January 31, 2011
Egypte : 7 jours de soulèvement exceptionnels
Live Updates from Egypt, Our Team in Tunisia
January 31, 2011
| On the Ground: Egypt, Tunisia |
| Live Updates From Egypt -- Cairo, Suez, Alexandria |
Dear Human Rights Supporter, |
Our teams continue to send live updates from Egypt and gather on-the-ground information in Tunisia.
In Suez, Egypt: “Police and government officials have pulled out so there are no government services. People formed impromptu block committees to provide local security.”
In Alexandria, Egypt: “The most touching moment was when one of the youth leaders in Alexandria asked us to help him send an observer team to elections in Tunis [Tunisia’s capital]: “We will pay for ourselves, but we want to see how a real election happens."”
The massive protests in Egypt and Tunisia forced the issue of their governments’ oppression into sharp focus on the world stage – but Human Rights Watch has long investigated these human rights abuses in North Africa.
In Egypt, anger at government abuses fuels the protests. We documented Egypt’s crackdown on opposition parties and activists before last November’s parliamentary election and spoke out against the country’s Emergency Law, which gives police free rein to detain people without charge.
In Tunisia, our research exposed authorities’ oppression of former political prisoners, as well as their strangulating control over labor unions, student unions, and journalist unions.
We use this information to give voice to the oppressed, to push for change, and to ultimately help make justice possible.
Read live updates from Egypt >>Update from Egypt
sent by Alain Farhi from Roger Bilboul
Further to Yves' update on the situation in Egypt, I have spoken to both Carmen Weinstein and Ben Gaon today who inform me that everything is safe.
Carmen Weinstein sent two of her employees yesterday to check on the synagogue in Adly Street and they were subjected to warning shots from a neighbour who is also an army officer. The employees had to prove their identity before they were allowed to go into the synagogue.
As of a couple of hours ago, there is still no security detail outside the Alexandria synagogue but the army has ring-fenced Old Cairo where the Ben Ezra synagogue is located.
Roger Bilboul
ÉGYPTE - Les manifestants ne reculent pas
par Gerard Fredj
Rien ne semble pouvoir empêcher la marche des contestataires égyptiens qui exigent le départ de Moubarak.
La journée de dimanche a débuté par une démonstration de force du pouvoir: déploiement de chars au Caire et des les grandes villes du pays, hélicoptères militaires et deux avions de chasse survolant la capitale, omniprésence des forces armées.
Cela n'a pas empêché de nouvelles démonstrations de masse demandant le départ du Président Moubarak. suite>>
Rien ne semble pouvoir empêcher la marche des contestataires égyptiens qui exigent le départ de Moubarak.La journée de dimanche a débuté par une démonstration de force du pouvoir: déploiement de chars au Caire et des les grandes villes du pays, hélicoptères militaires et deux avions de chasse survolant la capitale, omniprésence des forces armées.
Cela n'a pas empêché de nouvelles démonstrations de masse demandant le départ du Président Moubarak. suite>>
Netanyahou prudent dans ses commentaires sur la situation égyptienne
par David Koskas
Au cours de la réunion hebdomadaire de son cabinet ministériel, le Premier ministre Benyamin Netanyahou s'est prononcé sur les rapports qu'entretient Israël avec l'Égypte : " La paix entre Israël et l'Égypte dure depuis plus de 30 ans et notre objectif est de s'assurer que cette relation continue ".
suite sur israelinfos>>
Au cours de la réunion hebdomadaire de son cabinet ministériel, le Premier ministre Benyamin Netanyahou s'est prononcé sur les rapports qu'entretient Israël avec l'Égypte : " La paix entre Israël et l'Égypte dure depuis plus de 30 ans et notre objectif est de s'assurer que cette relation continue ".
suite sur israelinfos>>
Israël et l'autorité palestinienne ont failli signer un accord il y a deux ans
par Gerard Fredj
Ehud Olmert, Premier ministre israélien de juin 2006 à janvier 2009 rédige ses mémoires.
Le quotidien Yediot Aharonot vient d'en livrer quelques pages vendredi dernier, qui confirment les révélations publiées par Al Jazzera.
Olmert explique comment il a essayé, depuis son élection, de créer une atmosphère plus confiante dans les négociations, en évitant par exemple, ce qu'il considérait des points de blocages (poursuite des constructions dans les Territoires, mais évitement dans les zones qui devaient revenir aux palestiniens).
Parvenu à ce qui lui semble être un accord acceptable, Olmert le présente à Abbas, lors d'une rencontre qui s'est tenue dans son bureau à Jérusalem, le 16 septembre 2008. suite>>
Ehud Olmert, Premier ministre israélien de juin 2006 à janvier 2009 rédige ses mémoires.
Le quotidien Yediot Aharonot vient d'en livrer quelques pages vendredi dernier, qui confirment les révélations publiées par Al Jazzera.
Olmert explique comment il a essayé, depuis son élection, de créer une atmosphère plus confiante dans les négociations, en évitant par exemple, ce qu'il considérait des points de blocages (poursuite des constructions dans les Territoires, mais évitement dans les zones qui devaient revenir aux palestiniens).Parvenu à ce qui lui semble être un accord acceptable, Olmert le présente à Abbas, lors d'une rencontre qui s'est tenue dans son bureau à Jérusalem, le 16 septembre 2008. suite>>
Best Photos of the Day from Art Daily
January 30, 2011
Erik Izraelewicz proposé pour la direction du Monde
Journaliste économique qui a dirigé Les Echos et La Tribune, Erik Izraelewicz, 56 ans, a été choisi parmi 13 candidats pour devenir le 10ème directeur le Monde, mais il devra encore être adoubé par au moins 60% des journalistes du quotidien.
