[This interview was conducted on November 22nd, on the eve of the first round of elections]
As the first stage of post-Mubarak Egyptian Parliamentary elections begin today, the second wave of the Revolution continues in Tahrir Square and throughout Egypt. After a massive demonstration on Friday, 18 November 2011, calling for an end to military rule, about 200 people, mainly family members of martyrs who died in the January 25 uprisings and people who were previously injured, staged a sit-in at Tahrir Square. Central Security Forces and Egyptian military police violently dismantled the sit-in, and since then, thousands have come together to reoccupy Tahrir Square. The police and military continued to attack protesters throughout the week, with live bullets, extremely potent tear gas and invisible gas, bird-shot, rubber bullets and other ammunition.
During last week’s protests and the ensuing violence by security forces and military police, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf’s interim government resigned. The ruling military council appointed 78-year-old Kamal El-Ganzouri as Prime Minister, a move strongly opposed by various political parties, revolutionary coalitions and protesters throughout the country, who are calling for a national salvation government that would include presidential candidates Mohamed ElBaradei, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh and Hamdeen Sabahy.
Attacks on protesters by Central Security Forces and military police killed at least 43 people and wounded thousands throughout Egypt. The protesters vow to continue their occupation of Tahrir Square and cities and towns throughout the country until the ruling military council, or SCAF, steps down.
I spoke by phone to Shahira Abouellail, an Egyptian activist and one of the founders of No Military Trials for Civilians, on early Tuesday morning, 22 November 2011 from Cairo. She speaks about protesting in Tahrir, her visit to the Zeinhom morgue to accompany family members who had lost their children and loved ones, the vicious attacks by security forces and the military on protesters and the broken relationship between the military and the Egyptian people.
Interview with Shahira Abouellail on Protest in Egypt at the Eve of Elections by Jadaliyya
From Jadaliyya Editors:
For more on Egypt Elections Watch (EEW) entries by category, click on the following links:
(1) Parties and Movements
(2) Actors and Figures
(3) Laws and Processes
To view all entries on one page, click on Egypt Elections Watch, and for EEW team members click here. Our Egypt Page can always be accessed view here.