Exposing SCAF's lies regarding the Maspero killings
Clip prepared by the 'No Military Trials Campaign' documenting the Egyptian army's assault and killings of protesters in Maspero, Cairo - on October 9.
Findings indicate that 27 were killed, nearly all of whom were Coptic protesters. This documentary clip exposes the lies of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, along with it's vile propaganda, and its disregard for the most basic human rights.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Free Alaa - Cartoons by Carlos Latuff
Cartoons by Brazilian artist Carlos Latuff, calling for release of Blogger/Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah who is in prison pending investigations by military prosecutors. Alaa was wrongfully jailed on October 30, 2011.
Alaa has been jailed on trumped charges, he is being used as the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces' scapegoat to cover up for their own crimes, assaults, and killings committed on October 9.
Egypt: Protesters killed in clashes with security forces
The Guardian
Egyptian protesters killed in clashes with security forces
Sunday 13 November 2011
Jack Shenker
Clashes between Egyptian security forces and protesters have left at least two civilians dead, following major demonstrations across the country.
In Damietta, a port town where the Nile meets the Mediterranean, the army used force to break up mass protests on Sunday which had brought the city to a standstill for several days. Local news reports indicated that at least two protesters were killed and 11 others injured during the violence. Witnesses told the Guardian that the death toll was considerably higher, but this could not be independently confirmed.
"The situation is very dangerous," said Shaaban ElBadahy, a teacher in Damietta. "Protesters have closed off all the ports and roads in the district and no one can enter or leave the city."
Residents were protesting against newly unveiled plans to expand the production of fertiliser in the area. An existing Egyptian-Canadian factory has been blamed for a series of environmental disasters including the depletion of local fish stocks, but its owners insist that they meet all relevant safety standards.
In Aswan, police used teargas against protesters angry over the killing of a local boat captain, who was shot dead by a police officer following an argument last week. Amid claims that protesters might try and shut down the power supply running from the Aswan dam to the rest of the country, the authorities declared a curfew and stepped up the security presence in Egypt's southern-most city.
The latest wave of violence adds further pressure on the military junta ahead of this month's parliamentary elections, with opposition to the ruling generals seemingly beginning to spread beyond Cairo and Alexandria and into rural areas.
On Sunday military prosecutors renewed the detention of two high-profile political prisoners, triggering further protests in the capital.
Alaa Abd El Fattah, a leading revolutionary figurehead, had his detention renewed for a further 15 days, meaning it is likely he will miss the birth of his first child who is due imminently. Maikel Nabil, a blogger who has now been on hunger strike for over 80 days, had his retrial adjourned to 27 November 27th and will remain in jail until then.
On Sunday evening demonstrators gathered at Cairo's Qasr el-Nil bridge over the Nile to express their rejection of the junta. The bridge was the location for one of the most significant street battles between protesters and police during the anti-Mubarak uprising earlier this year, and has become synonymous with revolutionary victory by the people over the security forces.
*Photo courtesy of Amr Nabil/Associated Press
Egyptian protesters killed in clashes with security forces
Sunday 13 November 2011
Jack Shenker
Clashes between Egyptian security forces and protesters have left at least two civilians dead, following major demonstrations across the country.
In Damietta, a port town where the Nile meets the Mediterranean, the army used force to break up mass protests on Sunday which had brought the city to a standstill for several days. Local news reports indicated that at least two protesters were killed and 11 others injured during the violence. Witnesses told the Guardian that the death toll was considerably higher, but this could not be independently confirmed.
"The situation is very dangerous," said Shaaban ElBadahy, a teacher in Damietta. "Protesters have closed off all the ports and roads in the district and no one can enter or leave the city."
Residents were protesting against newly unveiled plans to expand the production of fertiliser in the area. An existing Egyptian-Canadian factory has been blamed for a series of environmental disasters including the depletion of local fish stocks, but its owners insist that they meet all relevant safety standards.
In Aswan, police used teargas against protesters angry over the killing of a local boat captain, who was shot dead by a police officer following an argument last week. Amid claims that protesters might try and shut down the power supply running from the Aswan dam to the rest of the country, the authorities declared a curfew and stepped up the security presence in Egypt's southern-most city.
The latest wave of violence adds further pressure on the military junta ahead of this month's parliamentary elections, with opposition to the ruling generals seemingly beginning to spread beyond Cairo and Alexandria and into rural areas.
On Sunday military prosecutors renewed the detention of two high-profile political prisoners, triggering further protests in the capital.
Alaa Abd El Fattah, a leading revolutionary figurehead, had his detention renewed for a further 15 days, meaning it is likely he will miss the birth of his first child who is due imminently. Maikel Nabil, a blogger who has now been on hunger strike for over 80 days, had his retrial adjourned to 27 November 27th and will remain in jail until then.
