizens who enjoy a high sense of self-pride of their history that they have long preserved for many reasons. On one hand, they have their glorified historic background in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s that prevents them from accepting such humiliation from the authorities. On the other hand, the people of Port Said especially challenged the former regime of Mubarak and its ruling National Democratic Party, which failed to gain any parliamentary elections in the city whose seat kept being won by Al-Wafd opposition party for many decades. It is no secret that Port Said, which was announced as a duty-free zone in 1976, was neglected by Mubarak regime that threatened to end this port city's privilege many times. Together with their self-pride in their history of struggle against invaders Port Said citizens are tough soccer fans who show strong support for their team Al-Masry. It is known that Al-Masry has always been the hardest nut for any team to confront, which includes Al-Ahly the country's first team that has won most of its soccer tournaments. Thus, the Egyptians have been accustomed to see rioting during the matches of Al-Masry team, especially if held in the Port Said home stadium. However, things never reached the level of violence as happened in February 2012, when the match ended in the deaths of some 72 supporters of Al-Ahly, including their hard-core fans the Ultras. The horrific crime shocked the whole nation including Port Said citizens who organised marches the following day to pronounce their condemnation of the event and their innocence of the crime. However, the tragedy was so great that it made some parties, mainly Al-Ahly Ultras, point finger of accusations at Port Said citizens. However, a number of analysts have stated that the crime was not a result of the riots on the pitch, but a conspiracy devised by the security agency to punish the Ultras for their leading role in the January 25 Revolution. Others noted that it was an attempt of the then ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to cover up for the crimes the military police had conducted against the demonstrators of the Cabinet street and Maspero Radio and TV building. At the time, the police arrested dozens of people and referred them to the court for trial. Investigation of the prosecution ended in condemning some leaders of the security agency, too. However, the initial court ruling made last week referred some 21 suspects only to the Grand Mufti of the Republic for whom to consider a death sentence being issued against them, none of whom belong to the security agency. Although the court delayed its ruling against the remaining 51 accused to March 9, the anger of the Port Said citizens exploded the moment the judge read the ruling and launched some violent acts against the guards of Port Said prison where the suspects were being held. Instead of working on containing their anger, the security forces opened fire against the protestors causing the deaths of around 30 citizens. Citizens of Port Said were fully aware that their city, like many other places in Egypt, suffers from widespread activities of thugs, who began to show a high profile in the street following the ousting of the Mubarak regime due to the weak security presence at the society. They are also aware of the possible use by conspirators of those thugs to perpetrate the murderous crimes in Port Said Stadium. However, they still resisted the ruling, feeling that it was directed at the entire city and not just a group of outlawed persons. That is why the funeral of the 30 martyrs of Saturday January 26 turned into a massive demonstration calling for the toppling of the ruling regime. Instead of containing the public anger and showing some understanding of the sensitivity of the people, the police bombarded the funeral with tear-gas bomb and caused the deaths of six other martyrs! So what could any one expect from the citizens of Port Said and the other Canal cities on whom President Morsi has forced a curfew and state of emergency but more violence and revolt against the authorities? With the continuation of the harsh exceptional procedures on the people of the Canal, no one could expect the tensions to cool down soon. Instead, some citizens in other cities of Egypt including the capital, are moving according to the ongoing conditions in the canal zone and seem more persistent in challenging the regime and ensuring the complete fulfilment of the January 25 Revolution's goals.
