Egypt: It’s Not Over Yet!
Egypt's protesters Communique Number 1
The removal of Hosni Mubarak from the Egyptian throne was not only the people’s demand, but also the desire of the
Egyptian military and their employers in Washington in order to diffuse the uprising. The Obama administration and their
corporate overlords do not really care who runs Egypt, as long as Egypt runs! Particularly, the Egyptian economy.
March in Tahrir Square to support the sit-ins after the army's attempt to disperse them
Ahmad Shafiq, the prime minister assigned by Mubarak before stepping down, is still the prime minister of the current
so-called “interim” government. Basically, since the stepping down of Mubarak, the Egyptian government that Mubarak had
put together is still running the country, with the military’s blessings nevertheless. Today, Shafiq said to Egypt TV
last night that his government’s utmost priority right now is to resume security and normalcy in the country. This is
not a conspiracy theory!
The Egyptian government, along with the High Council of Armed Forces, have been issuing clear and straight-forward
statements, repeatedly, that their priority is the economy, which, in the corrupt Egyptian economy, means that their
priority is their business establishments that they have invested billions in. The government’s priority is to resume
their businesses and secure foreign investors’ confidence in the Egyptian market, not democracy. In fact, the Dow Jones
and New York Stock Exchange went up a couple of points when news came out that Mubarak had stepped down.
Tens of protesters today clashed with the army in Tahrir Square, and thousands of demonstrators began to flood the Square again to support their
revolution brothers and sisters. The High Council of Armed Forces, so far, had only met one of the revolution’s demands:
the deposing of Mubarak. Well, Suleiman, Shafiq, and others are still running the government, with no time frame for
elections or any democratic process put in place. In other words, Suleiman’s patronizing call for Egyptians, a couple of
days ago, to “go back to your home and your jobs” have mostly been achieved by sending Mubarak on an extended vacation
to Sharm Al-Sheikh.
For those who, in the euphoria of celebration, forgot what this revolution was all about, here is the list of demands
from the Revolution Coalition:
The January 25 Revolutionary Youth Communique No. 1:
“We, the peoples of Egypt, the true rulers of its land, destiny, and fortunes, who have retrieved them in full since the
outbreak of the January 25 populace, civil, democratic revolution, and the sacrifice of our righteous martyrs, and after
the revolution’s success in the deposing of the corrupt regime and its leaders; we announce the continuation of this
peaceful revolution until victory and the realization of all our demands in full:
1 – The abolishing of the Emergency [martial law] conditions immediately.
2 – The immediate release of all political prisoners.
3 – The abolishing of the current constitution including all its amendments.
4 – The abolishing of both arms of the parliament and local governments.
5 – The creation of an interim presidential rule including five members, one military and four civilian, known for their
patriotism and accepted by the people, and on the condition that none of them run for the first presidential elections.
6 – The creation of an interim government including capable, independent, and patriotic individuals; and excluding
individuals with ties to political parties, to assume command of the nation’s affairs and prepare for fair and free
general elections at the end of the interim period which must not exceed nine months; and no member of this interim
government can run for the first elections.
7 – The formation of an original constituent assembly to write a new democratic constitution that concurs with the
greatest democratic constitutions and international charters for human rights, put for public referendum within three
months of the formation of this assembly.
8 – The freedom to form any political party, on civil, democratic, and peaceful foundations, without any obstacle or
condition, and [they become legal] by simply announcing [their creation].
9 – The freedom of press [media] and the circulation of information.
10 – The freedom for union organization and the creation of civil institutions.
11 – The abolishing of all military and poll courts, and abolishing all verdicts produced by these courts against
civilians.
12 – And finally, we, the peoples of Egypt, call upon Egypt’s righteous, national army, who is the son of this nation,
who safeguarded the people’s blood and secured the nation in this great revolution, to declare its full adoption to all
of these decisions and people’s demands, and to completely align itself with the people.
The Peoples of the January 25 Revolution.
The success of the Egyptian revolution must be measured by how many of these demands have been met, in addition to the
verdicts issued against Mubarak, Suleiman, Shafiq, and all other ex-government officials and business tycoons, even if
they were members of the Egyptian so-called brave Military. All other measures that demand anything less are treasonous
to the blood of the martyrs since January 25.
ENDS