Highlights from Egypt, Dec 11 2012 / Huge Protest. IMF Loan. Selling Egypt

[Catherina]

Previous thread: "View profile
Highlights from Egypt, Dec 10 2012 (Part 2) Tahrir Under Attack. Gunshots Molotovs thrown in tents" here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021957747

Livestream link, what little commentary there is is mostly in English http://www.livestream.com/worldwidespeakout

Last night:

Egypt Independent ?@EgyIndependent

Attackers descend on Tahrir Square, protesters wounded http://dlvr.it/2cjQXx

Some 10 protesters were injured in an armed attack in the early hours of Tuesday in Tahrir Square, where an open-ended sit-in has been staged since 23 November.

Unknown attackers fired birdshot at protesters in the square. Nine suffered injuries to their arms and legs, while one protester suffered from a head injury.

The attack caused a wave of chaos in the square, with protesters chanting "the people want the fall of the regime" in response, before calm eventually returned.

...

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/attackers-descend-tahrir-square-protesters-wounded?utm_source=dlvr.it&

utm_medium=twitter

This morning:

Rawya Rageh ?@RawyaRageh

MT @mokhbersahafi: Thousands quickly fill in islamists rally as dozens of minibuses from provinces bus in morsi supporters" #Egypt


2 hours ago:

Andy Carvin ?@acarvin

#egypt RT @cliffcheney: Protesters pounding on metal portion of wall at presidential palace. Army on other side. video http://cc.posterous.com/protesters-pounding-on-metal-portion-of-wall


Basil El-Dabh ?@BasilElD

People now attempting to disassemble a wall using metal chains


1 hour ago

The Daily News Egypt ?@DailyNewsEgypt

Protesters manage to break wall outside presidential palace. #Morsy, #Egypt. #DNE via @BasilElD

[Catherina]

1. Judges refusing to give referendum vote any legitimacy

marlyn ?@virtualactivism
95% of #Damietta #judges refuse to oversee #referendum. [OnTv]

The Daily News Egypt ?@DailyNewsEgypt
Mansoura judges' club votes to boycott #EgyConstitution #referendum. #EgyCourts. #Egypt, #DNE via @aaboulenein


The Daily News Egypt ?@DailyNewsEgypt
#Aswan judges' club votes to boycott #EgyConstitution #referendum by 95 percent. #EgyCourts, #Egypt, #DNE via @aaboulenein

[Catherina]

2. Dear Western fuckwads kindly read some ACTUAL investigative work on #Egypt's constitutional draft

Elazul ?@Elazul

Dear Western fuckwads, kindly read some ACTUAL investigative work on #Egypt's constitutional draft by @SaraLabib http://tabulasara.blogspot.com/2012/12/constitutional-highway-to-theocracy.html …

Constitutional Highway to Theocracy

It is no secret that the Egyptian Islamists (most importantly represented in the Constitional Assembly by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Da'awa Salafiya) who, together with clear sympathizers, possessed more than half the seats in the Constitutional Assembly, all want a religious state, a theocracy of sorts, a system where purely religious rules are enforced using state power. This demand has been at the heart of their chants in protests, their parties' political programs and their members' words whenever they appear in the media. In fact, during the discussions in the Constitutional Assembly, some members of that group wanted to remove the word "democratic" from the draft altogether, because it would imply putting the people's will above that of God (cf. infra).

Read in its entirety here: http://tabulasara.blogspot.com/2012/12/constitutional-highway-to-theocracy.html

[Catherina]

3. Protesters pulled down army metal barricade by wall 30mins ago-standing by tanks

(Tweeted one hour ago, still catching up)

Beltrew Bel Trew - بل ترو 2h
Protesters pulled down army metal barricade by wall 30mins ago-standing by tanks.100s by presidential palace #egypt pic.twitter.com/cfyC7i0C

[Catherina]

4. Huge pro #Morsi crowds at Rabaa El-edawaya mosque now-ppl saying 9,000

1 hour ago


Bel Trew - بل ترو ?@Beltrew

Huge pro #Morsi crowds at Rabaa El-edawaya mosque now-ppl saying 9,000.Here at pres.palace 100s.pulled down army metal barricade #egypt


Meanwhile on the other side:


shaimaa khalil ?@Shaimaakhalil

Big crowd at the main road leading to #Itihadiya palace now chanting "ppl want the downfall of the regime"--- stopping traffic

[Catherina]

5. Electoral commission: Number of judges sufficient to supervise constitution referendum

Egypt Independent ?@EgyIndependent

Electoral commission: Number of judges sufficient to supervise constitution referendum http://dlvr.it/2csMX8

Electoral commission: Number of judges sufficient to supervise constitution referendum
Al-Masry Al-Youm
Tue, 11/12/2012 - 17:09

The Supreme Commission for Elections says Tuesday it is prepared for the constitutional referendum slated for Saturday.

