Ongoing protests in Dublin in solidarity with the Egyptian people

by TD - FPC Wed Feb 09, 2011 18:14

The video that fueled the Egyptian Revolution.

Caption: Asmaa Mahfouz - The video that fueled the Egyptian Revolution.

Caption: The Most AMAZING video on the internet #Egypt #jan25

by History Buff. Wed Feb 09, 2011 18:44

When the western-friendly tyrant the Shah of Iran was deposed in 1979 everybody in the west applauded.
Short lived applause.

He was replaced by fanatical Ayatollahs who were (are) much more brutal.

by Sandra Wed Feb 09, 2011 19:10

By the mid-1970s, Shah Pahlavi's and Pinochet's Chile were rated by Amnesty International as the world’s worst human rights violators ... both of those countries had their leaders installed by the CIA. When the Shah finally fled Iran in 1979, Iranians had spent 26 years under the iron fist of a CIA-installed dictator. Most Iranians wanted him out; not just Moslem leaders. Liberal college students and devout Moslems were the two biggest groups pushing for the Shah’s overthrow.

by Home Truth Wed Feb 09, 2011 19:29

Ahoy! "History Buff", some salient truths to be taken on board?: Formed under the guidance of United States and Israeli intelligence officers in 1957, the Shah's SAVAK developed into an effective secret agency. Over the years, SAVAK became a law unto itself, having legal authority to arrest and detain suspected persons indefinitely. SAVAK operated its own prisons in Tehran (the Komiteh and Evin facilities) and, many suspected, throughout the country as well. SAVAK's torture methods included electric shock, whipping, beating, inserting broken glass and pouring boiling water into the rectum, tying weights to the testicles, and the extraction of teeth and nails ... The head of the SAVAK agents in the United States operated under the cover of an attache at the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, with the FBI, CIA, and State Department fully aware of these activities.

In 1978 the deepening opposition to the Shah errupted in widespread demonstrations and rioting. SAVAK and the military responded with widespread repression that killed thousands of people.

by Benny K. Wed Feb 09, 2011 20:02

Democracy Now is reporting: Egypt’s pro-democracy uprising is seizing new momentum one day after hundreds of thousands turned out for one of the largest protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to date. A gathering of protesters led to the evacuation of the Egyptian cabinet building today, and tent camps are also being set up outside the Egyptian parliament. Egypt’s labor movement has launched new strikes across the country, with an estimated 10,000 workers taking part.

by Emad Barghouti Wed Feb 09, 2011 20:28

Activist, Ahmed Moor in Egypt is happy to report that the revolutionary fervor there is not waning, however, he warns "Washington’s serial vacillation has exposed demonstrators to more danger. Where some country in the Great Liberal West may have struck a strongly independent and pro-democracy chord – America’s superficiality has served to co-opt them all. Today, it appears that the demonstrators are largely on their own. I think most of them have known that all along".

by John Tymon - International Workers Aid Flotilla to Gaza Wed Feb 09, 2011 21:13

The recently launched group; International Workers Aid Flotilla to Gaza had by far the largest demonstration banner at the Egyptian Embassy in London. The protestors shared their food and drinks with everyone there - you can see where the miracle of the loaves and fishes came from?, which gave a party atmosphere to the evening. Our demands were for the resignation of Mubarak as well as his government, and all his associates, that they should all face trial, that a new constitution is put in place to define democracy and then let the people vote on the new constitution, the people to have the final say on everything, that all the money swindled by Mubarak and his cronies for the past 30 years be discovered and taken back. International Workers Aid Flotilla to Gaza then marched to Oxford Street and the Voda Phone shop there and protested at the role of Voda Phone played to assist the dictator by shutting down the service.

If the revolution achieves its goals, and the border with Gaza is opened then our International Workers Aid Flotilla to Gaza will be redundant, so roll on redundancy and welcome Gaza into the international fold.?

