“What is happening now in Egypt is exactly what I would call ‘The Call for the Many Revolutions’; from revolting against Egypt’s ruling military council, the brutality of security apparatuses, the militarisation of our society and the former regime. It is a revolution for the full emancipation and liberation of our lands, and for inspiring humanity everywhere. It is by all means the time of revolution, emancipation(s), and love. It is the time for the correction of the Egyptian Revolution. So, for God’s sake, revolt or die in shame.”
I quote a dear friend who was injured in Tahrir square two days ago and is now recovering in one of Cairo’s hospitals.
Looking at protests and violence in Tahrir square and many other major squares all across Egypt, the main question being asked is whether all these events are spontaneous, or well prepared according to another agenda?
The recent events started when police forces, accompanied by the military police, brutally and unexpectedly attacked a few hundred protesters. They were mainly the protesting families of martyrs from the January 25th revolution, being forcibly removed from Tahrir square. As a result of this attack, four were killed with over 150 injured. Photos of the attack quickly circulated, including pictures showing the bodies of martyrs being dragged and thrown into rubbish cans. Outraged Egyptians took to the streets, and as the number of protestors grew, the police became increasingly violent using live ammunition together with a type of tear bomb that is widely suspected of being poisonous and internationally prohibited. Under the pretext of protecting the Interior Ministry, Tahrir Square is witnessing a real battle between police forces and protestors, leaving behind hundreds of injured and a body count that rises hourly.
Amid military promises of a speed-up in democratic transition, Tahrir protestors are demanding a concrete timeframe for the end of military rule, a transfer of power to an interim revolutionary civilian government, and early presidential elections next January.
It’s clear that the violence is escalating intentionally, or is at least being allowed to do so. This doesn’t apply only to the police forces, but also to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), which didn’t take any noticeable action to prevent the carnage of the last few days. What made the stance of the SCAF even worse was when its chief responded with a very weak and impractical statement that was unacceptable to many Egyptians, especially those in Tahrir Square. The violent clashes between protestors and the police could have easily been averted if the SCAF had direct orders to prevent violence, by deploying tanks to separate the police forces and the protesters. The eerie silence of the SCAF has not gone unnoticed. Similarly, the national media’s coverage is promoting the involvement of a third party; a suggestion that is both escalating and igniting violence, as well as deflecting attention from the actions of the police and the SCAF. The coincidence is not lost on Egyptians.
Some parties such as the Muslim Brotherhood believe that the whole conflict is a plot designed to embroil them in the violence, thereby justifying a ban on the organisation as well as a cancellation of upcoming parliamentary elections. Thus, they chose not to officially participate in the protests despite the condemnation of revolutionaries and other political forces represented in Tahrir. On the other hand, liberal powers believe that there is a hidden deal between the Muslim Brotherhood and the SCAF to take over. Either way, it is clear that despite the Muslim Brotherhood’s decision not to participate as an organisation, thousands of its youth members took part in the protests.
What has become completely clear is that the plots are not spontaneous, and more importantly, that various entities are benefiting from the whole situation. The SCAF, the police force, former thugs of the regime and, perhaps, international parties are playing their own cards, orchestrating a political failure that is leading the country to potentially disastrous consequences. With each party pushing events in a certain way, they are attempting to divide public opinion – an approach perfected by the former president Mubarak – in order to null the momentum of the revolution, to create massive chaos, that would ultimately serve the interests of a few.
Hence, with a new million-man march call for this coming Friday, the unification of the public under a few points of agreement is essential for realising the dream of a liberated Egypt, which entails ending the rule of the SCAF elite.
On Friday, November 25, all Egyptians must go into the streets, creating a critical mass that would secure more returns, and importantly, less violence. Police brutality will be almost impossible before millions of angry Egyptians, determined not to give up before the birth of a new and real democratic Egypt. For Egyptian protestors, brutality and violent oppression are no longer a deterrent.
Photo Credits: Reuters