Statement of the Tribes of the Sinai
via Rowan El Shimi
Through my involvement in Characters of Egypt, which is a non-profit
festival aiming to unite tribes from all over Egypt and provide them
with a platform to share their cultural expressions as well as cooperate
for their development and promote sustainable tourism in Egypt, I was
sent this statement that the Bedouins of Sinai released yesterday. I
urge everyone to share it and for media platforms to air and publish it.
In the new Egypt that we are developing now we need to include members
of the tribal communities that have been marginalized under the rule of
the last government. Below you will find the video with the statement as
well as the English translation.
From the coalition of the families and tribes of Sinai, after mentioning
god. During the Egyptian revolution that removed the head of the corrupt
Egyptian regime and under it’s sky and prevalence that we show all
respect, loyalty and appreciation to it and all those who have given
their effort, time and lives to achieve it. We particularly “thank”
those who ensured its safety, those who participated in the first spark
to start it and those who died for it in the square speaking of honesty,
change and freedom.
On Tuesday the 15th of February, 2011, we had a meeting in Wadi Watir in
Nweiba and decided on the following:
To support the demands of the revolution completely. We invite all our
men to participate in the revolution next Friday the 18th of February
2011 in Tahrir Square to support the revolution and its demands
To ensure the safety of our country as well as promising to protect its
eastern borders and continue the project of building a democratic
country.
After we were forced aside from all the central points of the revolution
and centers of authority for more than 45 years, 15 of those years due
to the Israeli occupation of our country and the rest under the rule of
the corrupt government. During which we were subjected to the biggest
operation of security breach in our history like many incidents similar
to these around the world. Due to this there were many arrested and
detained, many of them from our tribes. All this happened in the
complete lack of any real development projects to support Sinai’s nature
and our peoples’ needs. That is why we have been having demands that we
made and supported in all meetings, conferences and through various
means of struggle and protest that we have done in the past to ensure
the end of this corrupt regime.
These are the demands of the Sinai tribes:
The prosecution of those who killed our people, who are more than 230
martyrs who were killed by live ammunition by the police force, and
providing the victims’ families with the appropriate compensation for
their loss.
Ending the emergency status and immediate release of all those detained
Canceling all military provisions and exceptions that are put on our
sons and daughters and canceling any judgements without trials that are
fabricated.
Producing official ownership documents for our lands that we own and
live in since thousands of years.
May peace be upon you and long live the revolution
(The former document is issued by the Revolutionary Youth Coalition)
Yes, it is time for the current "temporary" rulers of Egypt to agree to these demands - and equivalent demands of other Egyptians. If the current government wants any credibility then this is the appropriate place to start. Without credibility they will need to start getting their own vacation homes ready for permanent residency - you (current leaders) are not going to keep what you've accumulated in the past regimes - when will you understand this and get on with the job of real reform for your countrymen, women and children! Soozoom (sorry don't know how to select an appropriate profile - though I'll try)
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