A l’issue des auditions, "les trois actionnaires majoritaires du Groupe Le Monde ont décidé de présenter au Conseil de surveillance du 7 février la candidature d’Erik Izraelewicz pour la direction du quotidien Le Monde", selon le communiqué diffusé par le journal.
Journaliste économique tout au long de sa carrière, Erik Izraelewicz, a été directeur de la rédaction de La Tribune et de celle des Echos après avoir été rédacteur en chef au Monde. Diplômé d’HEC et du Centre de formation des journalistes, il est également titulaire d’un doctorat en économie. suite>>
Danny Schechter dissects the news
The Radio Show
New show every Friday at 1PM ET from NYC on the internet at the Progressive Radio Network. The 01.28.2011 Guests: Aimée Kligman, who was exiled from Egypt with her family through ethnic cleansing will address the events unfolding in that country and Kathleen Barry, PH.D. - Professor Emerita, Penn State University and author, to discuss her latest book, Unmaking War, Remaking Men: How Empathy Can Reshape Our Politics, Our Soldiers and Ourselves. Listen to the 01.28.2011 podcast below or download this episode [right click and save]:
Where in the world is Gamal Mubarak?
There has been a great deal of speculation over the man who was widely expected to succeed Hosni Mubarak. Gamal Mubarak, the president's younger son, is thought to have fled to London after protests began in Egypt. At the Egyptian Embassy in London, protesters have been demonstrating for a third day. Gamal has not been seen in England, but he would not be welcome if he did appear. Al Jazeera Paul Brennan reports from London.
Israel's Unjustified Anguish Over End Of Mubarak
by MJ Rosenberg
Aluf Benn, one of Israel's top journalists, writes that without President Mubarak, Israel will have to find new friends in the Middle East. He notes that Turkey is now gone too. (Israel's relations with Turkey deteriorated after the Turkish Freedom Flotilla incident and following two years of Turkish criticism of the brutal Israeli blockade of Gaza).
This line is not unique to Benn. It appears from the media that most Israelis believe this, as do their defenders in the United States.
But they brought this situation on themselves.
First of all, President Mubarak, for all his faults, maintained the unpopular peace treaty with Israel even after his predecessor was assassinated in front of him for having signed it.
Egypt demonstrated that even after the assassination of its President, it would maintain its international commitments including the treaty with Israel.
In contrast, following Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, his successor, Binyamin Netanyahu, repudiated his predecessor's commitments to the Palestinians and to Egypt too, which had a promise from Rabin that Israel would withdraw from the occupied territories. more>>
Aluf Benn, one of Israel's top journalists, writes that without President Mubarak, Israel will have to find new friends in the Middle East. He notes that Turkey is now gone too. (Israel's relations with Turkey deteriorated after the Turkish Freedom Flotilla incident and following two years of Turkish criticism of the brutal Israeli blockade of Gaza).
This line is not unique to Benn. It appears from the media that most Israelis believe this, as do their defenders in the United States.
But they brought this situation on themselves.
First of all, President Mubarak, for all his faults, maintained the unpopular peace treaty with Israel even after his predecessor was assassinated in front of him for having signed it.
Egypt demonstrated that even after the assassination of its President, it would maintain its international commitments including the treaty with Israel.
In contrast, following Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, his successor, Binyamin Netanyahu, repudiated his predecessor's commitments to the Palestinians and to Egypt too, which had a promise from Rabin that Israel would withdraw from the occupied territories. more>>
Palestinian Papers: What The Al Jazeera Blockbuster Means
by M.J. Rosenberg
Al Jazeera`s stunning revelations about Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have different meanings for Israelis, Americans and for Palestinians.
The bottom line is that, despite the assurances it gave to the Palestinian people that it was driving a hard bargain with the Israelis, the Palestinian Authority accepted Israel`s position on every key point: borders, Jerusalem, settlements, refugees.
On no major issue did the PA hold the line. None.
The Palestinians offered Israel everything Israel wants and Israel still said `no` with the backing of the United States.
So what does it mean?
For Palestinians, it means that the Palestinian Authority understands that with the United States solidly backing every Israeli position no matter how extreme, the only thing it can do is negotiate for crumbs. It never told the Palestinian people that it was unable to represent them in any serious way. Its credibility is in tatters, although it is hard not to have sympathy for the PA. What can it really do when it, not Israel, has no negotiating partner and, on top of it, America sits on its face like a thousand pound gorilla? continued>>
Al Jazeera`s stunning revelations about Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have different meanings for Israelis, Americans and for Palestinians.
The bottom line is that, despite the assurances it gave to the Palestinian people that it was driving a hard bargain with the Israelis, the Palestinian Authority accepted Israel`s position on every key point: borders, Jerusalem, settlements, refugees.
On no major issue did the PA hold the line. None.
The Palestinians offered Israel everything Israel wants and Israel still said `no` with the backing of the United States.
So what does it mean?
For Palestinians, it means that the Palestinian Authority understands that with the United States solidly backing every Israeli position no matter how extreme, the only thing it can do is negotiate for crumbs. It never told the Palestinian people that it was unable to represent them in any serious way. Its credibility is in tatters, although it is hard not to have sympathy for the PA. What can it really do when it, not Israel, has no negotiating partner and, on top of it, America sits on its face like a thousand pound gorilla? continued>>
POUVOIR….(S) ….ET SOCIETE
par Guy Crequie
QUE FAIRE ?
QUE FAIRE ?
Quelques brèves réflexions d'un écrivain ordinaire à finalité philosophique
Guy CREQUIE
Nos sociétés modernes, présentent le même symptôme qui tend à étendre sa toile au-delà de la diversité des culturelles sur tous les continents. Je veux parler, de l'oligarchie ploutocrate.