On Sunday evening demonstrators gathered at Cairo's Qasr el-Nil bridge over the Nile to express their rejection of the junta. The bridge was the location for one of the most significant street battles between protesters and police during the anti-Mubarak uprising earlier this year, and has become synonymous with revolutionary victory by the people over the security forces.
*Photo courtesy of Amr Nabil/Associated Press
International Day to Defend Egyptian Revolution
مصرنا باقلم
NOV 12 - International Defend the Egyptian Revolution Day
Several activist groups in Montreal have responded enthusiastically to the Egyptian-led call to make November 12 the International Day to Defend the Egyptian Revolution, in a way, bridging the grassroots campaign to end military trials in Egypt with the Occupy movement in Montreal.
Twenty-three cities across the world also responded to the campaign’s call-out which suggested that action take place under the slogan of “Defend the Egyptian Revolution – End Military Trials for Civilians.” In Montreal, Middle East solidarity collective: Tadamon! made the call for solidarity in the form of a rally at the site of the occupy movement in Montreal.
After a Mic Check was shouted, by which Egyptian activists expressed that they wanted to take initiative on this action, the protestors at Occupy Montreal’s Victoria Square responded approvingly and heard Freelance Journalist Lillian Boctor and Egyptian civilian Yasser Shoukry give speeches against unjust actions of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in Egypt (SCAF). At least 12,000 civilians have been trialed before military tribunals in Egypt since the ousting of Mubarak and taking over of SCAF administratively. The military courts hand down harsh verdicts without sufficient evident, and don’t offer the right to appeal or access to enough lawyers.
Tagged in colors of red, black, and white, some of us carrying festoons or waving flags, we were at the forefront of a long march that raucously tipped up at St. Catherine. Sometimes, we lead the chants (some in Arabic) which ran and mingled with universal occupy chants.
A particular chart, which I was carrying, and which turned out was to have been crafted by a young Egyptian girl, read: ‘Place Tahrir Ici.” Midway, the march paused to listen to Shoukry speak of military dictatorship and human rights violations, influences in the region from Saudia Arabia and Israel, and the failed materialization of social justice - the last being the real fulcrum of the Egyptian revolution. In essence, he signed off on the note that Egyptians and Canadians share common struggles, and that they both still have to mind ways to pay the bills and ensure education for their children.
To add to SCAF’s injustices, most recently, renowned Egyptian blogger and activist, Alaa Abdel Fatah, who has been detained since October 30 at the hands of SCAF for charges of inciting violence against the army and refusal to answer the interrogator’s questions when summoned, has received an additional 15-day extension pending investigation. Many civil society, human rights, and social network groups in Egypt have been calling for his release. Sign this petition to help our movement in freeing Alaa.
NOV 12 - International Defend the Egyptian Revolution Day
Several activist groups in Montreal have responded enthusiastically to the Egyptian-led call to make November 12 the International Day to Defend the Egyptian Revolution, in a way, bridging the grassroots campaign to end military trials in Egypt with the Occupy movement in Montreal.
Twenty-three cities across the world also responded to the campaign’s call-out which suggested that action take place under the slogan of “Defend the Egyptian Revolution – End Military Trials for Civilians.” In Montreal, Middle East solidarity collective: Tadamon! made the call for solidarity in the form of a rally at the site of the occupy movement in Montreal.
After a Mic Check was shouted, by which Egyptian activists expressed that they wanted to take initiative on this action, the protestors at Occupy Montreal’s Victoria Square responded approvingly and heard Freelance Journalist Lillian Boctor and Egyptian civilian Yasser Shoukry give speeches against unjust actions of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in Egypt (SCAF). At least 12,000 civilians have been trialed before military tribunals in Egypt since the ousting of Mubarak and taking over of SCAF administratively. The military courts hand down harsh verdicts without sufficient evident, and don’t offer the right to appeal or access to enough lawyers.
Tagged in colors of red, black, and white, some of us carrying festoons or waving flags, we were at the forefront of a long march that raucously tipped up at St. Catherine. Sometimes, we lead the chants (some in Arabic) which ran and mingled with universal occupy chants.
A particular chart, which I was carrying, and which turned out was to have been crafted by a young Egyptian girl, read: ‘Place Tahrir Ici.” Midway, the march paused to listen to Shoukry speak of military dictatorship and human rights violations, influences in the region from Saudia Arabia and Israel, and the failed materialization of social justice - the last being the real fulcrum of the Egyptian revolution. In essence, he signed off on the note that Egyptians and Canadians share common struggles, and that they both still have to mind ways to pay the bills and ensure education for their children.
