Split on Tahrir

Split on Tahrir
From being a focus of unity, Tahrir Square is a now point of division after Saturday's clashes between some protesters and the army, reports Mohamed Abdel-Baky
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The demands of last Friday's protest were met after Mubarak and his sons were arrested

"All of us -- the people, the military and the government -- feel regret for the events of Saturday," Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said in a televised speech Monday, two days after the army evacuated Tahrir Square of overnight protesters.

He added that he ordered the minister of justice to investigate the clashes that happened between the army and protesters on Saturday morning in the square, which led to the killing of one protester and wounding of 71 others. The killed protester died as a result of a gunshot wound, while the Armed Forces vow that they did not use live ammunition.

"There are demands by the people over what happened, to find out the facts, and for that I have asked my colleague the minister of justice to take the necessary steps to assure that those demands are met," Sharaf said.

Following the 18-day revolt that led President Hosni Mubarak to step down, Tahrir Square, which had served to unite all Egyptians, has become a point of division between political forces on how the transition should be managed and the role of the army in this critical period. But last Friday all political groups decided to put their disagreements aside and to go to Tahrir Square to call for the prompt trial of Mubarak and all senior officials of his former regime.

Dubbed the "Friday of Cleansing", hundreds of thousands of protesters held a symbolic popular trial for Mubarak, accusing him of destroying Egypt's political system and killing hundreds of peaceful protesters during the 25 January Revolution. By the end of the day everybody was in the mood of celebration at gaining back the momentum of the 25 January Revolution. About 3,000 protesters decided to camp out in the square, arguing that this would put pressure on the army to hold Mubarak accountable for three decades of brutal rule.

Gunshots echoed around downtown between 3am and to 5:30am as clashes erupted between the military and demonstrators. "At 3am on Saturday, many army and Central Security vehicles invaded the square, firing shots in the air for more than two hours," eyewitness Amir Mahmoud told Al-Ahram Weekly. Mahmoud added that tens of military police tried to enter the square at 1am to arrest a group of military officers who joined the demonstration, but protesters did not let them in.

In a press conference following the incident, the Higher Council of the Armed Forces (HCAF) said the military acted against a group of "outlawed thugs" who were hired by "counter- revolutionary" forces led by Ibrahim Kamal, a senior member of the National Democratic Party, the former ruling party. Kamel, who was allegedly involved in the 2 February camel attack on Tahrir Square, was arrested Sunday by military police and is currently under investigation for involvement in Saturday's violence.

"There is evidence that many of the protesters in Tahrir Square on Friday did not belong to the group of youth who led the 25 January Revolution, but we know that there were forces in Tahrir on this night trying to ignite division between the army and the people," said Major- General Adel Emara. The army also denied using live ammunition on Saturday, saying the joint police and military forces only had sound guns to disperse the protesters.

Major-General Ismail Etman, head of the Armed Forces' Department of Morale, said that the protester killed was shot by a bullet that passed from chin to neck, indicating that the shooter was in an elevated position.

By Saturday noon about 1,500 protesters went back to camp in Tahrir Square. The protesters managed to block all the streets that lead to the square and insisted on continuing their protests until their demands and those of the revolution were met. "Our demands are investigation of the Friday violence and the formation of a civil presidential council to be in charge of the transition," said 22-year-old Mai Abdel-Moez.

Closing the square from all directions almost caused a traffic crisis in downtown, which led to the closing of a number of banks and government buildings. Employees in the closed firms clashed with Tahrir protesters, throwing rocks and asking them to evacuate the square.

On Monday, more than 40 Molotov cocktails bombs were found hidden in a sewage opening in Tahrir Square. Residents of Tahrir buildings had reported that they had seen people put them there, so they informed the police. Following the Molotov incident, protesters agreed to open the square after three hours of negotiations with a delegation representing the Revolutionary Youth Coalition.

The Revolutionary Youth Coalition, the Muslim Brotherhood, along with many political parties, announced that they had no protesters in Tahrir Square and that the people who decided to camp there are representing themselves. The coalition is one of seven groups formed during the revolution. It includes the 6 April Movement, Youth for Freedom and Justice, the El-Baradei Campaign, the Muslim Brotherhood Youth Group, the Democratic Front's Youth Group and the National Association for Change.

At a press conference Sunday, the Youth Coalition condemned the "violence" used by the military against protesters and decided to suspend their dialogue with the HCAF until the army starts a serious investigation of the events of Saturday. However, Youth Coalition members stressed that the coalition supports unity within the military, and recognised the army's right to protect its unity by all means. "We advise the young military officers who were protesting last Friday to [present their complaints] within the military establishment, not at Tahrir Square; the people and military unity is a red line for all Egyptians," said Mohamed Abbas, member of the Youth Coalition. The coalition also criticised the role of the Egyptian media in criminalising the demonstrators, describing it as being "as un-transparent and dishonest as it was under Mubarak's rule."

Some observers argue that the Youth Coalition's performance in the last few weeks has led to the fragmentation of the youth movement's role in the transition. For instance, the coalition's position on the sit-in at Tahrir Square after Friday protests was unclear and many of its members adopted a double standard. Nasser Abdel-Hamid, a prominent member of the coalition, said that the coalition was against the idea of camping out in the square, which is "useless and not necessary at the current stage". However, he added: "the Youth Coalition is supporting anybody who wants to stay in Tahrir, as every Egyptian has the right to do so."

When in interview the Weekly noted that camping in Tahrir violates the 2am curfew, Hamid argued that the Youth Coalition respects that in all areas, but that Tahrir Square is a "special case".

The Revolutionary Youth Coalition also has been under intensive pressure from newly formed youth movements like "Freed Egyptians" who accused the coalition of being co- opted by the military and the government. "Being under these pressures makes some coalition members unable to take a clear position at these critical times," said Abdel-Rahman Samir, a Youth Coalition member.

Another member with the Youth Coalition told the Weekly that there is division within the coalition about priorities at the current stage, saying that one group within the coalition wants to focus on parliamentary elections and another on fighting back "counter-revolutionary forces". "These divisions reflect in Youth Coalition decisions and positions on current critical events, but we are working to solve this in the coming few days."

Shadi El-Ghazli Harb said that the Youth Coalition and other political forces have been excluded from participating in some major decisions taken by the HCAF. "Several laws and decisions have been [passed] without the consultation with the Youth Coalition or other political groups, especially the law banning strikes and protests, the law on the establishment of political parties, and the law on political participation that led to the tension with the army," Shadi argued.

Other members told the Weekly that the Youth Coalition is currently studying its options, including holding a national dialogue next month in parallel to the official dialogue, which coalition members say "is not effective". Such dialogue would be inclusive of all political groups, the army, the new government, and new independent labour unions. The agenda would include the coming parliamentary elections, the economic situation, and other issues related to the transition.

After Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal were placed in custody yesterday, the coalition decided to cancel tomorrow's scheduled protest in Tahrir Square and are reconsidering the suspension of dialogue with the HCAF.