...

With regard to press and monitoring during the referendum proceedings, Balshy said that, "the Egyptian media does not need permits to cover the electoral process." He clarified that "only foreign media will need to get permits, as well as domestic and foreign NGOs."

...

Information about voting will, according to the commission, be available on its website on Wednesday morning. A source said that voters’ lists have been revised and ineligible voters excluded.

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/electoral-commission-number-judges-sufficient-supervise-constitution-referendum?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Catherina]

6. BREAKING: Egypt's Judges Club to refrain from supervising constitutional poll

Hani Shukrallah ?@HaniShukrallah

BREAKING: Egypt's Judges Club to refrain from supervising constitutional poll http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/60295.aspx via @ahramonline


Wow. You can barely keep up with this!

BREAKING: Egypt's Judges Club to refrain from supervising constitutional poll

Judges club declares it will not take part in overseeing Saturday's controversial referendum on Egypt's proposed constitution
Zeinab El Gundy , Tuesday 11 Dec 2012

The Egyptian Judges Club's general assembly announced at a Tuesday press conference in Cairo its final decision not to supervise Saturday's popular referendum on Egypt's draft constitution.

The club made its decision following the refusal of the vast majority of judges' clubs across the country to participate in the referendum as supervisors, according to statements by the club's general assembly.

Judge Ahmed Zend slammed the new constitutional declaration issued by President Mohamed Morsi on Saturday, describing it as an "insult" to the judiciary." The new constitutional declaration still makes the president's decisions immune from judicial appeal," he said.

...

The new decree, however, states that all decisions made while the since-cancelled decree was in effect would remain impervious to judicial appeal, including the replacement of Egypt's Mubarak-appointed prosecutor-general, Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud.

....

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/60295.aspx

[Catherina]

7. an "increase in misinformed articles by foreign analysts who seem paid to do so or know nothing

Egyptocracy ?@Egyptocracy

There's an apparent increase in misinformed articles by foreign analysts who seem to be paid to do so or actually know nothing about #Egypt.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Again, thanks so much for keeping us up-to-date on Egypt.

[Catherina]

17. My pleasure to keep the record as straight as possible

WHenever you notice these glaring lacunae in the US media, you know they're rewriting the history script. How shameful. Solidarity

[Catherina]

9. The US: rewarding Arab obedience

Lost the tweet. Sorry.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The US: rewarding Arab obedience

"The United States and a coalition of international lenders are pushing ahead with billions of dollars in loans and other help for Egypt and neighboring states, despite the region’s sometimes violent political turmoil, hoping to head off a destabilizing economic collapse.

The risks involved in the effort have been on sharp display in Egypt in the clashes between protesters and forces loyal to President Mohamed Morsi, whose Islamist government must be trusted by the United States, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and others to deliver on commitments made in return for international support. Diplomats and others involved in crafting the IMF program acknowledge that they are dealing with an unpredictable situation. Although agencies such as the IMF and the World Bank officially eschew politics in evaluating loans and projects, conditions in the Arab Spring states are particularly volatile. The uprisings in the region have produced grass-roots democratic movements applauded by the United States, but have also strengthened Islamist parties and led to violence such as the September attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya. The IMF had hoped to move forward this month on a $4.8 billion loan that Egypt desperately needs, as its foreign currency reserves dwindle and international investors pull money from the country. But over the weekend, Morsi reneged on imposing tax increases that the IMF had expected as a way to help bring down the country’s budget deficit.
On Tuesday morning, the IMF said that the Egyptian government had asked to delay further work on the loan “in light of the unfolding developments on the ground.” The tax hikes faced a public backlash at a time when Morsi is also trying to quell opposition to a proposed new constitution....

The EBRD, created after the fall of the Berlin Wall to finance economic transition in Eastern Europe, is funding small-business development projects in Morocco and a power plant in Jordan. By 2015, officials at the bank say, it is expected to be investing upward of $3 billion a year in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia."

http://networkedblogs.com/FPGru

Despite turmoil, major lending effort aims to boost Egypt, Arab neighbors

...

The IMF loan to Egypt is expected to come with strict conditions attached, including a sharp curb on the use of subsidies. World Bank efforts in Tunisia are focused heavily on issues at the intersection of economics and politics, such as freedom of association and transparency in public budgeting. A request from Egypt for as much as $2 billion in similar governance support from the World Bank is being evaluated.

...

