The flames of anger are spreading through all Egypt and nothing can
stop them. The fate of the Mubarak regime hangs in the balance. Today
there were violent clashes on the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian
cities as the struggle for power has entered into a new stage. The call
went out for mass protests after Friday prayers. The regime warned that
any protests will be met with the full force of the state. The stage was
set for a dramatic confrontation.
Finally,
after a long wait, prime minister Gannouchi announced changes in the
government of national unity which was formed in Tunisia after the
overthrow of Ben Ali. The masses of workers and youth, for two weeks,
have been demanding the overthrow of this government, which they
consider as a continuation of the old regime. They have staged massive
regional strikes and demonstrations and a sit-in outside the
government’s office. This new government of Gannouchi must also be
rejected and the people take power into their own hands.
The
mass demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Hosni
Mubarak have continued to rage since Tuesday across several cities,
including Cairo and Suez. Debkafile's sources report that the situation
in Cairo Wednesday was extremely tense after thousands of demonstrators
poured into the streets and made for the Tel Talat Harb Square on the
way to Liberation Square city centre, where 30,000 protesters
demonstrated on Tuesday.
A
tense calm settled over Cairo after yesterday’s street demonstrations.
But if there is a truce it will not last long. Last night after some
15,000 protesters decided to stage a vigil in Liberation Square in
protest against police violence. News reports speak of three people
killed yesterday, of which one was a policeman. The real figure may be
higher.
Dramatic
events are unfolding in the Middle East. Today (Tuesday) Egypt was
rocked by a wave of nationwide demonstrations demanding the end of the
Mubarak regime, which has oppressed the people of this proud nation for
nearly 30 years. This was the biggest protest movement Egypt has seen
for decades. In Cairo and other cities thousands of anti-government
protesters demonstrated on the streets and fought with police.
Wednesday,
January 26th was marked by yet more massive demonstrations throughout
Tunisia against the “national unity” government, whose key ministers
come from the government of the hated dictator Ben Ali. The same
dictator that the masses forced to flee two weeks ago.
Events
over the weekend have shown the strength of the revolutionary movement
in Tunisia and revealed the weakness of the national unity government.
The organisation of a “Liberation Caravan” marching to the capital has
the potential, if combined with a mass movement of demonstrations and
strikes, to bring down the government.
While
the “new” Tunisian government of “national unity” (in fact, stacked
with Ben Ali ministers) had its first meeting on Thursday, January 20,
and attempted to rush through a series of measures which would gain it
some legitimacy, the revolution continues on the streets and in the
workplaces with workers taking on anyone in authority who had links to
the old Ben Ali regime.
Wednesday
19th and Thursday 20th saw the continuation of mass demonstrations all over
Tunisia against the “new” national unity government and demanding an
end to the RCD ruling party. Tens of thousands marched throughout the
country under the slogan “RCD degagé” (Out with the RCD), clearly
identifying the national unity government as a continuation of the old
regime.
The case of Julian Assange has been the subject of intense speculation and dispute in the media and also among sections of the Left. In order to take a correct position it is necessary to cut through the fog of propaganda and lies, to separate the essential from the secondary and to distinguish what is progressive from what is reactionary.
“Imperialistic activity by the President received another name. Republicans now simply called it ‘dollar diplomacy’.” (Beard, Basic History of the United States)
“How do you know I’m a diplomat?
“By the skilful way you hide your claws.” (Edmond Rostand)