To add to SCAF’s injustices, most recently, renowned Egyptian blogger and activist, Alaa Abdel Fatah, who has been detained since October 30 at the hands of SCAF for charges of inciting violence against the army and refusal to answer the interrogator’s questions when summoned, has received an additional 15-day extension pending investigation. Many civil society, human rights, and social network groups in Egypt have been calling for his release. Sign this petition to help our movement in freeing Alaa.
'OWS' to send observers for Egypt’s elections
Ahram Online
Occupy Wall Street to send observers for Egypt’s elections
Saturday 12 Nov 2011
Nada Hussein Rashwan
The Occupy Wall Street movement has approved sending 20 observers to monitor Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections
The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) New York City General Assembly posted on its Twitter account Friday that the movement would fund sending 20 observers to monitor Egypt’s upcoming parliament elections.
The proposal presented to the OWS General Assembly on 10 November to send monitors to Egypt states that it is “in response to a request sent by Egyptian civil society groups to send a delegation of OWS ambassadors to serve as international observers in the 28 November parliamentary elections.”
“These actions will serve as a powerful symbol of solidarity in support of civil society groups who contributed to the January 25 Revolution. OWS’s participation will also work to protect and support the civilian monitoring efforts of Egyptian activists on the ground, [and it] constitutes a concrete stand against the use of American weapons against peaceful demonstrators,” the draft proposal reads, budgeted at $29,000.
Occupy Wall Street to send observers for Egypt’s elections
Saturday 12 Nov 2011
Nada Hussein Rashwan
The Occupy Wall Street movement has approved sending 20 observers to monitor Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections
The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) New York City General Assembly posted on its Twitter account Friday that the movement would fund sending 20 observers to monitor Egypt’s upcoming parliament elections.
The proposal presented to the OWS General Assembly on 10 November to send monitors to Egypt states that it is “in response to a request sent by Egyptian civil society groups to send a delegation of OWS ambassadors to serve as international observers in the 28 November parliamentary elections.”
“These actions will serve as a powerful symbol of solidarity in support of civil society groups who contributed to the January 25 Revolution. OWS’s participation will also work to protect and support the civilian monitoring efforts of Egyptian activists on the ground, [and it] constitutes a concrete stand against the use of American weapons against peaceful demonstrators,” the draft proposal reads, budgeted at $29,000.
Death toll in Syrian Uprising at more than 3,500
AlJazeera
UN raises Syrian death toll to 3,500
08 Nov 2011
New estimate comes as tanks and armoured vehicles move into Hama, activists say, and continue deadly crackdown in Homs.
At least 3,500 people have been killed in Syria since major protests first broke out across the country in March, the UN said, as activists reported the deployment by security forces of tanks and armoured vehicles in the city of Hama.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters on Tuesday in Geneva that the estimate - which took the toll from 3,000 to 3,500 - was conservative and based on "credible sources on the ground".
She described the situation in Homs' neighbourhood of Baba Amro as "appalling", with residents deprived of food, water and medical supplies for a week. Activists reported that six people were killed in the central city, including one child.
President Bashar al-Assad's government has been battling protesters who are calling for his resignation in a crackdown that has seen some soldiers defecting and taking sides with the demonstrators.
The fighting in Homs, Syria's third-largest city, which entered its sixth day on Tuesday, has left more than 110 people dead, according to anti-government activists with the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC).
The UN provided a lower estimated death toll, saying "more than 60" people had died in the city since the November 2 announcement of an Arab League ceasefire plan which appears to have had no effect in halting the government's crackdown.
HAMA ASSAULT
Meanwhile, in Hama, around 50km north of Homs, tanks and armoured vehicles could be seen moving towards the city centre as snipers and armed government supporters surrounded a medical complex and the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party, the LCC said.
The activist network reported that five people were killed in Hama. Explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard in the city, and electricity and internet services had been disabled, they said.
Elsewhere in Syria, the LCC reported that seven people were killed in the northwestern provience in Idlib.
The opposition Syrian National Council, based in Turkey, urged the Arab League "to take a strong and effective position against the Syrian regime commensurate with the dangerous development of the situation in Syria, especially in ... Homs."
In a letter, it asked the pan-Arab bloc on Tuesday to freeze Syria's membership, impose economic and diplomatic sanctions, and seek the referral of allegations of genocide and other human rights abuses by the regime to the International Criminal Court.
The council, which represents the main opposition groups, focused its appeal on Homs, after declaring it a "humanitarian disaster area" in need of "international protection of civilians".
