Crescent International
Pro-democracy and pro-dignity protests, into their 17th day, have now spread to Egypt's rubber-stamp parliament as well and joined by workers from many sectors, including textile, steel, hospital and docks at the Suez Canal.
Cairo,
February 10, 2011 - 0900 DST
Pro-democracy and pro-dignity protests, into their 17th day, have now spread to Egypt's rubber-stamp parliament as well and joined by workers from many sectors, including textile, steel, hospital and docks at the Suez Canal. On February 9, demonstrators blocked entrance to parliament (People's Assembly) saying it was an illegitimate body since the Mubarak regime had massively rigged last November-December parliamentary elections.
Mubarak's ruling party, the National Democratic Party (NDP) claimed to have won 480 seats out of a total of 518. One wonders where are the regime's supporters that claims to have enjoyed such massive popular support only a few weeks earlier.
Mubarak's henchmen, meanwhile threatened that a military coup would take place unless the protesters abandoned their protests and went home. Both vice president Omar Suleiman, a former general and until January 29 the country's dreaded intelligence chief, and Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit warned in separate interviews that unless the demonstrators entered a "dialogue" with the government, the army would take over.
Suleiman even threatened use of "police tools" unless the demonstrators behaved. He has also claimed the people of Egypt were not ready for democracy. One wonders what Suleiman means by police tools when the regime has used its shock troops, referred to as riot police, that have murdered more than 300 peaceful protesters and bloodied thousands of others during 17 days of protests.
Another day of massive protests has been called for Friday after Juma Salat on February 11. The pattern has now become clear: there are massive rallies every Tuesday and Friday. Last Tuesday's rally was the largest ever despite street blockades by the military.
A pattern has emerged in the way protests are organized. People arrive in Tahrir Square after work and spend the night there. They include men, young and old, and women and children. Tahrir Square is gradually taking the look of a tent city. There are also huge posters of those martyred by the riot police.
Despite massive food shortages--people have not been paid in weeks and food is running short--the people's spirits have not been dampened. With each passing day, their determination grows stronger; their demand remains unchanged: Mubarak must go, and NOW. They are not prepared to wait until September, the date announced by Mubarak when he would step down.
Mubarak's fellow Arab dictators zionist supporters have also stepped up their efforts to save his teetering regime. On February 9, Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak arrived in Washington DC to urge the Americans not to press for Mubarak's departure. Barak (no relation of US President Barack Obama but clearly the American's boss!) need not worry. The Americans have been speaking from both sides of their mouths for weeks. They are also in close touch with the Egyptian military to make sure the freedom-seeking people do not succeed.
The zionists, however, are taking no chances. Israeli sharp shooters are already involved in massive crimes against the protesters. They are shooting and killing the demonstrators using telescope-mounted high velocity rifles hundreds of thousands of which were shipped to Egypt only last week.
The showdown in Cairo and other cities of Egypt is heading towards a climax. The people are determined not to give up.
END
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