Morsi’s “renaissance” program for Egypt includes pledges to boost the share of economic output in private hands, attract more foreign investment and “limit the role of the state.”

Local analysts such as Rashad Abdou said they are skeptical and think Morsi is piling on IMF and other debt without a clear long-term plan.

...

But U.S. and other officials involved in the discussions with the Morsi government use words such as “pragmatic” to describe the approach to economic policy: The Egyptians are aware that outside help is needed to stabilize the country and appear willing in general to meet the conditions. That marks a change from a year ago, when the military council then running the country refused IMF help.

...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/despite-turmoil-major-lending-effort-aims-to-boost-egypt-arab-neighbors/2012/12/10/117d16b4-3f2e-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story_1.html

"Pragmatic". Now where have we seen that word before?

[sabrina 1]

24. So Morsi's government sold Egypt out to the same criminals that are in the process of destroying

Europe, and this country. The IMF, the World Bank et al. They are BUYING Egypt the same way they've bought every country.

This really is Shock Doctrine in progress.

And I guess our own policies change depending on who is willing to do what we want. It's astounding that the Western Allies who supported Mubarak's brutal rule over the Brotherhood, has done a complete about turn.

I guess Morsi figured out that all you have to do to get the support of the West is 'do what they tell you to do'.

They all need to talk to Chavez, as someone recently said about Europe, to find out how he dumped the IMF and the World Bank and restored his country's sovereignty.

This is all so sad.

[Catherina]

37. It really is and he parroted the same talking points we get here

and in everywhere else where the IMF has its little austerity gig going - "it won't hurt the poor".


Morsi is giving the PTB what it wants, 1. assurances on the Israeli peace deal and 2. selling out his country to these shadowy economic institutes.

He can do whatever he wants now and we'll act blind. And the Egyptian Army, enforcer of the peace deal and recipient of the US Aid, is coming out of its 'shadows'.

The good news is the charade is in plain sight now.



Reem Abdellatif ريم ?@Reem_Abdellatif

#Egypt military set date/time/place for natl dialogue meeting, then retracted. Presidency spox says there's no meeting, its misunderstanding

[Catherina]

10. Marches, gathering steam

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

#MB stage chanting against @ElBaradei, Sabahy, Moussa and the Media.


Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

#MB protests now. I estimate the numbers to be around 10,000 give or take. 07:43 pm pic.twitter.com/6z1S0P3M

[Catherina]

11. The new SCAF calls for a "national dialogue" tomorrow, says Mursi will attend. denials

Jonathan Rugman ?@jrug

Head of Egyptian army has called a "national dialogue" tomorrow, says Mursi will attend.


Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

The new SCAF is jumping into the situation as the entity that "saved the day" and that their loyalty is to the people. قديمة!



Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

MoD and MoI official pages on FB confirm tomorrow's dialogue. The president's office denies.



Sarahngb ?@Sarahngb

On TV just declared that a military source is denying news about meeting. It seems someone up there is in trouble.

[Catherina]

12. Internet is down in half of #Maadi. n/t

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

Internet is down in half of #Maadi. Internet is down in half of #Maadi.

[Catherina]

13. "America stop supporting terrorists"

#OpEgypt ?@OperationEgypt

Another man protesting at palace has this sign: America stop supporting terrorists" #egypt pic.twitter.com/2d3I6Za4 via @betsy_hiel #OpEgypt

[Catherina]

14. Contradicting reports from govt on whether Defense Minister invited political forces to dialogue

Ayman Mohyeldin ?@AymanM

Contradicting reports from #Egypt govt on whether Defense Minister invited political forces, incl Pres to nat'l dialogue #turmoil




38m نشرة القاهرة? نشرة القاهرة? ?@cairowire

re. call for national dialogue — RT @SameralAtrush First statement was sent out by MOI, at 6:28pm. @gelhaddad says presidency denies. #egypt

[Catherina]

15. Morsi as a Pharaoh, underneath reads "Void"

Bel Trew - بل ترو ?@Beltrew

#Morsi as a Pharaoh, underneath reads "Void" at presidential palace #Egypt http://yfrog.com/h3guariwj

[Catherina]

16. Dear Western Media & Think tanks: If you're too bloody lazy to read, feel free to watch.

Elazul ?@Elazul

Dear Western Media & Think tanks: If you're too bloody lazy to read, feel free to watch. http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/egypt-morsi-secular-liberal-islamist-divide-adel-iskandar/50c6192d78c90a2e35000040 … #Egypt

[Catherina]

18. Morsi still can't say whether call for meeting is a rumor or not, MB declares they're attending

Sarahngb ?@Sarahngb

While the presidency still can't decide whether the call for a meeting is a rumor or not, the MB declared they're attending it.



