Peacefully Demonstrating
The anti-government demonstrators that have flocked to Tahrir Square in Cairo consider the space they have dominated in their determined quest to unseat President Hosni Mubarak theirs, personally; very personally. They were incensed at the attempts of pro-government demonstrators to make a place for themselves on the Square.Doing their utmost to shield the square from the incursion of the others who brought themselves out into the public in defence of the National Democratic Party.
Theirs, they felt, was a peaceful demonstration, over the past week and more. Not entirely, of course, since there were obviously, among those devoted to the civil disobedience of their revolt, others who did not hesitate to conduct themselves violently. Not against one another; as long as there appeared between them those of the same thought processes, nothing untoward occurred.
Other than the burning and sacking of government offices, the national museum of antiquity, vehicles, that sort of thing. And of course tourist sites, archaeological sites, anywhere there might possibly exist some opportunity to obtain valuable artifacts to be sold on the black market. Oh yes, shops were also looted, and shop owners felt more secure closing down their premises than remaining open for business.
So much for peaceful demonstrations. With the eventual appearance of the alternate-minded crowd, those who profess their loyalty to their president and his long-ruling party, violence against people did come about. The anti-government demonstrators railed against the armed forces for doing nothing to separate the polarized crowds to avert violence.
But the armed forces had publicly and to great acclaim declared their love and respect for all Egyptians. In 'doing nothing', they demonstrated that they were not prepared, as they had vowed, to move with force against their countrymen.
Until the appearance of the pro-government crowd, the anti-government crowd adored the armed forces who remained quietly about them, non-aggressively, passively. Their continued passivity in the face of an emerging pro-government protest infuriated the anti-government demonstrators.
But the armed forces' spokesmen had done their utmost to convince the anti-government protesters that their message had been heard loud and clear, and it was past time to disperse. They were assured that change was on the horizon, and nothing more was to be gained by dominating the square. The invitation to leave was resisted, the protesters resolutely remained where they were.
And they accused the pro-government people - who declared themselves satisfied with the promise given by President Mubarak of his intention to stand down in September after overseeing the orderly transition to a new type of governance for his country and theirs - of violence, although they were themselves quick to resort to brutality in their unbridled fury against the opposition to their own.
Labels: Middle East, Political Realities, Troublespots
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, February 02, 2011
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