International Workers Aid Flotilla to Gaza

by Joe Wed Feb 09, 2011 22:08

There is another call for a Demo by the Palestinian Rights Institute(PRI), the Egyptian and Muslim community and other groups to meet at the Egyptian Embassy in Solidarity with the Egyptian People, Friday :

Time: 3.30pm on Friday the 11th of February.
Location:
Egyptian Embassy, 12 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
http://www.yelp.ie/map/embassy-of-egypt-dublin

The future of the world is being decided on Egypt's streets right now . The world needs to get behind the Egyptian revolution . I would urge left wing activists in Ireland to take some time off from election canvassing to show support on Friday . People outside of Dublin please organize something in your own areas.

by Tim Mulligan Wed Feb 09, 2011 22:40

The Egyptian military has secretly detained hundreds and possibly thousands of suspected government opponents since mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak began, and at least some of these detainees have been tortured, according to testimony gathered by the Guardian ... While pro-government protesters have also been detained by the army during clashes in Tahrir Square, it is believed that they have been handed on to police and then released, rather than being held and tortured.

by T Thu Feb 10, 2011 00:28

People interested in what is happening in Egypt might want to check some of the regular articles produced by the World Socialist Website which clearly document how the US and European powers (i.e. Big Capital) have interferred for years in Egypt and the consequences of these imperial policies for the people of Egypt.

For example today (Wed Feb 9th) there are two articles:

Mass protests and strikes escalate as Egyptians reject “orderly transition”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/feb2011/egyp-f09.shtml

Omar Suleiman—longtime collaborator with Israel and US
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/feb2011/sule-f09.shtml

It is important these deep connections between Big Capital and the brutal regime become known as they clearly demonstrate the core barbaric element of these forces because if the Egyptian people want to really change their system in a lasting way, they need to understand the depth of the changes needed and for this they need to raise their own awareness of how every facet of their lives has been crushed by these people.

The people of Egypt would do well to try and rapidly learn from the history of other revolutions and discover what is possible and how the forces of Big Capital have always relentlessly deceived, lied, cheated and murdered ordinary people.

The people should not accept any sort of transistion by any element of the government, the army or any component of the elite layer.

by T Thu Feb 10, 2011 00:48

Further good ongoing analysis can be heard on the Democracy Now podcast where Robert Fisk is interviewed who is on the ground in Cairo.

During the course of the interview he says that he discovered the tanks deployed on the streets belonged not to the Egyptian army but to the US army as part of the MFR or Mobile Force Reserve which has units deployed all around the Middle East and their purpose is for them to be used during emergencies. In this instance it seems they lent them to the Egyptian army

You can listen to the interview here. Start just before 34 minutes. The Fisk interview itself begins at 43 mins 20 secs.

But it is well worth listening to the entire podcast.

Democracy Now broadcast + Robert Fisk interview

by TD - Free Palestine Campaign Thu Feb 10, 2011 15:07

Today, with the Egyptian uprisings in full force, the below audio and book extract reveal the monster "tapped by the US, Israel and the West to lead the country" after Mubarak; Omar Suleiman. Antony Loewenstein interviews Australian citizen Mamdouh Habib - captured and tortured in the years after September 11 in both Egypt and Guantanamo Bay (audio).

Extracts from Mamdouh Habib's: My Story, the tale of a terrorist who wasn't (pp.112-115).

The guard quickly told me that the very big boss was coming to talk to me, and that I must be well behaved and co-operate. Everyone was nervous. I have since found out that the boss was Omar Suleiman, head of all Egyptian security. He was known for personally supervising the interrogation of al-Qaeda suspects and sending reports to the CIA. In the beginning, he was often present during my interrogations. He must have thought that he had a big fish when I was sent to him by the Americans and Australians. I was sitting in a chair, hooded, with my hands handcuffed behind my back. He came up to me. His voice was deep and rough. He spoke to me in Egyptian and English. He said, “Listen, you don’t know who I am, but I am the one who has your life in his hands. Every single person in this building has his life in my hands. I just make the decision.”

I said, “I hope your decision is that you make me die straight away.” “No, I don’t want you to die now. I want you to die slowly.” He went on, “I can’t stay with you; my time is too valuable to stay here. You only have me to save you. I’m your saviour. You have to tell me everything, if you want to be saved. What do you say?” “I have nothing to tell you.” “You think I can’t destroy you just like that?” He clapped his hands together. “I don’t know”. I was feeling confused. Everything was unreal. “If God came down and tried to take you by the hand, I would not let him. You are under my control. Let me show you something that will convince you.” The guard then guided me out of the room and through an area where I could see, from below the blindfold, the trunks of palm trees. We then went through another door back inside, and descended some steps. We entered a room. They sat me down. “Now you are going to tell me that you planned a terrorist attack”, Suleiman persisted. “I haven’t planned any attacks.” “I give you my word that you will be a rich man if you tell me you have been planning attacks. Don’t you trust me?” he asked. “I don’t trust anyone”, I replied. Immediately he slapped me hard across the face and knocked off the blindfold; I clearly saw his face. “That’s it. That’s it. I don’t want to see this man again until he co-operates and tells me he’s been planning a terrorist attack! he yelled at the others in the room, then stormed out. The guard came up to me, upset that I hadn’t co-operated. I said to him, “You have to let me go soon; it’s nearly 48 hours.” He looked at me, surprised, and asked, “How long do you think you’ve been here?” “A day”, I replied. “Man, you’ve been here for more than a week.”