C'est-à-dire, le pouvoir de quelques uns, et notamment lié à la richesse. Certes, si ce sont les grecs qui ont inventé ces mots, notre référence, ne peut plus être cette société grecque athénienne. En effet, alors, la citoyenneté s'exerçait à 100%. C'étaient les esclaves qui effectuaient le lourd labeur !
Je ne revendique pas, la République des philosophes de PLATON, je dis même, que l'idée de philosophe de métier devra disparaître un jour. La philosophie, enseignée dans toutes les classes et progressivement depuis la classe de 3ème, y compris, dans les disciplines scientifiques, telle, est ma perspective comme outil d'aptitude, des consciences individuelles et collectives à développer une capacité d'autonomie d'appréciation sur les faits, les idéologies, les systèmes politiques, plutôt, que d'être balloté par les phénomènes changeants, au gré des médias et des élites dirigeantes.
Ainsi, actuellement, les économistes font ce constat : dans bien des pays, le pouvoir de l'argent est détenu par de 1 à 5% de la population, selon les pays.
Les inégalités s'accroissent, les riches deviennent toujours plus riches. Alors que le surenchérissement du prix des matières premières agricoles, risque à moyen terme de provoquer de nouvelles émeutes de la faim, que des centaines de millions d'êtres vivent avec moins de 2 dollars par jour, on voit dans certains pays industrialisés, des dirigeants d'entreprises, ou des Présidents de conseils d'administration de multinationales, gagnés mensuellement, de 600 à 800 fois le salaire d'un ouvrier.
Auparavant, il était appréhendé, que le créateur de richesses certes était riche lui-même, mais cela apparaissait concevable, dans la mesure où la richesse produite, profitait également à la société. Ainsi, l'aspiration à la réussite motivait des familles. L'ascenseur social était possible, par le travail et l'éducation, et, les classes moyennes se sont constituées.
Or, de nos jours, les classes moyennes sont spoliées également dans maints pays, et le point nodal du devenir des sociétés est là :
Actuellement, les classes moyennes sont bousculées, mais pour autant, ne réagissent pas en alliance avec les couches les plus fragiles et ceci, car pour elle, compte tenu de leur statut lié à leurs efforts, redescendre vers le bas est une tension psychologue et idéologique difficile. L'avenir selon l'évolution des vécus, répondra historiquement à cette problématique.
Présentement, alors qu'il y a environ encore 30 ans, un dollar était investi dans la production de richesses matérielles et de services, pour 30 utilisés à la consommation, à l'épargne, aux loisirs et aux impôts. Actuellement, un dollar est réinvesti pour 260 utilisés autrement, dont et hélas, une part importante de la virtualité de la spéculation financière.
La spéculation financière gangrène nos sociétés. Un an après la crise financière internationale la plus grave depuis 1930, et ce, alors que les mini crises sont de plus en plus nombreuses = quid de la soi disant régulation du capitalisme ? Les banques aidées par la puissance publique, ont retrouvé leurs profits colossaux .Les paradis fiscaux sont plus surveillés, mais pas au point de les faire trembler.
Ce qui caractérise nos sociétés, c'est l'inégalité dés la naissance ! Les concepts de liberté et d'égalité, sont devenus une mystification. Si les conditions psycho biologiques, sont des conditions de possibilité, nous sommes tous et tous, modelés par nos rapports sociaux objectifs et le bain culturel dans lequel nous sommes irrigués.
Le terme de démocratie est un mythe ! Même dans nos sociétés occidentales actuelles, il s'agit d'une démocratie représentative. Le peuple, certes vote, mais comme aux USA et même en France, lors de certaines consultations électorales, il s'exprime parfois à moins de 50%, ne se retrouvant pas dans le fonctionnement de la classe politique . La Suisse, utilise largement le référendum d'initiative populaire, et parfois, les résultats sont contestés, lorsqu'ils ne correspondent pas aux attentes médiatiques, ou des élites politiques. Parfois, et cela s'est vérifié lors des référendums pour le projet de constitution européenne, lorsque des peuples rejettent le texte proposé, le gouvernement pense qu'il s'est trompé ; et propose à nouveau ultérieurement le texte amendé, ou pire, le passe en force par la voie parlementaire.
Au stade de la mondialisation, de l'existence de mainte instance supranationale, la fonction d'élu devient un métier, une sorte de science. Les élus s'entourent d'experts invisibles, ou très présents selon, et qui de fait, fréquemment exercent le pouvoir indirect. C'est l'avènement de la technostructure, ce qui brouille encore davantage, l'exercice de la démocratie. Les lobbies exercent leurs pressions .Il en est ainsi par exemple des industries d'armement aux USA, des juges, etc.
Entre le discours politique et les actes, il y a l'exercice du pouvoir. La démocratie sociale, qui est l'irruption de la vie syndicale, associative, ..Est contestée, voire réprimée, lorsqu'elle conteste les orientations de la classe politique au pouvoir, lesquelles cependant parfois, sont étrangères à l'intérêt général,
Parfois, 2 ans avant une élection, le Maire : titulaire de la fonction dans une grande ville, ou le Président de la République, prépare sa réélection. Il s'en suit, des stratégies de communication, des visites à des groupes sociaux ciblés, des aides pour entretenir l'espoir, ou la fidélité électorale.
En son temps, MONTESQUIEU, avait parlé de la vertu de l'exercice du pouvoir, comme étant celle du service du bien commun et le bon fonctionnement des services publics, était l'un des piliers de cette conception. De plus en plus, l'exercice du pouvoir, est surtout vécu comme pour soi ou sa famille. En politique, dans le monde économique, et même dans le sport et les différentes formes d'art, on constate, de plus en plus, la reproduction des hiérarchies et hérédités familiales.
