Egyptian protesters defiant in huge demo
With the government refusing to budge on the demonstrators’ main demands, Vice President Omar Suleiman promised no reprisals against the protesters for their campaign entering a third week to eject Mubarak after 30 years in office.
Protesters on Cairo’s central Tahrir Square accused the government of merely playing for time, and swore they would not give up until the current “half revolution” was complete.
Tens of thousands poured into the square to join those already camped there, filling it completely for the third time since the demonstrations began on January 25. Many said it was their first time taking part and were inspired by Wael Ghonim, the 30-year-old Google marketing manager who was a key organiser of the online campaign. Straight from his release from 12 days of detention, Ghonim gave an emotionally charged television interview on Monday night where he sobbed over those who have been killed in two weeks of clashes and insisted “We love Egypt ... and we have rights”.
“I came here for the first time today because this cabinet is a failure, Mubarak is still meeting the same ugly faces,” said Afaf Naged, 71, a former member of the board of directors of the state-owned National Bank of Egypt. “He can’t believe it is over. He is a very stubborn man.”
Suleiman, a long-time intelligence chief, has led talks this week with opposition groups including the Muslim Brotherhood — Mubarak’s sworn enemies.
In comments broadcast on state television, he said: “A clear road map has been put in place with a set timetable to realise the peaceful and organised transfer of power.”
So far the government has conceded little ground. The 82-year-old president, who has promised to stand down when his term expires in September, appears to be weathering the storm.
Talks between the government and opposition factions took place on Sunday under the gaze of a giant portrait of Mubarak.
Many in a country where about 40% of people live on less than $2 a day are desperate to return to work and normal life, even some of those wanting to oust Mubarak.
For Cairo cab driver Mustafa Fikri, the last thing on his mind was protesting against Mubarak’s rule. He said he couldn’t even be at his wife’s hospital bedside when she gave birth to their first son on Monday, as he was working.
Fikri cried for joy but still could not call it a day and head to the hospital. “If I don’t work my family will starve. There isn’t any money left in the house.”
Some normality is returning to Cairo. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper in the city centre yesterday and queues quickly built up at banks, which have so far opened only for restricted hours.
But people on Tahrir Square were sceptical about the talks and suspicious of Mubarak’s motives. Youssef Hussein, a 52-year-old tourist driver from Aswan, held up a sign saying: “Dialogue prolongs the life of the regime and gives it the kiss of life. No dialogue until Mubarak leaves.”
“This dialogue is just on paper, it is just political manoeuvring to gain time,” said Sayed Hagaz from the Nile Delta.
Ayman Farag, a Cairo lawyer, said the protesters’ work was far from complete. “What has happened so far is only half a revolution and I hope it will continue to the end,” he said.
Suleiman promised that the harassment of protesters would end.
“The president emphasised that Egypt’s youth deserve the appreciation of the nation and issued a directive to prevent them being pursued, harassed or having their right to freedom of expression taken away.”
Yesterday’s rally and another due Friday are tests of the protesters’ ability to keep pressure on Mubarak.