Mostafa Hussein ?@moftasa

In the past hour: Army called for dialogue, apparently presidency didn't like this so army denied and said this was just a rumour?

[Catherina]

19. another blow to #Morsi, court does not recognize prosecutor general

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

In another blow to #Morsi, court does not recognize prosecutor general -- http://goo.gl/hlJXv via @EgyIndependent

In another blow to Morsy, court does not recognize prosecutor general
Egypt Independent
Tue, 11/12/2012 - 17:18

In a new challenge to President Mohamed Morsy, the Azbakiya Misdemeanor Court declined a case because it was referred to the court by the new prosecutor general, saying that he does not legally hold that position.

Last month, Morsy triggered controversy by issuing a decree in which he dismissed former Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud and replaced him with Talaat Ibrahim Abdallah.

The move was unprecedented in Egyptian legal history, since the constitution has always stipulated that the prosecutor general cannot be fired by the president.

Azbakiya Misdemeanor Court head Mahmoud Hamza said in his rationale that the prosecutor general was appointed under mysterious circumstances and that there are judicial challenges lodged against him, for which reasons the court does not recognize him and hence declines to consider the case.

The verdict was issued on Saturday. Notable law professor Nour Farahat posted the verdict on his Facebook page.

....

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/another-blow-morsy-court-does-not-recognize-prosecutor-general?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Catherina]

20. Alexandria protests are HUGE!

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

WOW! Alexandria protests are HUGE! RT @elmansi: مليونية #الاسكندرية الان #alex http://twitpic.com/bl4gpn

[Catherina]

21. Morsi, deal with this! Egyptian women in black, with "retribution" written. & "Down with...

#OpEgypt ?@OperationEgypt

Morsi, deal with this! Egyptian women in black, with "retribution" written. & "Down with the supreme guide" #Egypt pic.twitter.com/MzIYTZGx





Question, where are all the US Feminist Groups who were so concerned about going to war against Afghanistan to "liberate" the women there? Deaf? Blind? Mute? - Pathetic.

[sabrina 1]

30. Good question. It was all propaganda. I remember Laura Bush using Afghan's women to get support

for their war in that country. While she was staging Photo Ops with a few women there, the actual Women's Organizations in Afghan, which do exist, and are always in great danger so I view them as extremely courageous, were telling the world that the Western Allies refuse to speak to them.

Same old story, don't back the legitimate forces in the countries we invade or influence, because they will not compromise their souls for profit.

Our entire Foreign Policy needs to be totally discarded and built from the bottom up by people with actual intelligence and ethics.

Check this out. I wouldn't be surprised if they get paid either to keep women out of the protests and diminish the numbers of the opposition.

Jonathan Rashad ?@JonathanRashad
Interview with men who get paid to carry out mob attacks on women in Tahrir (18:31) | http://ow.ly/g0Vyc

[Catherina]

32. Remember the wikileaks documents of the CIA's program to use Feminist Groups

to support their wars by parading the plight of Afghan women? Women in Burkas! Women in Burkas! I don't have it on hand right now but I can dig it up for you.

They've been doing everything they can to intimidate the women and stop them from protesting so they can beat the men up without anyone getting all chocked up that they attacked women.

And of course, I agree with what you wrote.

[sabrina 1]

36. Yes, I do and that is one of many reasons why they are trying to shut down Wikileaks.

I also remember the CIA memo discussing how to 'get' Assange and settling on 'a sexual smear campaign' as the best way to silence him.

I wonder why they always have to use women as weapons in their brutal wars against humanity?

[Catherina]

22. One march to on way from #Tahrir to presidential palace

#OpEgypt ?@OperationEgypt

One march to on way from #Tahrir to presidential palace. #Egypt #OpEgypt pic.twitter.com/mRGN1FtS


:large

[Catherina]

23. Livestream Link in English

Princess Luna (Real) ?@Princessluna11

Anti Morsi Protesters on the Wall at the President Palce with fire and mess this wall wi - #worldwidespeakout live on http://www.livestream.com/worldwidespeakout

[Catherina]

25. no exaggeration there are about 100 MB mini bus & travel bus... with MB guards

Gigi Ibrahim ?@Gsquare86

I swear with no exaggeration there are about 100 MB mini bus & travel bus by Rabaa and Abbas Akad st #NasrCity with MB guards #ikhwan #khrfan

[Catherina]

26. Numbers at palace increasing rapidly. Merghany street is full of protesters. Tanks are filling ...

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

Numbers in #Itehadya are increasing rapidly. Merghany street is full of protesters. Tanks are filling one side though.

