February 17, 2011

Egypt Critical News Update #21-Friday's Mobilization-Will the Army Stand For It?





Tomorrow is the first call for a mass mobilization by the resistance since Mubarak's disappearance a week ago.

The call is being made by the core of the January 25 youth movement mainly to honor the victims of the uprising, but also to reaffirm the people's demands, which remain unaddressed by the regime.There is a strong awareness among the youth leadership of the importance of the event, and it is expected the Army will move to try to repress the gathering.

Al Jazeera English and other major English language networks I have been following, and which had until now provided rather comprehensive coverage of Egypt developments, have suddenly disappeared and seem to be either unaware or unwilling to realize the sensitive situation developing. This troubles me greatly, as I feel that major media attention and presence both, prior and during the event, could provide a significant deterrent to any possibly planned army violent repression against the demonstrators.

In what appears to be a move by the military to try to appease and diffuse the recent challenges to the regime's lack of action in addressing the people's key demands, and quite likely timed to diffuse the grievances that were meant to fuel tomorrow's rally, the regime has ordered the temporary arrests of three ex ministers for suspicion of corruption. Doubtful that this ongoing game of throwing selected sacrificial lambs into the fire will manage to pull the wool over the people's eyes. We'll find out tomorrow...

Meanwhile, Wael Ghonim remarked this afternoon that the revolution was not finished and will not be until "the poverty and unemployment rate in Egypt equals that of the 'developed world'...Wow, there, are some high revolutionary aspirations for ya...






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