Les clans des élus politiques, journalistes, comédiens, artistes, sportifs, se retrouvent sur plusieurs générations dans des activités de réussite et de mise en valeur médiatique qui freinent de fait, la promotion d'autres.
Certes, chaque être est spécifique et unique. Il y aura toujours des personnes qui réussiront plus que d'autres, en tel domaine ou discipline. Cependant, tout gouvernement doit tendre à un meilleur exercice des droits et devoirs humains.
- L'éducation : Actuellement, dans maints pays, celle ci est basée sur la réussite des meilleurs élèves. Au fur et à mesure des classes d'âge, l'écrémage s'opère, et les enfants des classes populaires sont absents des grandes écoles et Universités. Ce constat, selon des spécialistes, s'est aggravé ces 20 dernières années. Le but de l'éducation ne devrait pas être celui à priori, d'adapter les élèves aux meilleurs sur la base de données théoriques, mais de chercher à apprendre à apprendre en partant du bas pour permettre au plus grand nombre, d'atteindre des connaissances fondamentales nécessaires pour son développement présent et futur.
- Les médias : L'objectif recherché, est présentement l'audimat. Si un programme tire vers le bas les auditeurs mais a de l'audience, c'est cela l'essentiel ! Il l'est au détriment d'émissions de qualité mais pur élites et donc le bon peuple n'a pas à connaître ou à réfléchir, au-delà, de ce qui est espéré de lui. L'information, va très vite, trop vite, et malgré la multiplicité des chaînes télévisées, il y a souvent copie conforme, dans le mode de présentation des informations.
Le spectaculaire, le drame sont valorisés, car faisant appel aux émotions, mais le noble, des actes humanistes de paix et de solidarité, touchant aux valeurs, non rentables pour l'audimat de masse sont souvent ignorés.
- La démocratie : Sera plus réelle, lorsque les peuples désigneront leurs représentants directs au sein de l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies ou du Parlement de l'humanité, peut importe l'appellation. Actuellement, il est cette idée parmi les élites, que le peuple ne sait pas, il faut faire pour lui !
Actuellement le pouvoir de l'ONU est dilué. Des instances de plus en plus nombreuses obscurcissent notre compréhension des événements de société, et leur existence, pour autant, ne permet pas de faire face à des situations nécessaires ! Exemple, l'Union Européenne ne parvient pas à se mettre d'accord pour fixer un taux de change permettant de faire face à l'évaluation actuelle anormale des monnaies américaines et chinoises. Banque mondiale, FMI, OMC, OIT, G8, G20, sans parler des accords ou unions par continent, bref, tout est fait, pour éloigner le citoyen de la compréhension de la vie publique.
Nous avons déjà connu : des émeutes de la faim, le prix exorbitant du pétrole dans certains pays occidentaux, les prix des matières premières agricoles qui s'envolent, bref, de nouvelles menaces se font jour. Avec la crise écologiste, en maltraitant la nature, même si nous devenions raisonnables dans la consommation équilibrée des énergies, et une part grandissante des énergies renouvelables, le mal est fait !
Ce que nous faisons maintenant, aura des incidences dans 30 ans. En attendant, nous connaîtrons encore des inondations anormales, des sécheresses imprévues, des tornades, la baisse des températures….Celles ci, vont affecter nos économies et vécus sociaux.
Le fonctionnement oligarchique, ne peut prétendre, faire face aux exigences de civilisation. Ce sont les Nations et continents, qui seront les plus en cohésion sociale, qui résisteront le mieux, et qui trouveront les solutions les plus adaptées au vécu commun nécessaire.
Copyright Guy CREQUIE
Ecrivain français-chercheur en sciences sociales
Engagé pour l'humanisme contemporain par la paix et les droits et devoirs humains.
Events in Alexandria
received by Yves Fedida
Dear friends,
Viewing the violence of recent events in Egypt, you have rightly wondered what is becoming of the local Jewish communities there.
I spoke just now with Mrs Weinstein, the President of the Cairo Community. She is safe and sound and indicates that security forces have replaced the police guarding the synagogues. These remain completely locked and closed and nothing bad has
befallen them.
Earlier Roger Bilboul and I successively spoke to M. Ben Youssef Gaon, President of the Alexandria Community this morning.
Here is what he told us :
The shops along the street of the Synagogue (Nebi Daniel Street)have been looted, as have many other shops especially jewelery shops in town together with the main Alexandria Carrefour store. All the main police stations in downtown Alex have been torched with some burnt to the ground .
Thugs are roaming the streets, now void of any police force.
The police and their informers usually mounting a punctilious guard, 24/7, in front of the synagogue have totally disappeared. The Synagogue employees (gardeners, handymen, cleaning personnel, accountant and secretary) have not shown up for work.
In a totally insecure environment, only M. Gaon and M. Abd El Nabi, the warden, are standing their ground, alone in a massive building, showing a daytime presence at least on the synagogue grounds to discourage would be intruders.
We should all recognise the courage it takes to be there, caring at this time.
For its part the Nebi Daniel Association wishes to publicly acknowledge the courage and dedication of M. Abd El Nabi and M. Gaon. Hopefully their action will keep our heritage out of harm's way until reason prevails.
Best
Yves Fedida
Anti-Government Protesters in Cairo Smash Treasures and Mummies in Egyptian Museum
Arabiya television showed soldiers, armed and in battle fatigues, patrolling the museum that houses tens of thousands of objects in its galleries and storerooms, including most of the King Tutankhamen collection. Display cases were shattered and several broken statues and porcelain figures lay on the floor. more>>
Sephardic Heritage Update 462
by David Shasha
Friends,
As the dramatic events in Egypt continue to unfold, I would like to direct our readers to my essay on “The Yacoubian Building” which provides some context to what we are seeing on our televisions. The essay, "Contemporary Egypt on the Edge of an Abyss," was first published in SHU 322. along with an article by the great Egyptian reformer Saad Eddine
Ibrahim.