They then took me to another room, where they tortured me relentlessly, stripping me naked and applying electric shocks everywhere on my body. The next thing I remember was seeing the general again. He came into the room with a man from Turkistan; he was a big man but was stooped over, because his hands were chained to the shackles of his feet, preventing him from standing upright. “This guy is no use to us anymore. This is what is going to happen to you. We’ve had him for one hour, and this is what happens.” Suddenly, a guy they called Hamish, which means snake, came at the poor man from behind and gave him a terrible karate kick that sent him crashing across the room. A guard went over to shake him, but he didn’t respond. Turning to the general, the guard said, “Basha, I think he’s dead.” “Throw him away then. Let the dogs have him.” They dragged the dead man out. “What do you think of that?” asked the general, staring into my face. “At least he can rest now”, I replied.

Then they brought another man in. This man, I think, was from Europe – his exclamations of pain didn’t sound like those of someone from the Middle East. He was in a terrible state. The guard came in with a machine and started to wire up the guy to it. They told the poor man that they were going to give him a full electric shock, measuring ten on the scale. Before they even turned the machine on, the man started to gasp and then slumped in the chair. I think he died of a heart attack. The general said that there was one more person I had to see. “This person will make you see that we can keep you here for as long as we want, all of your life, if we choose.”

Part 1

Part 2

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Thu Feb 10, 2011 15:53

Check

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23159

For insight to the management.

by Joe Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:27

Thanks for featuring the Egyptian revolution at last editors. The fact that demonstrations are taking place in Galway as well as in Dublin is significant .

I would like to know why none of the election material of left wing groups standing candidates in the election raises the issue of the world shattering events taking place in North Africa and the Middle East .
Left wing groups that claim to uphold revolutionary traditions tend to justify their engagement in electoral politics by saying that the process can be used "as a platform" to support revolutionary movements . Now that they have a platform they should use it .

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Fri Feb 11, 2011 13:38

..are saying Mub arak and family have flitted Cairo. BBC also. Not clear yet.

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Fri Feb 11, 2011 13:45

reckon he has gone to a Sinai resort, and that the army are holding loyal.

by TD - Free Palestine Campaign Fri Feb 11, 2011 17:37

The Guardian's Chris McGreal was outside the Egyptian state TV building when the historic announcement was made: They were completely stunned. When this very brief announcement came from the vice president Omar Suleiman, he simply said "Mubark's gone", there was a a pause. Then a ripple went through the crowd and they went wild. Some fell onto their knees praying, people were weeping instantly. They were hugging each other, chanting in unison, "Mubarak's gone", words to that effect. There was joy, euphoria, call it what you want. I think people couldn't quite grasp that this revolution that they'd led for 18 days had finally delivered.

However, Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, has been quick to instill a note of caution: But the game isn't over, and now a word of caution. I worry that senior generals may want to keep (with some changes) a Mubarak-style government without Mubarak. In essence the regime may have decided that Mubarak had become a liability and thrown him overboard — without any intention of instituting the kind of broad, meaningful democracy that the public wants. Senior generals have enriched themselves and have a stake in a political and economic structure that is profoundly unfair and oppressive. And remember that the military running things directly really isn't that different from what has been happening: Mubarak's government was a largely military regime (in civilian clothes) even before this. Mubarak, Vice President Suleiman and so many others — including nearly all the governors — are career military men. So if the military now takes over, how different is it?

by Bill Van Auken and General Joe Fri Feb 11, 2011 17:58

“Washington is acutely conscious that what it confronts in Egypt is a social revolution. This has been driven home in the last few days as a strike wave has spread throughout the country, bringing into struggle virtually every section of the country’s working population, from textile workers, to bus drivers, hospital workers, actors, steelworkers, teachers, hospital workers, journalists, shipyard workers, peasants and countless others. Workers have occupied factories, blockaded major roads and fought pitched battles with riot police.

