A grassroots campaign that began with 5 guys talking about what could be done peacefully and lead to democratic solutions (see video in our last update here), choosing the name of a Syrian magazine probably buried under their own rubble, and assisted initially with only their Facebook accounts turned into what may have been history's largest demonstration yesterday.
They sought 15 million signatures, more than who voted for President Mohamed Morsi more than a year ago - they claim to received more than 22 million signatures. They sought to fill the public squares to resemble the crowds that saw the downfall of the now ousted Hosni Mubarak - they not only matched that in Tahrir, but the excess through streets and squares across Cairo (including near the Presidential Palace), along with equally packed gatherings in more than a dozen other cities and governorates.
According to a military source quoted in this Reuter's article, 14 million Egyptians are estimated to have participated throughout the country. That's nearly 17% of Egypt's 84 million people. Such numbers have already landed yesterday's events in this Wiki list for largest political demonstration - in recorded history.
The images on televisions, and coming through pictures from Facebook and Twitter as people shared their own images demonstrated that 5 guys sowing an idea can reap a whirlwind in the digital age.
During yesterday's demonstrations, did things just become more entrenched and deadlocked?
President Morsi made addresses to the people yesterday, acknowledging the historic gathering and valuing each participant, further stating that he wants dialogue to reach consensus that would be in keeping with the Constitution. President Morsi and his administration have denied the proposal of early elections on the grounds of such a concession being contrary to the Constitution. He and/or the Muslim Brotherhood or any other base of supporters, may have underestimated the size of their opposition, but they remain steadfast, holding their ground, as they call for dialogue and request participation by the masses in the democratic process.
And while the opposition may have been encouraged and even galvanized in their resolve last night, there were galvanizing factors for the Islamic Alliance supporters, too.
And now all of that build up and the historic June 30 demonstrations lead us to today...
Tamarod to-do list:
- get the word out - check
- get petition campaign going - check
- mobilize millions of dissatisfied citizens to show up & express their discontent - check
July 1 - ?
Now what?
"What's next for Egypt?" is the question asked by Bassem Sabry in his Al Monitor column reflecting on June 30 and projecting for the next few days. He speculates that not only may President Morsi risk too much by attempting to hold on to power, but so may the Mulsim Brotherhood, stating that their continual argument of "election by the will of the people" seems to lose weight in light of the masses tht turned up last night across the country. He also cites that they have clearly lost the support of the police (as noted by their absence in attacks on MB/FJP offices), along with the judiciary who have felt ostracized by decisions of this administration over the last year, and the author wonders about the military's support. He begins his conclusion with this statement, "It is staggering to think how Morsi and the Brotherhood have obliterated so much of the goodwill that many people genuinely had for (or were willing to give to) them, largely in a single year."
Meanwhile, Tamarod has announced a deadline for President Morsi - this Ahram Online article "'Rebel' campaign says Morsi has lost legitimacy, threaten civil disobedience" in which the group has sad that it will not accept compromises with President Morsi. (Do they think that efforts from the elected President are too little too late?) The Tamarod group have officially asked police, military and judiciary to "join the people" and went on to make this ultimatum as reported in the article: "We give Mohamed Morsi Eissa Al-Ayyat time until next Tuesday, 2 July at 5 PM to leave power, in order for state institutes to start preparing for early presidential elections," read the statement. The campaign warned that if the demands are not met by the deadline, it will instigate civil disobedience. "The beginning of civil disobedience will be at 5pm on Tuesday [should demands be ignored]," added the statement."
Even if the Tamarod group have plans for peaceful, productive, statements of "civil disobedience" - this deadline creates a whole set of unpleasant questions in motion:
So, Al Arabiya asks, "Is the clock ticking for Mursi?" referencing the Tamarod deadline of 5:00 pm Tuesday.
Or has that Tamarod deadline become a "ticking clock" for all of Egypt?
We've gone from the "hopeful" anticipation of the June 30 build up to the uncertain expectations of July 2.
As we close, encouraging you to continue to PRAY FOR EGYPT, we'll leave you with these interesting video clips posted by Ahram Online... 1) Pro-Morsi demonstrators; 2) Anti-Morsi demonstration scenes near the Presidential Palace, AND 3) CONCERN FOR AFTER JUNE 30
They sought 15 million signatures, more than who voted for President Mohamed Morsi more than a year ago - they claim to received more than 22 million signatures. They sought to fill the public squares to resemble the crowds that saw the downfall of the now ousted Hosni Mubarak - they not only matched that in Tahrir, but the excess through streets and squares across Cairo (including near the Presidential Palace), along with equally packed gatherings in more than a dozen other cities and governorates.
According to a military source quoted in this Reuter's article, 14 million Egyptians are estimated to have participated throughout the country. That's nearly 17% of Egypt's 84 million people. Such numbers have already landed yesterday's events in this Wiki list for largest political demonstration - in recorded history.
The images on televisions, and coming through pictures from Facebook and Twitter as people shared their own images demonstrated that 5 guys sowing an idea can reap a whirlwind in the digital age.