Given the level of ignorance about Egyptian culture and history that we are seeing from the so-called "experts" on our news networks as they provide coverage of the events, I hope that my article can provide a sense of the deep discontent that has brought about these protest demonstrations.
http://groups.google.com/
Friends,
As the dramatic events in Egypt continue to unfold, I would like to direct our readers to my essay on “The Yacoubian Building” which provides some context to what we are seeing on our televisions. The essay, "Contemporary Egypt on the Edge of an Abyss," was first published in SHU 322. along with an article by the great Egyptian reformer Saad Eddine
Ibrahim.
Given the level of ignorance about Egyptian culture and history that we are seeing from the so-called "experts" on our news networks as they provide coverage of the events, I hope that my article can provide a sense of the deep discontent that has brought about these protest demonstrations.
http://groups.google.com/
Looters break into Cairo museum
sent by Joe Rossano
AP – An Egyptian army soldier stands guard near antiquities of the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, …
ed: the looters were discovered to be members of the police and of Mubarak's NDP Party
Some of you might have read and seen these video clips
AP – An Egyptian army soldier stands guard near antiquities of the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, …Army Secures Egyptian Museum From Looters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTOf0x-eGU0
Looters break into Cairo museum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8nH3JuBd4s
Egyptian army storms museum to protect from The Egyptian police http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h5taeUh0aM
ed: the looters were discovered to be members of the police and of Mubarak's NDP Party
Embassy of Egypt, this IS an emergency!
The crackdown on freedoms is intensifying across Egypt as security forces use tear gas, water cannons, live rounds and lethal force against protesters.
Pick up the phone and help us call for human rights to be respected in Egypt!
Pick up the phone and help us call for human rights to be respected in Egypt!
Dear Aimee,
Thirty years of repression is spilling out onto the streets of Egypt in the forms of tear-gas, blood and bitter demonstrations.
For four days, Egyptian protestors have suffered at the hands of President Mubarak's security forces.
At least 14 protestors have been killed and scores more have been injured. The crackdown on freedoms is intensifying as authorities have cut all Internet and phone communications.
There's no telling how long the violence will continue or how many people will suffer in the end.
The number one request we're hearing from our fellow Egyptian activists is to have their voices heard at various Egyptian embassies and consulates.
We intend to do all we can to make that happen, but Egyptian authorities are making it very difficult.
Thirty years of repression is spilling out onto the streets of Egypt in the forms of tear-gas, blood and bitter demonstrations.
For four days, Egyptian protestors have suffered at the hands of President Mubarak's security forces.
At least 14 protestors have been killed and scores more have been injured. The crackdown on freedoms is intensifying as authorities have cut all Internet and phone communications.
There's no telling how long the violence will continue or how many people will suffer in the end.
The number one request we're hearing from our fellow Egyptian activists is to have their voices heard at various Egyptian embassies and consulates.
We intend to do all we can to make that happen, but Egyptian authorities are making it very difficult.
Our emails are not getting through and it will take far too long for our letters to reach anyone who can make a difference.
That is why we're asking you to place an urgent call to the Egyptian embassy (202) 895-5400 and dial "1" to speak to a real person about the State of Emergency in Egypt.
Ask the person who answers the call to pass on this important message – and don't take "no" for an answer:
"Please urge the Egyptian government to respect human rights, rein in the security forces, and restore access to all communications in Egypt."
Help us make the Egyptian embassy's phone ring off the hook! Then tell us how your call went.
Three decades of living under the harsh and oppressive State of Emergency is unacceptable.
The people of Egypt deserve to have their voices heard and to organize peacefully. They deserve human rights.
Phone calls are best. But you can also support human rights in Egypt by making a gift to Amnesty International today so that we can strengthen our efforts to monitor and quickly respond to dangerous situations such as these whenever they arise.
Thank you for keeping watch over human rights in Egypt. We will continue to keep you informed.
Geoffrey Mock
Country Specialist, Egypt
Amnesty International USA
January 29, 2011
Urgent Message From Egypt (please re-post if you can)
by Jerrod Dunn on Friday, 28 January 2011 at 04:11
To all the people of world
The people in Egypt are under governmental siege. Mubarak regime is banning Facebook, Twitter, and all other popular internet sites Now, the internet are completely blocked in Egypt. Tomorrow the government will block the 3 mobile phone network will be completely blocked. And there is news that even the phone landlines will be cut tomorrow, to prevent any news agency from following what will happen.
Suez city is already under siege now. The government cut the water supply and electricity, people, including, children and elderly are suffering there now. The patients in hospitals cannot get urgent medical care. The injured protesters are lying in the streets and the riot police are preventing people from helping them. The families of the killed protesters cannot get the bodies of their sons to bury them. This picture is the same in north Saini (El-Sheikh zoyad city) and in western Egypt (Al-salom). The riot police is cracking down on protesters in Ismailia, Alexandria, Fayoum, Shbin Elkoum, and Cairo, the capital, in many neighborhoods across the city.
The government is preparing to crackdown on the protesters in all Egyptian cities. They are using tear gas bombs, rubber and plastic pullets, chemicals like dilutes mustard gas against protesters. Several protesters today have been killed when the armored vehicles of the riot police hit them. Officials in plain clothes carrying blades and knives used to intimidate protesters. Thugs deployed by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior are roaming the streets of Cairo, setting fire on car-wheels as means of black propaganda to demonize protesters and justify police beatings and state torture
All this has been taken place over the past three days during the peaceful demonstrations in Cairo and other cities. Now, with the suspicious silence of the local media and the lack of coverage from the international media, Mubarak and his gang are blocking all the channels that can tell the world about what is happening.
