This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
At issue is jobs, decent pay, better social services, ending corruption and repression, as well as liberating democratic change in a part of the world where poverty, unemployment and despotism reflect daily life for tens of millions.
Since military junta power replaced Mubarak, thousands were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, disappeared, and/or denied due process and judicial fairness in military tribunal trials.
Mubarak's gone but nothing changed. In fact, things got worse, including extreme brutality against protesters demanding change.
Despite upcoming November parliamentary elections, democracy's nowhere in sight. Military junta power's entrenched under the hated emergency law, making political opposition illegal.
Thousands renewed efforts to replace it. In recent weeks, new Tahrir Square demonstrations "reclaim(ed) the revolution." Anger rages against General Mohammed Tantawi's led Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).
People want power handed over to civilian rule. "Down with the rule of the military," some chanted. Others said, "We are the people. We are the red line."Railroad worker Mohamed Abdel Azeem said, "We don't need a guardian to tell us how to write our constitution. The army is the people's institution, and (we) have the right to supervise it." Still others shouted, "Down, down with military rule."
On November 18, tens of thousands rallied on the "Friday of One Demand." Egyptians responded to SCAF's "supraconstitutional" principles, declaring junta power the guardian of "constitutional legitimacy."
They give military officials final say on policy, even after civilian parliamentarians (including a junta appointed prime minister) and president are elected under a process many fear will be rigged to include only SCAF favorites, or at least a strong majority.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