During yesterday's demonstrations, did things just become more entrenched and deadlocked?
President Morsi made addresses to the people yesterday, acknowledging the historic gathering and valuing each participant, further stating that he wants dialogue to reach consensus that would be in keeping with the Constitution. President Morsi and his administration have denied the proposal of early elections on the grounds of such a concession being contrary to the Constitution. He and/or the Muslim Brotherhood or any other base of supporters, may have underestimated the size of their opposition, but they remain steadfast, holding their ground, as they call for dialogue and request participation by the masses in the democratic process.
And while the opposition may have been encouraged and even galvanized in their resolve last night, there were galvanizing factors for the Islamic Alliance supporters, too.
- Meanwhile, while millions were in the public squares and streets peacefully holding up their red cards and drawing the attention of the military's watchful eye from helicopters, the lesser populated areas were left unwatched, and tensions and/or participants got out of control. The result was unattended Freedom & Justice Party offices attacked, ransacked, and lit on fire - David Kirkpatrick, NY Times Middle East Correspondent, notes "The police, another institution left intact from the Mubarak government, are in open revolt against Mr. Morsi. In anticipation of Sunday’s protests, the interior minister had already announced that the police would not protect the offices of the Muslim Brotherhood from attack. And when the protests began, police officers were almost nowhere to be found."
- There were reportedly dozens of sexual harassment incidents in Tahrir last night, according to various groups on the scene intent on helping possible victims.
- Other incidents in smaller locales did nothing to ease tensions that exist between the "Tamarod" and "Pro-legitimacy" crowds. At least one was killed in Beni Suef as a result of clashes there -- both sides claiming the victim was one of their own.
- Three were killed in Assuit, and many more injured, when anti-Morsi demonstration was attacked while passing near a Freedom & Justice Party office. Alarmingly, Twitter reporters were stating that there were rumors of retaliation today.
And now all of that build up and the historic June 30 demonstrations lead us to today...
Tamarod to-do list:
- get the word out - check
- get petition campaign going - check
- mobilize millions of dissatisfied citizens to show up & express their discontent - check
July 1 - ?
Now what?
"What's next for Egypt?" is the question asked by Bassem Sabry in his Al Monitor column reflecting on June 30 and projecting for the next few days. He speculates that not only may President Morsi risk too much by attempting to hold on to power, but so may the Mulsim Brotherhood, stating that their continual argument of "election by the will of the people" seems to lose weight in light of the masses tht turned up last night across the country. He also cites that they have clearly lost the support of the police (as noted by their absence in attacks on MB/FJP offices), along with the judiciary who have felt ostracized by decisions of this administration over the last year, and the author wonders about the military's support. He begins his conclusion with this statement, "It is staggering to think how Morsi and the Brotherhood have obliterated so much of the goodwill that many people genuinely had for (or were willing to give to) them, largely in a single year."
Meanwhile, Tamarod has announced a deadline for President Morsi - this Ahram Online article "'Rebel' campaign says Morsi has lost legitimacy, threaten civil disobedience" in which the group has sad that it will not accept compromises with President Morsi. (Do they think that efforts from the elected President are too little too late?) The Tamarod group have officially asked police, military and judiciary to "join the people" and went on to make this ultimatum as reported in the article: "We give Mohamed Morsi Eissa Al-Ayyat time until next Tuesday, 2 July at 5 PM to leave power, in order for state institutes to start preparing for early presidential elections," read the statement. The campaign warned that if the demands are not met by the deadline, it will instigate civil disobedience. "The beginning of civil disobedience will be at 5pm on Tuesday [should demands be ignored]," added the statement."
Even if the Tamarod group have plans for peaceful, productive, statements of "civil disobedience" - this deadline creates a whole set of unpleasant questions in motion:
- What will that "civil disobedience" look like?
- What might the Islamic Alliance due according to their mantra of protecting the legitimacy of the President by "any means necessary" look like when faced with "civil disobedience"?
- What might the youthful, violent "activists" who attacked MB/FJP headquarters do with such a call to "disobedience" when they couldn't even act peacefully on June 30?
- How many more lives will be lost? How many more injured? How much more property damage? How much deeper can the divide be drawn be the Islamic Alliance and other groups in the country?
- Will the military interpret this as a threat? The military remains the real wild card in all of this--their interpretation and decisions on whether or not, or maybe how long until, the possibility of intervention may be what decides all of this.
So, Al Arabiya asks, "Is the clock ticking for Mursi?" referencing the Tamarod deadline of 5:00 pm Tuesday.
Or has that Tamarod deadline become a "ticking clock" for all of Egypt?
We've gone from the "hopeful" anticipation of the June 30 build up to the uncertain expectations of July 2.
As we close, encouraging you to continue to PRAY FOR EGYPT, we'll leave you with these interesting video clips posted by Ahram Online... 1) Pro-Morsi demonstrators; 2) Anti-Morsi demonstration scenes near the Presidential Palace, AND 3) CONCERN FOR AFTER JUNE 30
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