The Militant (logo)  

Vol. 75/No. 28      August 1, 2011

 
Rallies in Egypt
condemn military rule
 
BY BRIAN WILLIAMS  
Chanting “Oh police, you are thugs,” thousands rallied in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, July 15 demanding prosecution of police officers and government officials responsible for the killings of more than 850 working people and others during sustained outpourings January 25-February 11 that ousted Hosni Mubarak after 30 years of dictatorial rule.

Billed as the “Friday of Last Warning,” the actions were preceded by sit-ins that began July 8 in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, with hundreds of thousands of people rallying there and in 11 other cities, reported the Egyptian daily Al Masry Al Youm.

The actions reflect mounting anger against the five-month-long rule of the Supreme Military Council, which took over after Mubarak was forced to resign. The council, based among top officers who served Mubarak for many years, has kept in place the political and military structure of the old regime.

Other demands raised by protesters include speedy public trials of Mubarak and officials from his regime, firing and trying cops involved in torture, and repeal of antistrike legislation. There are widespread calls for annulment of all rulings by military courts against civilians; an end to civilians being tried in military tribunals; and lifting the state of emergency, which has been in place 54 of the last 59 years.

Among those attending the Tahrir Square action was Amal Zine al-Abadeen. She told the New York Times that one of her sons was shot dead by a policeman in January, and another beaten and incarcerated in a military prison after attending a recent protest. “I don’t want money,” she said. “I don’t want anything at all. All I’m asking for is justice.” To date only one police officer has been convicted of murder in the deaths of protesters.

Tens of thousands rallied in Suez July 8 when the criminal court there released on bail seven police officers accused of killing protesters.

Several days later thousands marched to the Suez Canal Authority’s headquarters. Protesters chanted, “The people want to overthrow the field marshal,” referring to Defense Minister Mohamed Tantawi, head of the ruling military council, reported Al Ahram.

In April the Supreme Military Council arrested Mubarak, his two sons, and some top officials from his regime. Mubarak is in custody in an Egyptian hospital. He’s scheduled to be tried August 3 for the killings of protesters. If convicted he could face the death penalty.

In hopes of quelling protests, Interior Minister Mansour el-Essaway announced July 13 that nearly 700 police officers accused of killing demonstrators would be dismissed. “Some human rights groups have criticized the shakeup,” wrote Al Masry Al Youm, “saying that it amounts to little more than a routine annual pensioning-off of officers who have reached retirement age.”

The government also postponed parliamentary elections from September until October or November.

The Supreme Military Council announced it was creating a list of “supra-principles” to guide the drafting of Egypt’s constitution. The “principles” protect the armed forces’ political role and ensure that their extensive economic interests are protected. Council member Maj. Gen. Mamdouh Shahine recently called for granting the military special status, “exempting it from being at the ‘discretion’ of the president,” reported Al Masry Al Youm.

The Shariah Association of Rights and Reform called for a rally July 22 to protest the military council’s interference in rewriting the constitution. The Muslim Brotherhood, whose Freedom and Justice Party is running in the upcoming election, is not encouraging its members to attend. The group has aligned itself with the military rulers on many issues since Mubarak was removed in February.
 
 
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