People who call for their freedom need your support and help. Will you give them a hand?
The activists are flooding the net (youtube and other sites) with thousands of pictures and videos showing the riot police firing on armless people. The police started to use ammunition against protesters. 15-year old girl has been injured and another 25 year old man has been shot in the mouth. While nothing of these has appeared in the media, there is more to happen tomorrow. Will you keep silent? Will you keep your mouth shut while seeing all these cruelty and inhumane actions?
We don’t ask for much, just broadcast what is happening
Written by: Mariam Hussien
To all the people of world
The people in Egypt are under governmental siege. Mubarak regime is banning Facebook, Twitter, and all other popular internet sites Now, the internet are completely blocked in Egypt. Tomorrow the government will block the 3 mobile phone network will be completely blocked. And there is news that even the phone landlines will be cut tomorrow, to prevent any news agency from following what will happen.
Suez city is already under siege now. The government cut the water supply and electricity, people, including, children and elderly are suffering there now. The patients in hospitals cannot get urgent medical care. The injured protesters are lying in the streets and the riot police are preventing people from helping them. The families of the killed protesters cannot get the bodies of their sons to bury them. This picture is the same in north Saini (El-Sheikh zoyad city) and in western Egypt (Al-salom). The riot police is cracking down on protesters in Ismailia, Alexandria, Fayoum, Shbin Elkoum, and Cairo, the capital, in many neighborhoods across the city.
The government is preparing to crackdown on the protesters in all Egyptian cities. They are using tear gas bombs, rubber and plastic pullets, chemicals like dilutes mustard gas against protesters. Several protesters today have been killed when the armored vehicles of the riot police hit them. Officials in plain clothes carrying blades and knives used to intimidate protesters. Thugs deployed by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior are roaming the streets of Cairo, setting fire on car-wheels as means of black propaganda to demonize protesters and justify police beatings and state torture
All this has been taken place over the past three days during the peaceful demonstrations in Cairo and other cities. Now, with the suspicious silence of the local media and the lack of coverage from the international media, Mubarak and his gang are blocking all the channels that can tell the world about what is happening.
People who call for their freedom need your support and help. Will you give them a hand?
The activists are flooding the net (youtube and other sites) with thousands of pictures and videos showing the riot police firing on armless people. The police started to use ammunition against protesters. 15-year old girl has been injured and another 25 year old man has been shot in the mouth. While nothing of these has appeared in the media, there is more to happen tomorrow. Will you keep silent? Will you keep your mouth shut while seeing all these cruelty and inhumane actions?
We don’t ask for much, just broadcast what is happening
Written by: Mariam Hussien
Waseem Wagdi, Egyptian protester. Egyptian Embassy, London. 29.1.11
Waseem Wagdi, an Egyptian living in London talks about recent events in Egypt.
Le soulèvement a déjà fait 92 morts en Égypte
Des Égyptiens portent le corps d'un de leurs camarades tués lors de la répression des manifestation, ce samedi.
Photo AFP
Au moins 92 personnes ont été tuées et des milliers blessées depuis le début mardi de la contestation contre le président Hosni Moubarak en Egypte, dont 85 dans les violents heurts vendredi et samedi entre manifestants et policiers, selon des sources médicales.
Samedi, 23 morts - douze à Béni Soueif, trois au Caire, trois à Rafah et cinq à Ismaïliya - ont été recensés au cours des affrontements, ont déclaré des sources hospitalières et de sécurité.
Les manifestants à Béni Soueif, ville située à 140 kilomètres au sud du Caire, avaient tenté d'attaquer un poste de police, ce qui a mis le feu aux poudres.
Vendredi, les heurts ont fait 62 morts, dont 35 au Caire, d'après des informations obtenues auprès des hôpitaux. suite>>La France a formé la police égyptienne de Moubarak
Michèle Alliot-Marie avait proposé le « savoir-faire » de la France pour le maintien de l'ordre en Tunisie. En Egypte, c'est une formation à la « gestion des foules et des grands événements » qui a été dispensée à la mi-octobre par deux policiers français à leurs homologues égyptiens.
L'annonce de cette petite formation figure toujours sur le site de l'Ambassade de France au Caire, plus discret sur le soulèvement du peuple égyptien, comme le montre la capture d'écran ci-dessous.
Des manifestants au Caire : « Le pouvoir fait dans son froc ! »
Reportage place Tahrir, au cœur de la capitale égyptienne et des manifestations contre le Président Moubarak.
Ne pouvant transmettre par Internet, toujours coupé en Egypte, la journaliste Marion Guénard, qui vit au Caire, nous a dicté cet article au téléphone. Elle a passé la journée sur la place Tahrir, lieu central de rassemblement des manifestants. Alors qu'elle finit de dicter son article, elle s'interrompt et regarde par la fenêtre : une colonne de tanks est en train de remonter sa rue. Voici son reportage.
(Du Caire) Une tâche de sang flotte sur le cortège. C'est le corps d'un jeune homme, porté par des milliers de mains, aussitôt élevé en martyr. Des cris d'horreur fusent. Sur les visages, les larmes coulent. « Les policiers tirent sur nous, ce sont des chiens ! », hurle un manifestant.
Pour la cinquième journée consécutive, plusieurs milliers d'Egyptiens sont réunis sur la place Tahrir, la place de la libération. Plus déterminés que jamais malgré la présence des tanks, malgré les détonations qui claquent dans l'air, malgré le nombre des victimes qui augmente. Derrière eux, le siège du Parti national démocrate, le parti du raïs, incendié la nuit derrière, flambe encore.« Je ne veux plus de ce gouvernement qui me suce le sang » suite>>
Mubarak names VP, new PM as protests rage
CAIRO (AFP) -- Embattled Hosni Mubarak tapped Egypt's military intelligence chief as his first-ever vice president and named a new premier on Saturday, as a mass revolt against his autocratic rule raged into a fifth day.