In recent weeks, violence between government forces and armed opposition groups in Homs appears to have risen, with defectors from the military using force to combat the regime.
A video posted on YouTube on Monday shows armed men in camouflage uniforms marching in Homs and proclaiming themselves defectors to the "Syrian Free Army".
In the video, one fighter calls for a no-fly zone and says that the uprising against Assad is peaceful.
'LACK OF COMMITMENT'
The Arab League is expected to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday, which it says has been prompted by "the continuation of violence and because the Syrian government did not implement its commitments in the Arab plan to resolve the Syrian crisis".
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister and chair of a panel on the crisis, has said that "if Syria does not respect its commitments, the ministerial committee will meet again and take the necessary decisions".
The Arab roadmap called for an end to violence, the release of those detained, the withdrawal of the army from urban areas and free movement for observers and the media, as well as talks between the regime and the opposition.
Despite the deaths, a large section of the population, including businesspeople and minorities, seems to be still loyal to the government of Assad, who has been in power for 11 years.
Large pro-government demonstrations can be seen regularly, and major cities such as Damascus and Aleppo have so far not become protest hubs like Hama, Homs and Deraa.
*Source:Al Jazeera & agencies
UN raises Syrian death toll to 3,500
08 Nov 2011
New estimate comes as tanks and armoured vehicles move into Hama, activists say, and continue deadly crackdown in Homs.
At least 3,500 people have been killed in Syria since major protests first broke out across the country in March, the UN said, as activists reported the deployment by security forces of tanks and armoured vehicles in the city of Hama.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters on Tuesday in Geneva that the estimate - which took the toll from 3,000 to 3,500 - was conservative and based on "credible sources on the ground".
She described the situation in Homs' neighbourhood of Baba Amro as "appalling", with residents deprived of food, water and medical supplies for a week. Activists reported that six people were killed in the central city, including one child.
President Bashar al-Assad's government has been battling protesters who are calling for his resignation in a crackdown that has seen some soldiers defecting and taking sides with the demonstrators.
The fighting in Homs, Syria's third-largest city, which entered its sixth day on Tuesday, has left more than 110 people dead, according to anti-government activists with the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC).
The UN provided a lower estimated death toll, saying "more than 60" people had died in the city since the November 2 announcement of an Arab League ceasefire plan which appears to have had no effect in halting the government's crackdown.
HAMA ASSAULT
Meanwhile, in Hama, around 50km north of Homs, tanks and armoured vehicles could be seen moving towards the city centre as snipers and armed government supporters surrounded a medical complex and the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party, the LCC said.
The activist network reported that five people were killed in Hama. Explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard in the city, and electricity and internet services had been disabled, they said.
Elsewhere in Syria, the LCC reported that seven people were killed in the northwestern provience in Idlib.
The opposition Syrian National Council, based in Turkey, urged the Arab League "to take a strong and effective position against the Syrian regime commensurate with the dangerous development of the situation in Syria, especially in ... Homs."
In a letter, it asked the pan-Arab bloc on Tuesday to freeze Syria's membership, impose economic and diplomatic sanctions, and seek the referral of allegations of genocide and other human rights abuses by the regime to the International Criminal Court.
The council, which represents the main opposition groups, focused its appeal on Homs, after declaring it a "humanitarian disaster area" in need of "international protection of civilians".
In recent weeks, violence between government forces and armed opposition groups in Homs appears to have risen, with defectors from the military using force to combat the regime.
A video posted on YouTube on Monday shows armed men in camouflage uniforms marching in Homs and proclaiming themselves defectors to the "Syrian Free Army".
In the video, one fighter calls for a no-fly zone and says that the uprising against Assad is peaceful.
'LACK OF COMMITMENT'
The Arab League is expected to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday, which it says has been prompted by "the continuation of violence and because the Syrian government did not implement its commitments in the Arab plan to resolve the Syrian crisis".
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister and chair of a panel on the crisis, has said that "if Syria does not respect its commitments, the ministerial committee will meet again and take the necessary decisions".
The Arab roadmap called for an end to violence, the release of those detained, the withdrawal of the army from urban areas and free movement for observers and the media, as well as talks between the regime and the opposition.
Despite the deaths, a large section of the population, including businesspeople and minorities, seems to be still loyal to the government of Assad, who has been in power for 11 years.
Large pro-government demonstrations can be seen regularly, and major cities such as Damascus and Aleppo have so far not become protest hubs like Hama, Homs and Deraa.