[Catherina]

27. Interview with men who get paid to carry out mob attacks on women in Tahrir

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2012, 04:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

RT @JonathanRashad: Interview with men who get paid to carry out mob attacks on women in Tahrir (18:31) | http://ow.ly/g0Vyc


"frank discussion .... some viewers may find upsetting". WTF.



Unreported World examines the increase in sexual assaults and harassment in Egypt.

The programme reveals claims that young men are being paid to carry out horrendous mob

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/4od

[sabrina 1]

31. I just posted a link above to an interview with some of the men who are being paid to attack women.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/4od

They say they do not know who is paying them. That would be important to know.

[Catherina]

28. Reuters Livestream

Reuters Livestream: http://reuters.livestation.com/demo

[Catherina]

29. Huge crowds of anti-Morsi protesters at palace

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

Another Image of the large crowd at #Itehadya http://twitpic.com/bl4m8v




Sorry, I can't figure out how to post the larger pic

[Catherina]

33. Conflicting narratives emerge on new prosecutor general's past

Cherif Barakat ?@cmbaraka

Conflicting narratives emerge on new prosecutor general's past | Egypt Independent http://www.egypti

Conflicting narratives emerge on new prosecutor general's past
Mohamad Adam
Tue, 11/12/2012 - 20:44


There is renewed talk about Egypt’s new prosecutor general, with conflicting narratives circulating as to what Talaat Ibrahim Abdallah has been doing for the past five years before returning to Egypt in November. The official narrative is that he was on secondment in Kuwait, while there are other reports showing that he was in fact passing politicized sentences in Bahrain, where protests have been dealt with harshly since the beginning of 2011.

...

It was Khalifa and Abdallah who sentenced seven defendants to life imprisonment in the “Ma’amir case.” Defense witnesses told the court that the men confessed under torture. Abdallah also heard the Hujaira case in which prominent opposition activists were accused of “establishing an illegal group for the purpose of undermining the constitution of Bahrain” and other crimes.

As part of a 2010 report on the use of torture during interrogations in Bahrain, Human Rights Watch describes how state-controlled television broadcast “confessions” by the defendants in the case shortly after their arrests.

...


Abdallah took his position as prosecutor general following a controversial constitutional declaration on 22 November in which President Mohamed Morsy dismissed former Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud.

...

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/conflicting-narratives-emerge-new-prosecutor-general-s-past

My how lovely. No wonder the US media can't report on what's going on in Egypt. Too many danger spots it needs to stay away from. The people defending this shit at DU and trying to convince people Morsi's actions are peachy and the Egyptians are just a bunch of irrational malcontents should be ashamed of themselves.

[sabrina 1]

38. Someone is defending Morsi's actions on DU?

I'm glad I missed that. I am so out of patience now with the apolgists for all that is wrong about our foreign policies and the right wing swing of the Dem Party.

Do you get RT btw? Their coverage of OWS, and the Arab Spring was very good, much less biased than even Al Jazeera at this point, who we know has also sold out.

[Catherina]

39. Oh yeah

and there was even a thread trying to convince people it was a fine, liberal, constitution with human rights and all. Sick stuff.

[Catherina]

34. Egyptians outside Al-Ittihadiyah palace, no violence or injuries reported. n/t

Mohamed Gade ?@MohamedGade

Egyptians outside Al-Ittihadiyah palace, no violence or injuries reported. #Dostor #Egypt.

[Catherina]

35. Nuba will announce tomorrow that no referendum voting boxes will be allowed in their villages

Zeyad Salem ☭ ?@Zeyadsalem

Breaking confirmed news: Nuba will announce tomorrow that no referendum voting boxes will be allowed in their villages. #Egypt

[Catherina]

40. MB Statement on Shootings by Masked Men in Tahrir Square

Ikhwanweb ?@Ikhwanweb

Muslim Brotherhood’s Ghozlan Statement on Shootings by Masked Men in Tahrir Square - Ikhwanweb http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=30482 …

Muslim Brotherhood’s Ghozlan Statement on Shootings by Masked Men in Tahrir Square
Contrary to false media accusations blaming the Muslim Brotherhood for an incident earlier Tuesday where masked men shot Tahrir protesters, Ghozlan stresses Brotherhood would never engage in such violent crimes.


Tuesday, December 11,2012 13:39
IkhwanWeb


Dr. Mahmoud Ghozlan, Muslim Brotherhood leader, said that mass media picked up a story claiming that three masked men who opened fire on protesters in Tahrir Square, and that a number of protesters were injured, adding that some media outlets were trying to blame the violence on Islamists.

