Women of courage in Cairo

[CairoLucy]

Meanwhile in Egypt, peaceful protesters are being brutalised, injured and killed for demanding freedom and social justice, health, education, rights of expression, rights of children, end of poverty. We are more frightened of the consequences for Egypt if we lose this fight, than we are of the fight itself.

Please watch this video and share:
www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUOJ78UDGFbg%26sns%3Dfb&h=kAQFCHLE1AQFQJMP8PQdBY_aOIEECH368DQe7VN9PlAWu_w

There has been some coverage on the UK news, but not much, nor much attention on MN; which contrasts with the amount of attention that the demonstration which led to the fall of Mussharaf.

That was only the start of the process: some posters then acknowledged that the future role of the military /establishment was vital and far from clear. Would all that had been achieved then actually be a military coup?

This is far more important than the initial deposing. But less "newsworthy".

Thanks Edith, for posting. It will be 'newsworthy' soon - we're optimistic that the days of the military junta are numbered. The fighting has ended and SCAF (the military councill) is trying to distract people with the elections again. But today is the largest demonstration in Tahrir since Jan/Feb, possibly ever, and the Muslim Brotherhood, having antagonised itself by seeing to be too close to SCAF and realised it is unwelcome in Tahrir, has taken its demonstration elsewhere.

SCAF has appointed an old (78 years) Mubarak PM to replace the one who resigned - showing how keen they are to bridge the 'generation gap'. The movement in Tahrir has proposed a civilian transitional council to take over from SCAF when it steps down/is ousted, led by ElBaradei and including other major political figures, including Bothaina Kamel, the only woman Presidential candidate, who is really admirable and trustworthy.

The news in Egypt changes almost by the hour...

I saw on the news yesterday about how the field hospital near the protests had been tear gassed and as the doctors struggled to evacuate the patients one female doctor died due to the gas. She was the second docotr to die there in the last few weeks.

There were very distressing images of people having convulsions, etc due to the gas.

Thanks for your interest, Viva. My (Egyptian) husband, who by day works for Oxfam and by night is an activist, talked to some of the doctors in the central field hospital in Tahrir (there are 8 altogether), and while the official death-toll from the 5 days of brutality by the military and central security forces is still about 35, their accounts told of between 80 and 150 deaths, including at least 15 doctors, mainly by asphyxiation - they just can't report all the deaths yet because the victims haven't been officially ID'd. I'll post links to campaigns you can join if you want to protest about this...

Yes please Lucy would like some links. I hope your husband is being careful and is ok.

Oxfam statement: please send Tweets of support to Tahrir, as detailed at bottom of statement:
www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oxfam.org%2Fen%2Fpressroom%2Freactions%2Fcondemn-excessive-force-egyptian-authorities-against-peaceful-demonstrators&h=TAQEOeD_lAQGY4Svfq0TTVeLwmLvYf9fjJe6F_VWmlcZBvw

Amnesty action:
www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Faction.amnesty.org.uk%2Fea-action%2Faction%3Fea.client.id%3D1194%26ea.campaign.id%3D12787&h=gAQEqL2MhAQEGCtbgY5GXWMJwRUMQssvoZHfN_OYHFxa8ag

Get a Twibbon (for your Twitter profile pic) in support of #Tahrir
www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twibbon.com%2Fjoin%2FSupport-Tahrir&h=5AQH6hVhyAQFkycXxQecYgMnuS5xuY-F2A92spFYMTVatbA

Get a Twibbon (for your Twitter profile pic) in support of #Tahrir
www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twibbon.com%2Fjoin%2FSupport-Tahrir&h=5AQH6hVhyAQFkycXxQecYgMnuS5xuY-F2A92spFYMTVatbA

March in London tomorrow (Saturday) in solidarity with Egyptian protests, from Edgware Road tube to Egyptian Embassy
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124100994367794

Petition against the US company manufacturing much of the CS/CR gas used against the protesters
www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fpetitions%2Fdon-smith-ceo-stop-supplying-tear-gas-to-the-egyptian-army&h=QAQE6DlGTAQH-f-b_64Foo8qcXrWABcVz9cfU0TaviYAVPw

Petition against the US company manufacturing much of the CS/CR gas used against the protesters
www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fpetitions%2Fdon-smith-ceo-stop-supplying-tear-gas-to-the-egyptian-army&h=QAQE6DlGTAQH-f-b_64Foo8qcXrWABcVz9cfU0TaviYAVPw

And a template I drafted of a letter of protest against SCAF and in support of the protesters, for anyone to use who want to write to the Egyptian Embassy in the UK:
www.facebook.com/notes/lucy-till-awny/suggestionsoutline-for-a-letter-of-solidarity-with-the-egyptian-demonstrators-an/277605778947159

Egyptian Embassy in UK
26 South Street
London,
W1K 1DW.
Tel: 020 7499 3304/2401
Fax: 020 7491 1542
email address: [email protected]

But MFA network famously ineffective, so cc. consulate as well (see previous posts), so please also cc. consulate (which is at 2 Lowndes St, London, SW1X 9ET):
[email protected]
[email protected]

And also Egyptian gov representatives in London at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Many thanks to Viva, and anyone else who supports Egypt's fight to save its Revolution, and for freedom and social justice. Let me know if you'd like me to send more info about what's happening. Sorry for this deluge of links, but hopefully you can act on at least one of them.

By the way, my Template/Suggestions for a letter... document also provides a succinct, if incomplete, overview of why we've felt it necessary to return to the streets.

I've just seen the Channel 4 News, in which they said rather grandiosely "Those who control Tahrir Square, control Eygpt".

I hadn't realised that the occupation had been going on for 5 days already. Reports of more use of tear gas (and a vague report of Molotov cocktails in Alexandria).

Thanks Lucy. Have acted on all the links but I can't go on the march. I'm nowhere near London. I really hope this ends with a good result.

Thank you so much Viva, that's amazing, especially since I don't know you. You've done more than many of my friends in the UK! I am incredibly touched.

Meditrina, yes, the forces of the military junta are still committing appalling acts of brutality away from the cameras, in Alex and other provincial cities (tanks firing on civilians in Ismailia!). But it's calming down as they try to distract us with these farcical elections. C4 has a tendency to be grandiose, but it's not as bad as BBC, which has misreported, to my mind, on occasion, giving a warped picture.

A coalition of 50 of the groups/movements in Tahrir has formed an alternative transitional civilian council, headed by ElBaradei, for SCAF (the military council) to hand over to, so there is a genuine solution...

That's such a shame about your friends Lucy.

It isn't about knowing anyone on a personal level. You don't need to to be horrified by what's happening there. It's so sad.

It seems such a small thing to do when people are risking so much.

So touched, Viva, so touched