Monday, November 21, 2011

Just how bad is it?

Nobody really knows how bad the political situation in Egypt is. The last report I heard was that 35 people had been killed in Tahrir, and over 1000 injured seriously.

The AUC campus at Tahrir is closed. There have been reports that the library was burned. Hill house, the bookstore and the science building have broken glass.

The UNDP offices downtown are closed and people are working from home.

One AUC student Ahmed Abdel Rahim, was arrested in Tahrir Square yesterday. He is being detailed at the Kasr El Aini police station. AUC is trying to get him released and keep him safe.

As many as 4000 protesters are in Tahrir. They are not all Islamists. One of my students from my essentials of public policy class is there. Thirty Seven (37) revolutionary groups have demanded the resignation of Essam Sherif's government and the transfer of power to an elected civilian government by May 2012.


2 comments:

  1. Dear Dr., thanks for such important and clear information that you provide on the "long battle for Egypt." It is a very important contribution to inform and build consensus among people. Congratulations.

    I think that with the precedence of violence in Tahrir Square, no one is interested to see the past to come. Then, now, the military should avoid that situation not only by saying, but also showing with attitudes their intentions. Most of the citizens, mainly those who are in Tahrir right now need to see actions, to trust in the future. Let them feel confident. Let them understand that every revolution takes time. It is time to negotiate or enforce the agreement about how the process will go on.

    No more violence. I guess that the moment also needs a leader who can guide people's actions, because violence creates violence and the situation can be worst.
    As you state, there is no true awareness about the seriousness of the actual situation. People begin to realize it as the situation touches them; for instance, I realized it when I got a message saying that the university will be closed today. My first action was to check my e-mail to see if Dr. Warigia sends information about it. She explained the situation. I am aware now.

    The last thing I would like to comment on is that the media plays an important role and should not alarm people, report but do not alarm, because depending on what the media is saying the level of violence can escalate or not.

    Bernardete.

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  2. Dear Dr.Warigia

    It is very bad to live in one place all this time with too much violence and fear. Those days no one can imagine what will happen tomorrow. As Pernadet said, the media, especially Talk show programs, you find the same people in all channels and most of them have different vision in each one. There is no way to let the people listen to each other and also to trust each other. From more than ten months there is no leader in Egypt, to hear to him. The youth cannot find one man or may be woman to wake after him or her, no one to take him as a guide. This is the first time on my life I feel that I lost, and I feel like that I would like to find another place to leave in. I always ask god to give us the good way, and to give us the light to see our way.

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