Fresh riots in several cities on Saturday left three protesters dead in Cairo and three police in the Sinai town of Rafah, bringing to at least 51 the number of people killed nationwide since the angry protests first erupted on Tuesday.
As tens of thousands flooded central Cairo demanding Mubarak's ouster, the president late Saturday afternoon went into crisis talks with officials, after which it was announced that career army man and Mubarak confidante General Omar Suleiman had been sworn in as his deputy.
Suleiman, 75, is chief of military intelligence and a well-known player on the world scene. He has spearheaded years of Egyptian efforts to encourage an eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace deal and of mediating internal Palestinian disputes. more>>
Fresh riots in several cities on Saturday left three protesters dead in Cairo and three police in the Sinai town of Rafah, bringing to at least 51 the number of people killed nationwide since the angry protests first erupted on Tuesday.
As tens of thousands flooded central Cairo demanding Mubarak's ouster, the president late Saturday afternoon went into crisis talks with officials, after which it was announced that career army man and Mubarak confidante General Omar Suleiman had been sworn in as his deputy.
Suleiman, 75, is chief of military intelligence and a well-known player on the world scene. He has spearheaded years of Egyptian efforts to encourage an eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace deal and of mediating internal Palestinian disputes. more>>
Jerusalem figures demand end to negotiations
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- A coalition of religious and civil society figures from Jerusalem on Saturday called on the PLO to quit all negotiations with Israel.
Religious officials and representatives of civil society organizations held a meeting in a Jerusalem hotel to discuss leaked PLO documents published by the Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV network covering a decade of Israel-Palestinian negotiations.
Dubbed the Palestine Papers, the documents reveal the PLO offered Israel huge concessions during negotiations, including "the biggest Yerushalayim [Jerusalem] in history." more>>
Religious officials and representatives of civil society organizations held a meeting in a Jerusalem hotel to discuss leaked PLO documents published by the Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV network covering a decade of Israel-Palestinian negotiations.
Dubbed the Palestine Papers, the documents reveal the PLO offered Israel huge concessions during negotiations, including "the biggest Yerushalayim [Jerusalem] in history." more>>
The Aljazeera Scandal
by Uri Avnery
For the Israeli peace camp, the disclosures are a blessing.
I always thought this a specifically Israeli trait: whenever a scandal of national proportions breaks out, we ignore the crucial issues and focus our attention on some secondary detail. This spares us having to face the real problems and making painful decisions.
There are examples galore. The classic one centered on the question: “Who Gave the Order?” When it became known that in 1954 an Israeli spy ring had been ordered to plant bombs in US and British institutions in Egypt, in order to sabotage the effort to improve relations between the West and Gamal Abd-al-Nasser, a huge crisis rocked Israel. Almost nobody asked whether the idea itself had been wise or stupid. Almost nobody asked whether it was really in the best interest of Israel to challenge the new and vigorous Egyptian leader, who was fast becoming the idol of the entire Arab world (and who had already secretly indicated that he could possibly make peace with Israel). more>>
Protesters in New York Area Take Aim at U.S. Position on Egypt
Richard Perry/The New York Times Protesters chanted “Mubarak must go,” at a protest in Journal Square in support of the demonstrations in Egypt against President Hosni Mubarak
JERSEY CITY — Waving Egyptian flags, chanting slogans in English and Arabic and setting fire to a photo of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, about 100 men, women and children gathered Friday afternoon here in Journal Square to support the tens of thousands of protesters on the streets of Egypt pressing for an end to Mr. Mubarak’s 30-year rule.
The protesters, many of whom said they were American citizens, came out not only in solidarity with fellow Egyptians but also to demand the American government support their plea for democracy.
“I’m asking the U.S. government not to support a dictator,” said Nasser al-Armoush, 57, a business owner who immigrated from Egypt to escape the regime’s repression. “Mubarak is over.” more in nytimes>>Video of Egypt crisis as fierce riots rage in Cairo, Alexandria
A massive crowd of tens of thousands calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak was gathering in the streets and squares of downtown Cairo Saturday afternoon, with protesters making clear they reject promises of reform and a new government offered by the embattled leader trying to hang on to power. Dozens of tanks and armoured personnel carriers were fanned out across the city of 18 (m) million, guarding key government buildings a day after large, violent confrontations emboldened the movement demanding a change of leadership.
FAIR Blog: Egypt, GE, Anonymity
Best of the Blog
The FAIR Blog provides a daily forum for media criticism and discussion by FAIR's media analysts--as well as commentary by readers like you.
Defining a Dictatorship: The U.S. Role in Egypt
We're (Anonymously) With You! WaPo Touts U.S. Support for Arab Democracy
After Obama, CNN's Right-Wing Double Dip
GE Goes to the White House: How Does GE Report the News?
NYT vs. Guardian on Egypt WikiLeaks
Jay Carney, Revolving Doors and the Beltway Bubble
Adventures in Absurd Anonymity, Continued
The Joe Biden Rules
On the Ground in Egypt, Tunisia
Dear Human Rights Supporter,
As violent protests unfurl across Egypt, and Tunisians grapple with the ugly legacies of President President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s rule, Human Rights Watch has teams on the ground in both countries, working around the clock to document abuses and record the facts as they unfold.
In Alexandria, Egypt, Human Rights Watch witnessed the following:
“After prayers, the protesters came out of a mosque and started shouting slogans. They were saying "peaceful, peaceful" and raising their hands. They were immediately attacked by police in an armored car, firing teargas.”
