CAIRO: Gerga residents slammed Sohag Governor General Wadah El-Hamzawy on Tuesday when he “fled” from a meeting with families of the victims of recent clashes, in a move they considered to be insulting.
"The governor, after failing to achieve reconciliation between the families, excused himself saying that he needed to use the bathroom, then fled, stirring extreme anger among Gerga residents," photographer Sherif Adel El-Boushy told Daily News Egypt from Gerga over the phone Wednesday.
"The public sentiment is one of extreme anger at the governor’s disrespectful attitude and reluctance by media and authorities to halt the escalating situation in Gerga," El-Boushy said.
The meeting saw fierce debate between the governor and families, who insisted on conducting mass arrests of anyone who may have been involved in the killings.
The residents’ anger was further fueled by El-Hamzawy’s TV interviews, where he confirmed that the situation is calm and the issues were resolved. They accused him of deceiving public opinion.
Clashes between a family from the town of Gerga and another from Naga’ Owais village left three dead and 21 severely injured. They are now receiving treatment in Sohag General Hospital, and the Educational and University Hospitals.
The Ministry of Interior said in an official statement released Tuesday that a brawl between two tuk-tuk drivers, one from Gerga and another from Naga’ Owais, led to both their deaths on Saturday.
"The family of the driver Montasser Hassan gathered in front of Gerga police station to receive the dead body then stormed the police station again after the funeral," the statement said.
After sunset, residents of Naga’ Owais village stormed Gerga leading to clashes between the two sides that continued for 10 hours using live ammunition, Molotov cocktails and sticks until the military commander in the area imposed a curfew.
Clashes then erupted between Gerga residents and members of the security and military police early Sunday when the latter attempted to take control of the situation. Residents then stormed the Gerga police station. All weapons inside were stolen.
On Tuesday evening, the police launched a campaign to locate and collect weapons stolen by looters who stormed Gerga police station early Sunday.
Police arrested over 14 people from Naga’ Owais village believed to be involved in starting the tensions.
"One of those arrested was a pharmacist called Ahmed Ali, his father and members of his family who are all accused of starting the brawl," El-Boushy said.
El-Boushy also confirmed that the families of the victims have suspended the sit-in blocking the railway, convinced by other residents that they should not disrupt public order.
"What happened was deliberate and organized and there are people who work in secret to destabilize the country," activist Mahmoud Ahmed said on his Twitter account quoting the Imam of Gerga’s El-Mahata Mosque.
"The rioters are not connected to the families of the victims at all but there are political and economic goals behind their involvement," the Imam said.
