The massive revolutionary celebrations in Tahrir Square over the past two days began to fizzle out by Saturday night. By Sunday morning only around 5,000 protesters remained encamped within the square - demanding democratic reforms, and specific timetables for these reforms.
Dozens of military police forces were deployed in Tahrir Square, by Qasr al-Aini Street, at around 7am on Sunday (Feb. 13.) The vast majority of protesters had left Tahrir Square by Saturday night.
Around 8am - hundreds of military troops armed with machine-guns moved in to clear open the streets around Tahrir Square.
By 9am these armed forces moved into the protesters' campsites and tore down tents using knives and bayonets.
Protesters who resisted were beaten, detained or arrested. Journalists, and especially photographers, were harassed. A Japanese photo-journalist was injured in his head as he refused to hand over his camera.
The army is not a democratic institution; thus democracy is never expected to emanate from the armed forces, but from civil society.
Armed forces tore down the tents and banners of peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square. Dozens of detentions and arrests were reported.
Dozens of military police forces were deployed in Tahrir Square, by Qasr al-Aini Street, at around 7am on Sunday (Feb. 13.) The vast majority of protesters had left Tahrir Square by Saturday night.
Around 8am - hundreds of military troops armed with machine-guns moved in to clear open the streets around Tahrir Square.
By 9am these armed forces moved into the protesters' campsites and tore down tents using knives and bayonets. 
Protesters who resisted were beaten, detained or arrested. Journalists, and especially photographers, were harassed. A Japanese photo-journalist was injured in his head as he refused to hand over his camera.
The army is not a democratic institution; thus democracy is never expected to emanate from the armed forces, but from civil society.
Armed forces tore down the tents and banners of peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square. Dozens of detentions and arrests were reported.
5 comments:
This is so unhuman thing to do, but why are people still there, while all of the activists left for their homes already.
We promised that we will eave if Mubarak left, so why are they still there ??
Please Read!
For Egypt, Are Elections the Way Forward?
The people of Egypt are standing at an historic crossroad. But to hear other people tell it, Egyptians are travelling down the highway to democracy. They’ve been stalled for decades but now their engines are revving and they are all but on their way to western style democracy. First stop: free and fair elections.
To all those who died and sacrificed, it would be a disservice to commence this trip without fully examining the destination and any and all alternatives. Required reading before you embark on this journey is Animal Farm by George Orwell. Moral: If new people are put into any version of the same system, no matter how reformed, you will eventually end up with the same results. The problems may be to a lesser degree, more benign, but you will not have the freedom for which people died.
As an American who dabbled in local politics, consider this my postcard from Destination: Democracy. I don’t wish you were here. Sure, I have a vote; I have a voice, but it is not heard. If you have a voice which you can’t use, are you in a worse position than one who can use their voice, unheard? What is the difference?
"Although Bahrain has a parliamentary system, many Shias feel elections have only served to co-opt them into the political system and did not improve their access to government jobs and services." (http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121251854857192.html - 2-12-11)
So, apparently, no difference. Free elections only encourage those who would, to achieve power, do and say anything, those with no scruples, the lowest of our low. Anyone who says they want to run for a political office should be immediately disqualified from politics. The process of running for office does not appeal to anyone who is, at heart, a good honest person. Isn’t that who we need now, good honest people?
There should never be a political class, a group of people who make their living as politicians. The political class is insulated, protected from the very people whom they are supposed to represent. How then, can politicians represent people?
Is there another way, a different road to take? First, decide what your destination is. For the voices of the people to be heard. For the will of the people to be enacted. To be free; to rule ourselves.
Well, it’s clear that free democratic elections won’t get you there. I suggest the direct route. Fill all political offices by lottery. It works for jury duty. I haven’t heard of that system being corrupt, beyond people trying to get undeserved exemptions. It works for military duty except, again, people trying to get exempted.
The people of Egypt could vote on the framework of the system. Who is included in the pool? How often can people from the same family be eligible for duty? Should eligibility for national positions rotate geographically?
During a term officers should receive a stipend equal to %200 of their salary from the previous year. They should continue to live in their house amongst their neighbors. It should be seen as a simple matter of changing jobs . Then after they have served a term or two they will go back to their old job.
Enough! of political intrigue and manipulation. Enough! of corporate interests instead of those of the people. Enough! of rule by the rich for the rich. Politicians are a scourge and they do not represent people. We the people should start to begin to represent and rule ourselves. In this age of crowdsourcing we know that we can create, we can collaborate. Yes, WE can. Not ‘we can get him elected to change things’; WE can make change.
If you don’t take this opportunity to now try something new you will regret it. For the highway to democracy is actually a ring road. Eventually you will end up where you started and you will see your grandchildren in Tahrir Square. But, they will go home unsuccessful, unheard. Because, they will live in a democracy and they will have a vote.
This is a very worrying development... the people should be free to gather in the lead up to the elections at the very least.
They are still there because all that has been said have been words. Until something happens, all this... from Mubarak, to Suleiman to Shafik to everyone is words.
Now they announced they will run the country and gave themselves six months. Let's hope they actually do something and don't just fuck about until the 6 months are over and then renew the 6 months whilst these people attempt to steal or gain from this period.
Why do people imagine that human beings become Angels when they join the Army? These are men. Just as corruptible or incorruptible as anyone else.
There is no reason to discredit them or not at this point... although not handing over to transitional civilian government is not a good sign. We will see what will happen in the next couple of weeks/months.
Don't be naive. Facade is out, but actual structure of power (economic and political) is almost intatct. And you have army in power now. And it isn't very democratic institution, you know...
And if you want "western type" of democracy, Really... this is just bullshit, not a democracy. Democracy is about people that have the power (not proffessional polititians or capitalists or army officials). You, in Cairo and other parts of Egypt have shown for a moment the whole world how democracy should look like - without leaders that speak in the name of people.
But, the economy is still in hands of a few, the army is still in control of a few. They will decieve you, and steal your victory if you demobilize youtselves, if you don't take a step further. We in Eastern Europe still didn't manage to recover after the same stolen victory by ruling classes. Don't go this way, don't rely on "good" will of army or politicians.
People have the power!
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