The greatest fear of the ruling elite in the United States and in every other country is that this mass uprising in Egypt will serve as a spark, radicalizing workers throughout the Middle East, Africa and beyond under conditions in which the profound and protracted crisis of world capitalism is creating mass discontent in every corner of the world."

What follows are three important articles on the situation in Egypt

Egyptian military tortured, “disappeared” thousands of demonstrators

Since demonstrations and strikes erupted against the Mubarak regime on January 25, the Egyptian military has arrested, tortured and “disappeared” thousands, according to reports from the Guardian newspaper and human rights organizations. The revelations explode the claim advanced by the Obama administration that Egypt’s army is a neutral arbiter in the crisis and can lead a “transition” to human rights and democracy. They also give the lie to the claim that the military can be relied upon to protect the population from the hated state security forces, an argument advanced by both Mohammed ElBaradei and the Muslim Brotherhood. The military has, in fact, assumed the brutal role of the police and security forces, which have, at least in part, dissolved in the face of the revolution.....

Full text is available here: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/feb2011/disa-f11.shtml

And another story: Israel staggered by Egypt protests, social tensions at home

The right-wing Israeli government of Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has been staggered by the massive demonstrations and strike wave engulfing Egypt, its critical Arab ally in the region, and the simultaneous emergence of social opposition in Israel itself. In recent weeks, there have been several demonstrations in Israel’s predominantly Arab towns in support of the Egypt protests, including a small one in Tel Aviv of Palestinian and Jewish Israelis. In addition, Israel’s newspapers have noted in passing expressions of public sympathy for the mass protests in Egypt calling for an end to the Mubarak regime.

Perhaps most interestingly is this:

Israel’s politicians and military chiefs are preparing for war in the event the Mubarak regime falls and is replaced by a government not to Tel Aviv’s liking. Netanyahu told parliament that Israel must be prepared for any outcome in Egypt, “by reinforcing the might of the State of Israel.” A defence official told the news site Ynet that a fundamental change of government in Egypt might lead to a “revolution in Israel’s security doctrine,” because the Camp David Accords was an important strategic asset, “which enables the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] to focus on other theatres.”

Full text here: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/feb2011/isra-f11.shtml

And lastly the third article: Mubarak’s speech: only revolution can oust regime
11 February 2011
With his speech on Thursday night, Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak threw down the gauntlet to the mass protests and growing strike wave that have rocked his regime for nearly three weeks.

After widespread media reports that Mubarak would announce his resignation—and rumors that he had already fled the country—the Egyptian president appeared on national television to declare that he would “remain adamant to shoulder my responsibility, protecting the constitution and safeguarding the interests of Egyptians” until elections are held and his term expires next September.

Full text here: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/feb2011/pers-f11.shtml

by Brian Murphy Fri Feb 11, 2011 18:14

‎Reactions so far: On Al-Manar TV, the station run by the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah faction, Egyptian anchor Amr Nassef, who was once imprisoned in Egypt for alleged ties to Islamists, cried emotionally on the air "Allahu Akbar (God is great), the Pharaoh is dead. Am I dreaming? I'm afraid to be dreaming": Fireworks light up the sky over Beirut. Celebratory gunfire in the Shiite areas of south Lebanon and in southern Beirut. In Tunisia; cries of joy and the thundering honking of horns.

Godammit! this is one serious day of joy for the Arab street and people of conscience worldwide.?

by Revolt in Egypt Fri Feb 11, 2011 18:38

The Revolution has won, well done Egypt. You have shown us the true meaning of that phrase "PEOPLE POWER", let us hope that it inspires more and more, to the rest of the middle east, but also to beyond... let us all "Walk like an Egyptian"...

Ongoing coverage of the Egyptian revolt was covered by indymedia ireland at:
Protests Have Broken Out in Egypt: "Mubarak, Get out!" (http://www.indymedia.ie/article/98733 )

The people stood up

300 were killed, thousands were injured

Al Jazeera and other media played a huge part (some of them were also also arrested and beaten)

The people were organised and determined (this a page from a 30 page pamphlet on how to bring down the pharoah

People power has shown what true coverage can do once people have lost their fear

Caption: Tahrir Sq reacts to resignation - AlJazeeraEnglish

by Benny Fri Feb 11, 2011 18:56

Thousands outside Egyptian Embassy in Amman. Some shouting "ya Saudi goum goum" (Oh Saudis rise up!). The square in front of the Egyptian embassy in Beirut has become another Tahrir Sq with fireworks in the sky.

