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Tag: march

  • Leftist groups march for “the rights of Egyptians”

    Leftist groups march for “the rights of Egyptians”

    A wide range of political parties joined together to march from Talaat Harb Square Hassan Ibrahim
    A wide range of political parties joined together to march from Talaat Harb Square
    Hassan Ibrahim

    Around 300 protesters converged on Saturday afternoon at Tala’at Harb Square to “march for the recovery of the rights of Egyptians.”

    As the march made its way from the square towards Mohamed Mahmoud Street, demonstrators chanted for the fall of military rule and of the Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide.

    Banners representing a wide range of parties including the Socialist Revolutionary Movement, the Kefaya Movement and the Egyptian Communist Party were held next to ones calling for justice for the 8 April officers and those who lost their lives at the hands of the army and Interior Ministry.

    Leading the protest was labour activist Kamal Khalil, who on Wednesday announced the formation of the Revolutionary Democratic Coalition (RDC), a group of ten leftist political parties and movements.

    Khalil had announced plans for Saturday’s march at Wednesday’s press conference, calling on all revolutionary groups, regardless of specific ideological differences to join. Most member groups of the RDC were represented at Saturday’s march among the 19 groups that had officially announced their participations.

    The demonstrators’ demands centred around five demands previously articulated by Khalil and the participating movements.

    The group called for the dismissal and prosecution of the interior minister for crimes committed against revolutionaries as the manager of security in Assiut on 26 January 2011, in addition to the manner in which the ministry has dealt with protesters during his tenure as minister.

    They also demanded the reformation of the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly to better represent all Egyptians.

    The rejection of new foreign loans “involving colonial privileges” was called for, based on claims they would be added economic burdens to future generations. Protesters chanted against the IMF loan and voiced disapproval over money coming from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

    Protesters called for the immediate release of the 8 April officers and other revolutionaries currently detained in military prisons. The 8 April officers were arrested in 2011 for their participation in demonstrations against the attack of a peaceful sit-in.

    Lastly the group strongly denounced the safe exit given to Egypt’s military council, demanding instead a trial to investigate their roles in the bloodshed of Egyptians.

    “The rights of the martyrs have not been realised,” said Khaled Ramadan, an electrician. “We still have the same regime that we all refused last year.”

    “No one has dealt with corruption yet, and for this reason, we haven’t seen the rights for the martyrs, their families, and all Egyptians in need,” said Abdel Nasser Abu Reda, a member of the Workers and Farmers Party.

    “We’ve been here for almost two years, no real steps have been taken,” said student Mosaab Amer. “Revolutionaries and the 8 April officers are still detained and the Ministry of the Interior plays the same role it did last year.”

    The march ended at the corner of Mohamed Mahmoud Street and Tahrir Square, where protesters continued raising banners and chanting for “bread, freedom, and social justice.”

  • Protesters arrested on anniversary of OWS

    Protesters arrested on anniversary of OWS

    A participant in Occupy Wall Street protest is arrested by police during a rally to mark the one year anniversary of the movement in New York AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
    A participant in Occupy Wall Street protest is arrested by police during a rally to mark the one year anniversary of the movement in New York
    AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND

    “We are the 99 per cent” could be heard in the background of the AP 17 September video of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protesters.

    The march took place near the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street, in New York’s financial district. According to CBS, 180 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct after clogging intersections while marching to the beat of drums.

    A few hundred dispersed protesters marched in groups of dozens.  DealBook, a New York Times Company news service ran the headline, “Occupy Wall Street: A Frenzy That Fizzled.”

    Meanwhile, the Seattle Times reported about 100 protesters in an Occupy Seattle march with $ 100 bills taped to their mouths, demanding money doesn’t interfere with politics.

    OWS will celebrate their one year anniversary between 15 and 17 September.

    On 17 September, non-violent disobedience is planned, bringing together “union workers and leadership, economics experts, faith, community members, students, and occupiers to let our voices be heard once more,” according to a statement which ended “Occupy Wall Street won’t stop until the 99% gets what it deserves–economic justice.”

    OWS was founded in the United States after the 2011 Middle Eastern revolutions and has spread to over 80 countries.

    The slogan, “we are the 99 per cent” refers to the concentration of wealth in the top earning one per cent of the US and the idea 99 per cent of the population are paying for the mistakes of a minority in the economic crisis.

    Canadian magasine, Adbusters, started the movement calling in one of its blog posts for a “Tahrir Moment” adding,  “the time has come to deploy this emerging stratagem against the greatest corrupter of our democracy: Wall Street, the financial Gomorrah of America.”

    Protesters held a sit-in in Zuccoti Park, New York, and remained through September, October and November, until cleared by the police, who also stopped attempts to re-occupy the park in March 2012.

  • Different visions as 24 August approaches

    Different visions as 24 August approaches

    Anti-Morsy protest march at the Manasa staged in June (File photo) Mohamed Omar
    Anti-Morsy protest march at the Manasa staged in June (File photo)
    Mohamed Omar

    Less than 24 hours before planned protests against the Muslim Brotherhood’s increasing power, several political figures offer their opinions regarding the controversial 24 August “million man march,” or “revolution” as some of its advocates are calling it.

    The Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, has attacked the upcoming protests as “a coup against legitimacy.” Atef Abu El-Eid, secretary of the FJP media committee, said it is unjustifiable to hold protests at this time, now that Egypt has a legitimate leader who was democratically elected by the public. “There is a great difference between the goals of January 25 revolution and tomorrow’s protests,” Abu El-Eid said.

    The fact most of the country’s political movements and parties were boycotting the protest denotes its likely impact, according to Abu El-Eid. He also wondered about the real aims of the protest, asking for whom its main organisers are working.

    However, Abu El-Eid asserted that freedom of expression and peaceful protests are guaranteed constitutional rights for every citizen, stressing that these protests shouldn’t include any violations of citizen’s rights or public and private property.

    The Reform and Development party stressed that any attack on the state’s institutions would be totally unacceptable. Moreover, party leader Anwar El-Sadat said the party has formed volunteer committees whose job is to protect public facilities and react to any violations that might occur on the day.

    However Yasser Borhami, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Salafist Preaching, rejected apportioning blame for any destruction of public facilities on everyone who participates in Friday’s protest. In a Fatwa (religious ruling) posted on his website “Salafi Voice”, Borhami said protesting is not against religion and is acceptable so long as it is peaceful; however sabotage is an unacceptable crime. If it were justifiable to waste the blood of anyone criticising the president then there would be no reason to praise the revolution, he concluded.

    However, Borhami said his organisation doesn’t see a justifiable reason for the protests, as he believes the government and presidency should be given their chance for reforming the hectic situation in Egypt.

    Mohamed Abu Hamed, a former member of parliament and the main organiser of Friday’s protest, said the protesters have no intention of attacking the Muslim Brotherhood and FJP headquarters, stressing that the protests would be peaceful.
    Moreover, he mentioned that the number of participants in Friday’s protest would decide the next steps to be taken. “I have a plan of action for every possibility”, he concluded.