"Everyone knows that Islamists respect the sanctity of Egyptian blood, and they would never spill the blood of peaceful demonstrators. Evidently, Islamists did participate in many demonstrations since the revolution. They were always the victims of attacks by thugs and assassins. Many of them fell dead and hundreds injured in defense of unarmed demonstrators. They never sought revenge.

"The Muslim Brotherhood condemns any attack or violence by any party. It affirms that freedom of opinion and demonstration is guaranteed to all, provided protests remain peaceful and do not cause any damage to public or private property or other demonstrators, and they should not disrupt production."

Cairo - December 11, 2012

http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=30482

[Catherina]

41. FJP (MB) buses attacked en route to Cairo, six injured

Mostafa Hussein ?@moftasa

FJP buses attacked en route to Cairo, six injured http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/fjp-buses-attacked-en-route-cairo-six-injured … #Morsi is driving the country to chaos



FJP buses attacked en route to Cairo, six injured
Al-Masry Al-Youm
Tue, 11/12/2012 - 21:02

Buses belonging to the Freedom and Justice Party were attacked on their way from Sharqiya to Cairo to participate in demonstrations supporting President Mohamed Morsy Tuesday, injuring six.

The assailants attacked the buses with stones and forced them to stop before attacking the passengers.

The secretary general of the FJP in Sharqiya, Ahmed Shehata, said the buses were “surprised by a group of thugs” on the Belbais-Cairo desert road, near Salam City.

Some passengers chased the attackers until they reached the outskirts of Salam City, Shehata said.

...
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/fjp-buses-attacked-en-route-cairo-six-injured

[Catherina]

42. Beltagy: We'll protect "Itehadya" with our blood. Abu Ismail supporters: Victory or martyrdom

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

Beltagy: We'll protect "Itehadya" with our blood. Abu Ismail supporters: Victory or martyrdom -- http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/1305381 Ar via @zelaky


(in Arabic)

[Catherina]

43. Beltagy, part-time parliamentarian & full-time bigot, asserting that >60% of protesters r Christian

mostafa ?@mostafa

ICYMI: Beltagy, part-time parliamentarian & full-time bigot, asserting that >60% of itihadiya protesters were christian

#t=34m54s …

[Catherina]

44. Morsi orders referendum in two phases for shortage in participating judges' numbers

Egyptocracy ?@Egyptocracy

AlArabiya: Presidential order to hold the referendum in two phases for shortage in participating judges' numbers. #Egypt #Morsi


السيد مانكي ?@Sandmonkey

This is becoming HILARIOUS!!! #constitutionalReferendum


Princess Luna (Real) ?@Princessluna11

#Egypt's #military to protect polling station's for Saturday's #vote on the #con - live on http://livestream.com/worldwidespeakout …

[Catherina]

45. Presidential order to hold the referendum on December 15th and 22nd, due to shortage

Egyptocracy ?@Egyptocracy

Presidential order to hold the referendum on December 15th and 22nd, due to shortage in participating judges. #Egypt #Morsi #EgyConstitution




Elazul ?@Elazul

Two different dates supervised by pro-MB judges? And you think it'll be an impartial referendum? Lulz. #Egypt


Embee ?@embee

@Sarahngb next Saturday and 22nd. Not enough judges. Lulz. Will send you list of governorates for each.

[Catherina]

46. When will the west pay the price for its support of political Islam in the Arab world?

The Daily News Egypt ?@DailyNewsEgypt

When will the west pay the price for its support of political Islam in the Arab world? http://dailynewsegypt.com/2012/12/12/when-will-the-we …

When will the west pay the price for its support of political Islam in the Arab world?

Farid Zahran / December 12, 2012 /


History confirms that the relationship between the west and the Muslim Brotherhood is not a recent phenomenon, but rather has existed since the organisation was created. During the British Occupation, the Suez Canal Company provided financial support to Hassan Al-Banna and other local parties in an attempt to counter the influence of the Wafd, who at the time led Egypt’s national struggle for independence.

After the July 1952 revolution, the Muslim Brotherhood’s relationship with Gamal Abdel Nasser and the Free Officer’s movement deteriorated specifically as a result of the latter’s policy of non-alignment, which was hostile to western neo-colonialism.

...

Questions surrounding the west’s disposition towards the Muslim Brotherhood became more pronounced after the White House released statements saying that issues regarding the legality of President Mohamed Morsy’s constitutional declaration were an internal, Egyptian matter, and would not elicit any direct criticism from the US.

...