Hamas is calling on people to rally tonight all over Gaza to celebrate the resignation of Hosni Mubarak and his regime. People are patrolling the streets and raising Egyptian flags. Some Hamas fighters have fired into the air since it was announced that Mubarak stepped down.

The supreme council of the (Egyptian) armed forces is saluting the spirits of those who were martyred.

by joe Fri Feb 11, 2011 19:34

A mood of cautious celebration outside the Egyptian embassy Clyde Road when the announcement came.

by TD - FPC Fri Feb 11, 2011 19:49

The Guardian is out Al Jazeera-ing Al Jazeera at the moment with its vibrant, virtual reality reportage.?

The march from the presidential palace back to Tahrir square was a wall of sound. Car horns blared, amateur fireworks exploded centimetres above our heads,onlookers cheered raucously from the balcony above. Some people fainted, others unfurled their Egyptian flags in the middle of the street to pray, and many, many people had tears in their eyes.

Amid the jubilation though, there was a moment of reflection for those who died to make this day possible. 'Be happy martyrs, for today we feast at your victory,' sung the crowds.

On the ground were military police in red berets, all smiles and thumbs-up to demonstrators. Apprehension about what might happen next in an Egypt now under army control was being pushed aside to allow for celebrations, but as the procession reached the high-walled Ministry of Defence, Egyptians could not resist reminding their new overlords of who now held the balance of power in the Arab World's most populous nation. 'Here, here, the Egyptians are here,' they shouted up at darkened windows, pointing down to the street.

"For 18 days we have withstood tear gas, rubber bullets, live ammunition, molotov cocktails, thugs on horseback, the scepticism and fear of our loved ones, and the worst sort of ambivalence from an international community that claims to care about democracy," said Karim Medhat Ennarah, a protester who has provided the Guardian with updates throughout the uprising. "But we held our ground. We did it." (Jack Shenker on the atmosphere in Tahrir Square right now).

The Swiss government has frozen any assets belonging to Hosni Mubarak or family in Switzerland.

by Dave Sat Feb 12, 2011 00:23

Time to walk like an Egyptian. They have shown that peaceful revolution cannot be crushed. Rioting is what the elites want.

I hope true democracy supporters in Ireland and the UK have taken heed as It has to be our turn soon

by OMG Sat Feb 12, 2011 02:06

Someone tell me I am going mad, but I am trying to watch Sulieman's speech when Mubarak resigned and all references of him saying "God Help Us All" has been removed.

Even on Al Jazeera where I first heard it, it has been changed. They have added an extra bit to the translators speech. And bbc have removed all reference to it also, as well as Youtube.

The "Ministry of Truth" has gone overdrive since it was released. It is obvious that Egypt is not free, Sulieman is staying! His heat of the moment comment has been removed.

If anyone can post that speech, please do, before it is removed from public record.

by x Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:42

"I hope true democracy supporters in Ireland and the UK have taken heed as It has to be our turn soon."

Last time I checked, both Ireland and the UK have representative parliamentary democracies.

by joe Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:07

Yes , but the mummified look of resignation in Sulieman's face as he was making the announcement said more , and bear in mind the fact that Mubarak's exit came on the 32nd anniversary of the Iranian revolution .

by joe Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:36

Mubarak predicted a “snowball” of revolution that “wouldn't skip any Arab country in the Middle East and in the Gulf ” , in a telephone conversation on Thursday with former Israeli cabinet minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer.
Reuters quotes the dictator warning Ben-Eliezer , 'We see the democracy the United States spearheaded in Iran and with Hamas, in Gaza, and that's the fate of the Middle East' .
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/11/us-egypt-isra...10211

by joe Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:59

Libya’s Col Muammar Qaddafi called Mubarak to offer support on Thursday , according to reports .
In the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, officials were handing out cash worth over $2,500 to every family, to appease them ahead of protests opposition groups plan for Monday.
Thousands of riot police out in Algiers today to stop a planned demonstration .

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidentia...zR8Si

by Joe Sat Feb 12, 2011 17:27

The Egyptian community in Ireland and the IAWM have called a rally for tomorrow.

EGYTIAN REVOLUTION CELEBRATION RALLY - Sunday February 13th, 4pm, the Spire O Connell St, Dublin.

by pessimist Sat Feb 12, 2011 19:57

Today is for celebrating with the Egyptian people. Tomorrow, is for ensuring that the military give way to a true egyptian democracy. Then follow up the rest of the juntas, theocracys and parasitic monarchies that blight the middle east.