*Source:Al Jazeera & agencies
'Occupy London' Homeless get tent of their own
The Independent
Homeless get tent of their own at St Paul's
Saturday 05 November 2011
Charlie Cooper
Protest leaders set up welfare centre to provide influx of rough sleepers with food and shelter
Under the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral, the Occupy London protest camp has become a beacon for all manner of people. There are the protesters and campaigners who come to offer support and hear the speeches.
There are the bemused tourists. And then there are the people who feel as if they have nowhere else to go.
Protesters yesterday said they will set up a "welfare centre" within the camp to offer help and support to those of London's homeless who are increasingly coming to the site seeking food, warmth and sometimes just distraction. Organisers are appealing to charities and individuals with expertise in social work, counselling, drug and alcohol services, welfare housing and mental health issues to work voluntarily at the proposed centre.
The welfare centre will occupy a tent within yards of the cathedral's front door and organisers hope to have it up and running within days. There is an increasingly established network of start-ups insitutions in the camp. There is already, a "university" in a white marquee, a bookshop, a kitchen and even a visitor information centre.
Malcom Blackman, who has been living at the camp since it began, said "more and more" homeless people had been coming. "We have lot of people coming by, stumbling round the tents at night," he said. "There's a lot of friendly people here and food. There was a concern that it would undermine the image of the camp. But so far we've met every obstacle we've come up against, and the welfare centre will be a good way to address this one."
James McMahon, a 48-year-old homeless man has lived in the area around St Paul's for more than 10 years. He is given free food from the kitchen tent, donated by well-wishers, cooked by the resident chefs, and served free to all comers. Now he has a roof over his head, albeit a canvas one. "I asked for a tent and was given one," he said.
"There's a community here. I have welcomed these people to my home and they have welcomed me. There's people I can sit with, eat with and have a conversation with. It's the most human contact I've had in 10 years." Mr McMahon said that the only aggression he had encountered in the camp had come from "drunken people in suits" who pass the camp at night, shouting abuse and one time kicking tents.
St Paul's have not commented on the protesters' plan, but Anglican think-tank Ekklesia said that the idea represented the best of Christian values.
Yesterday the camp set up an internet link with activists in Syria, and listened to an address from former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn, who urged them to "keep hope and carry on".
City of London authorities are understood to be seeking a High Court injunction if the protest camp is not cleared soon. But, Mr Blackman said: "Now's the time to dig in. We've had some difficulties but now is the time to show the world that peaceful protest can still work."
Homeless get tent of their own at St Paul's
Saturday 05 November 2011
Charlie Cooper
Protest leaders set up welfare centre to provide influx of rough sleepers with food and shelter
Under the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral, the Occupy London protest camp has become a beacon for all manner of people. There are the protesters and campaigners who come to offer support and hear the speeches.
There are the bemused tourists. And then there are the people who feel as if they have nowhere else to go.
Protesters yesterday said they will set up a "welfare centre" within the camp to offer help and support to those of London's homeless who are increasingly coming to the site seeking food, warmth and sometimes just distraction. Organisers are appealing to charities and individuals with expertise in social work, counselling, drug and alcohol services, welfare housing and mental health issues to work voluntarily at the proposed centre.
The welfare centre will occupy a tent within yards of the cathedral's front door and organisers hope to have it up and running within days. There is an increasingly established network of start-ups insitutions in the camp. There is already, a "university" in a white marquee, a bookshop, a kitchen and even a visitor information centre.
Malcom Blackman, who has been living at the camp since it began, said "more and more" homeless people had been coming. "We have lot of people coming by, stumbling round the tents at night," he said. "There's a lot of friendly people here and food. There was a concern that it would undermine the image of the camp. But so far we've met every obstacle we've come up against, and the welfare centre will be a good way to address this one."
James McMahon, a 48-year-old homeless man has lived in the area around St Paul's for more than 10 years. He is given free food from the kitchen tent, donated by well-wishers, cooked by the resident chefs, and served free to all comers. Now he has a roof over his head, albeit a canvas one. "I asked for a tent and was given one," he said.
"There's a community here. I have welcomed these people to my home and they have welcomed me. There's people I can sit with, eat with and have a conversation with. It's the most human contact I've had in 10 years." Mr McMahon said that the only aggression he had encountered in the camp had come from "drunken people in suits" who pass the camp at night, shouting abuse and one time kicking tents.
St Paul's have not commented on the protesters' plan, but Anglican think-tank Ekklesia said that the idea represented the best of Christian values.
Yesterday the camp set up an internet link with activists in Syria, and listened to an address from former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn, who urged them to "keep hope and carry on".
City of London authorities are understood to be seeking a High Court injunction if the protest camp is not cleared soon. But, Mr Blackman said: "Now's the time to dig in. We've had some difficulties but now is the time to show the world that peaceful protest can still work."
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