Two hours later:
“Then the police just gave up, at about the time of afternoon prayers. Protesters gave water to police and talked to them. It was all peaceful.”
Our researchers have also been sending updates on the violent crackdown on protests from Cairo and Suez.
In Tunisia, Human Rights Watch documented instances in which police fired live ammunition into crowds of demonstrators – information that can help identify the killers, hold them accountable, and bring justice to their victims.
In times of crisis, we’re on the front lines.
WikiLeaks: US supported Egypt pro-democracy activists
Cable shows that despite criticism of US for backing Mubarak regime, pro-democracy activists met with congresspeople, US diplomats.
A 2008 diplomatic cable from the US Embassy in Cairo leaked by WikiLeaks on Friday shows another side to the United States' relationship with Egypt in recent years. The cable outlines how the State Department helped an Egyptian pro-democracy activist attend a "Youth Movements Summit" in New York and how the unnamed activist presented an "unwritten plan for democratic transition in 2011."
While the United States has received criticism for its support of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime in the face of anti-government protests, the newly released cable indicates that the US was also supporting his detractors. It notes State Department efforts to apply pressure on Egypt in order to have dissidents released from custody. continued onjpost>>
January 28, 2011
I was a guest on Progressive News Radio
I have heard that the link is not working.
I have now been given the embed code for the radio show, so here it is:
Download this episode [right click and save]
I have now been given the embed code for the radio show, so here it is:
Download this episode [right click and save]
January 27, 2011
EN IMAGES Et maintenant, l'Egypte ?
 |
» L'opposant El Baradei de retour pour manifester lui aussi
The Palestine Papers :: Israel's peacemakers unmasked ::
by Jonathan Cook
Breaking: CIA placing its bets on Mubarak
According to a report in Maghreb Intelligence, the CIA would have been in contact with its Egyptian counterparts as well as the Egyptian government, the army and its opposition parties two weeks ago wanting to know an estimate of the lifetime of the current regime. The answer they received was unequivocal: the powers that be in Cairo are well anchored, and there are no immediate risks, nor are there any risks foreseen in the medium term.
ElBaradei: 'the Egyptian people have broken the barrier of fear'
Taking his cue from the events on Egypt's streets for the last two days, Egyptian Nobel Peace laureate and former UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei is heading back to Egypt on Thursday from Vienna, where he resides.
Despite threats against his life, ElBaradei has made the decision to return as 'there is no other choice' as he said when speaking to reporters. Yesterday, his manifesto for Egypt was published in Newsweek, titled 'The Return of the Challenger'. Therein he explains current rule in Egypt, the role of political Islam, the courage of Egypt's people and the need for reform. He did not spare the United States, including the phrase that seems to have gone around the world from Hillary Clinton lips, that 'Egypt is a stable country'. ElBaradei stated that he was 'flabbergasted' by the statement.
Despite threats against his life, ElBaradei has made the decision to return as 'there is no other choice' as he said when speaking to reporters. Yesterday, his manifesto for Egypt was published in Newsweek, titled 'The Return of the Challenger'. Therein he explains current rule in Egypt, the role of political Islam, the courage of Egypt's people and the need for reform. He did not spare the United States, including the phrase that seems to have gone around the world from Hillary Clinton lips, that 'Egypt is a stable country'. ElBaradei stated that he was 'flabbergasted' by the statement.
Egyptian tycoons sent their money abroad following demos, says media figure
In a talk show on Thursday, prominent media personality Emad Adib said that a number of Egyptian businessmen had sent their money abroad after the eruption of Tuesday's anti-government demonstrations.He also expected businessmen to leave the country and government officials to resign if the situation escalated.
“The people who took to the streets do not belong to political parties, nor do they have political orientations,” he said. “They are the Internet generation.”
Adib attributed the unrest to the alleged rigging of last year's parliamentary elections. “Many people were frustrated by the results of the elections,” he said. continued>>
Revolution in Egypt: Facebook and Twitter back up since last night
My chats with a source in Alexandria last night revealed that the Egyptian government had lifted restrictions on at least Facebook and Twitter, a fact that appears to be confirmed as of this morning. When I asked if this had anything to do with Secretary of State Clinton's request, the young man replied that the government had figured out that if they open up social media, there will be less people on the streets with which to contend.
January 26, 2011
Germany rejects Egypt's demand to send Nefertiti home
by David Crossland
The 3,350-year old artwork, discovered by German archaeologists in 1912, is the foremost piece in the city's recently rebuilt cultural showpiece, the Neues Museum, where she attracted 1.2 million visitors last year. She is to the German capital what the Mona Lisa is to Paris, only more so. Her startlingly timeless beauty and grace are appreciated all the more in this often grey city that still bears the scars of war. continued>>
BERLIN // Germany regards the exquisite painted bust of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti as one of its national treasures, and Egypt's dreams that she will return home one day - even on loan - are unlikely to come true.
'The Changing Middle East’
The Changing Middle East: A New Look at Regional Dynamics” by Bahgat Korany is a response to the widely held opinion that very little is changing for the better in the Middle East. The Lebanese quagmire has spread to Iraq, Sudan and Somalia, and the Palestinian question still seems far away from a solution. However, this vision of the Middle East is only partially true; underneath the surface, a cauldron is boiling with discontent, disillusions and rage.
Korany has brought together an international team of contributors who shed light on the regional dynamics by focusing on two types of change: sudden and evolutionary. Sudden change can be triggered by war, revolution and milestone events while the progressive type consists of a change in life style patterns, the impact of unemployment and the growth of ideas, etc. continued on arabnews>>
Today's Egypt stories
Here are the links for the stories I wrote today...I apologize but there's not enough time to write in both places:
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