The west continues to think of Egypt in traditional colonial terms, and for that reason supports conservative, reactionary regimes on the condition that they help preserve the west’s strategic interests, regardless as to which particular methods of repression they choose to use. However what the west does not understand is that religious fascist organisations feed off each other, and if allowed to propagate will eventually spawn an entity that will inevitably turn its aggression towards the west itself, labelling it the Great Satan and the source of all corruption in the world.

...

http://dailynewsegypt.com/2012/12/12/when-will-the-west-pay-the-price-for-its-support-of-political-islam-in-the-arab-world/

[Catherina]

47. Hegazy: Who ever thinks of toppling #Morsi will be beheaded

Mohamed Abd El-Hamid ?@MohAbdElHamid

Safwat Hegazy: Who ever thinks of toppling #Morsi will be beheaded

(video is in Arabic)

[Catherina]

48. MB chant at palace "No to constitution, yes to shari'ah (to law of God)" n/t

Mohamed Gade ?@MohamedGade

New chant outside Al-Ittihadiyah palace "No to constitution, yes to shari'ah (to law of God)". #Dostor #Ikhwan

[Catherina]

49. " preparing 100s of 1000s of jihadis waiting for zero hour"

marlyn ?@virtualactivism

Salafi Sheikh at Media Production Village from podium says Ikhwan's al Shater is preparing 100s of 1000s of jihadis waiting for zero hour.


marlyn ?@virtualactivism

Here is the video

(in Arabic)

[Catherina]

50. MB #Ikhwan leader says MB violence is because of the rudeness of the protesters

marlyn ?@virtualactivism

#Ikhwan leader says Ikhwan violence is because of the rudeness of ppl at the presPalace. Oh I see.. is that an admission of violence?

[Catherina]

51. "15 hrs of street clashes show an organized group of disciplined Islamists. military-type exercises

Ghada Shahbender ?@ghadasha

"15 hours of street clashes show an organized group of disciplined Islamists ...carrying out military-type exercises" http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_15716/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=sVutkwyA …



gypt opposition fears violence from Brotherhood

SARAH EL DEEB
Published: Today

CAIRO (AP) - They showed a military-style precision: Crowds of bearded Islamists proclaiming allegiance to Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi and chanting "God is great" as they descended on tents set up by anti-Morsi protesters outside the presidential palace, swinging clubs, firing rifles and calling for burning down the opposition. They set up a detention facility, interrogating and beating captured protesters.

...

Opponents of Morsi accuse his Muslim Brotherhood supporters of unleashing highly trained cadres - fired up with religious slogans - to crush their political rivals. They fear last week's violence was a signal that the Brotherhood will use force to push its agenda and defend its political gains in the face of a persistent protest movement demanding that Morsi withdraw a draft constitution largely written by his Islamist allies.

...

However, when last week's violence began, the only protesters outside the palace were several dozen people conducting a sit-in in the tents, and the allegiances of those killed remain controversial. Opponents and rights lawyers charge that the Brotherhood has tried to persuade some families to declare their deceased sons as Brotherhood.

...

In one video posted online, thousands of Islamists lined up on a main boulevard near the palace, chanting "Power, Resolve, Faith, Morsi's men are everywhere," and chanting calls of burning down the opposition - then they assaulted the camp.

...

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_15716/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=sVutkwyA

[Catherina]

52. MB: 'Morsi's legitimacy or ppl's necks'

marlyn ?@virtualactivism

More threats of violence from Ikhwan: Safwat Hegazy says 'Morsi's legitimacy or ppl's necks'. http://almogaz.com/news/politics/2012/12/12/624221 …

(in Arabic)

[Catherina]

53. MB not leaving Media Production Village. Will build bathrooms outside village & plan 2 build Mosque

marlyn ?@virtualactivism

In case you missed it.. Salafi demonstrators in front of Media Production Village build bathrooms outside the village & plan to build Mosque

[Catherina]

54. Image of the bathrooms they began building.. just like that

marlyn ?@virtualactivism

Image of the bathrooms they began building.. just like that.. outside the media production village …

[Catherina]

55. New voter rules announced before Egypt vote

Mohamed Fadel Fahmy ?@Repent11

My #CNN article: New voter rules announced before Egypt vote http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/11/world/meast/egypt-unrest/index.html?c=&page=1 … #Dec15 "No"

New voter rules announced ahead of Egypt referendum
From Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, CNN
December 11, 2012 -- Updated 1425 GMT (2225 HKT)

...

Evidence of the tensions surrounding the vote could be seen in measures that the government has announced days before the vote.

On Tuesday, Morsy amended a law so that voters cannot cast their ballots outside their electoral districts, as they had in the past. Being able to vote anywhere had been a convenience, a presidential statement said, but it creates a burden on electoral officials.

...

