Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Eight Protests in Downtown Cairo

A total of eight separate demonstrations were staged today outside Parliament, the Shoura (Consultative) Council, and the Council of Ministers.

These included a protest led by April 6th Youth, and ongoing demos by: employees of the Information Decision Support Centers, workers from the Nubariya Company for Agricultural & Engineering Services, employees from the Agricultural Land Development Authority, workers from the Egyptian Company for Telephone Unit Production, Tanta Flax Company workers, Salemco Textile Company workers, and disabled persons.


*April 6 Youth Lead Protest Against Ruling MPs Calls for Shooting Demonstrators


Around 100 opposition and human rights activists, led primarily by the April 6 Youth Movement, protested outside parliament today.


They chanted "shoot us!" Along with slogans against the NDP's Member of Parliament Hassan Nash'at el-Qassas who called on police to open fire against non-violent protesters.

*Employees of the Information Decision Support Centers


Some 2,000 employees from the state-run IDSCs protested outside parliament for their fourth consecutive day.


An effigy of an employee - dubbed "martyr of the system" - was hung from a street lamp-post.


*Employees from the Nubariya Company for Agricultural & Engineering Services


Around 100 workers and engineers from the Nubariya Company continued their sleep-in protest outside parliament. With the closure of his company, the owner has rendered these workers jobless for the past 25 months.

*Employees of the Agricultural Land Development Authority


Some 50 employees and workers from the Agricultural Land Development Authority - affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture - continued with their sleep-in protest outside parliament for their 25th day.

*Workers from the Egyptian Company for Telephone Unit Production


Around 50 workers from the privatized Egyptian Company for Telephone Unit Production continued with their demonstrations and sleep-in for their second day. They have not received their wages in over four months. Workers chanted slogans against the Jordanian investor who purchased the company from the Egyptian state and is now seeking to liquidate it. Workers carried a cardboard coffin symbolizing the death of the company and their livelihoods

*Workers from the Tanta Flax & Oils Company


Some 75 workers from the Tanta Flax Company protested and slept-in outside the Council of Ministers today for their fourth consecutive day. These workers, unlike the others, were besieged by an exceptionally restrictive police cordon. Police officers harass all journalists and activists attempting to photograph or speak with these workers.


*Salemco Textile Company Workers


Around 100 workers from the private sector Salemco Textile Company protested outside the Shoura Council. Today was the third day of their sleep-in protest.

*Disabled Persons


Approximately 50 disabled persons and their family members continued to demonstrate and sleep-in outside parliament for their 69th consecutive day. One of these protesters collapsed owing to fatigue and was rushed off to a hospital via ambulance. One protester screamed "we are collapsing on the sidewalk one by one, what are you for oh government? Are you waiting for us to die here?"


*Family Protest

(This would be a ninth demo)
Outside parliament a disgruntled father and mother took their three children to protest against "the government's dismal failure in its public educational policies."

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