Islamists formulated and voted to approve the national charter before handing it off to the general public to vote on, as representatives of other political and religious backgrounds quit the process in protest.

...

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/11/world/meast/egypt-unrest/index.html?c=&page=1

[Catherina]

56. Hegazi inciting ppl against ElBaradei & specifically agnst Church

marlyn ?@virtualactivism

Incitation by Islamist Safwat Hegazi now from Rabeaa al Adaweya Mosque demo agnst ElBaradei & specifically agnst Church

…

(in Arabic)


marlyn ?@virtualactivism

What Safwat Hegazi said just now at MadinetNasr is extremely provocative, hateful &really disturbing.As in REALLY disturbing.

[Catherina]

57. An overview of the IMF debacle raising important questions

Lina Attalah ?@Linaattalah

An overview of the IMF debacle raising important questions http://bit.ly/VBjsxm by @maggie87h

Fiscal fumbling: Tax law, IMF turmoil knocks economy off course
Maggie Hyde
Wed, 12/12/2012 - 00:10

...

On Sunday, news surfaced that Morsy had signed off on a large restructuring of the country’s tax system just before the weekend, on 6 December, as part of the what officials said were IMF-sanctioned economic reforms.

The extensive changes increased taxes on cigarettes, soft drinks, alcohol, cooking oil and energy. In addition, the new laws would have levied licensing and property taxes, and increased the tax rate for higher-income brackets.

...

Reaction to the new laws late Sunday was near-immediate, with some of the loudest objections surprisingly coming from within Morsy’s own party.

“Of course it was a surprise,” Mohamed Gouda, spokesperson for the Freedom and Justice Party’s economic committee, told Egypt Independent. “The Freedom and Justice Party did not know about the tax law, did not agree to the tax law and, unfortunately, was not asked to consult on formation of the tax laws.”

....

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/fiscal-fumbling-tax-law-imf-turmoil-knocks-economy-course

[polly7]

58. Thanks for all of this Catherina.

http://www.zcommunications.org/navigating-egypts-revolutionary-crisis-by-shamus-cooke

Moreover, the IMF usually demands privatization of public services that are directed toward helping the poor. One example of a common IMF attack on the public sector is the elimination of government fuel subsides, which lower the price of gasoline and oil used for cooking. This IMF policy has created mini-Arab springs in Jordan and Nigeria; and now Egypt's IMF loan includes the same attached string. A report on Reuters explains:

"If the [Egyptian] government does begin cutting the [fuel] subsidy and publishes a timetable for its eventual removal — probably a minimum IMF demand — then we would expect
funds from the IMF and other donor organizations to provide Egypt with breathing space [to fund its government]."

At the same time, the IMF loan also helped insure that Egypt's Mubarak-era miniscule taxes for the wealthy and corporations stay where they are, at 25 percent.

Thus, in one stroke of the pen — signing the IMF debt deal — the Muslim Brotherhood proved in practice that it will continue the economic policies of the wealthy-dominated Mubarak dictatorship.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/25/imf-arab-spring-loans-egypt-tunisia

Beginning in the 1990s, IMF-led structural adjustment programmes saw the privatisation of the bulk of the Egyptian textile industry and the slashing of its workforce from half a million to a quarter-million. What's more, the workers who were left faced – like the rest of Egypt – stagnant wages as the price of living rocketed. Though you wouldn't know it from western coverage, the long and gallant struggle of these workers, particularly the strike of textile workers of Mahalla el-Kubra, is credited by many Egyptian activists as a crucial step on the Egyptian people's path towards revolution.

This failure to appreciate the revolutions as a rebellion not just against local dictators, but against the global neo-liberal programme they were implementing with such gusto in their countries, is largely a product of how we on the western left have been unwitting orientalists, and allowed the racist "clash of civilisations" narrative to define our perceptions of the Middle East. We have failed to see the people of the region as natural allies in a common struggle.

It is this blindness that makes the revolutions appear as instantaneous explosions, like switches suddenly flicked, rather than as events in a continuum. A good place to start the story, if you want it to make sense, would be the Egyptian bread riots of 1977, which came following an initial round of economic liberalisation (which was as much a part of Sadat's change of cold war allegiances as his salute to the Israeli flag in Jerusalem). It should not have surprised us that as people's struggle to survive grew more and more grinding following the IMF-led reforms of the subsequent decades they would rise up once more.

Nor should we surprised at the moneyed fightback, which will no doubt be attempted. During this transition period, forces like the IMF will seek to lock in and enlarge the neoliberal project before there is an accountable government to complain about it

The Hospital that makes you Sicker

Joseph Stiglitz

http://www.newint.org/features/2004/03/01/imf-failure/