Wave of Political Unrest Reaches Syria (News Brief)

photo courtesy of CNSNews(HN, March 23, 2011) -- It may be too early to call the demonstrations in the small city of Daraa a “revolution”. However, it is clear that the wave of political unrest in the Middle East has reached this southern Syrian city.

For nearly a week now protests have been ongoing there with demonstrators calling for freedom and for the end of corruption - the protests have been met with violence from security forces that have so far claimed the lives of five innocent civilians.  

Rights activists in Syria say security forces carried out a deadly attack near a mosque where anti-government protesters have gathered opening fire near the mosque where demonstrators have gathered. However state media said "an armed gang" was behind violence in the southern city of Daraa early Wednesday.

Syria's state news agency SANA quotes an official source as saying the gang attacked an ambulance near the city's Omari mosque, killing a doctor, a paramedic and a driver. The report says security forces confronted the attackers and "hit and arrested" some of them. A member of the security forces was also reported killed in the incident.

HUMNews has not been able to immediately reconcile the conflicting reports.  

Security forces killed four demonstrators in Daraa when protests erupted on Friday. Another demonstrator was killed on Sunday, and an 11-year-old boy died Monday after suffering tear gas inhalation.

In an attempt to contain the unrest, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Tuesday fired the governor of Daraa Province. But his dismissal failed to quell popular anger as protests reached several neighboring towns.

Authorities have also ramped up detentions across the country. A Syrian rights organization said police arrested a prominent activist Tuesday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Loay Hussein, a former political prisoner who had spoken out in favor of the protests, was taken from his home near the capital, Damascus. Rights groups have reported dozens more "arbitrary and random arrests."

Protesters are demanding Assad end Syria's emergency law, which has been in place since 1963 when the Baath party took power, banning any opposition to its rule. In addition protesters are demanding Syria curb its pervasive security apparatus, free thousands of political prisoners and allow freedom of expression. Activists have so far not called for the end of his government.

Assad was popularly elected by 97% of all votes in 2000. He pledged to fight corruption, guarantee his people more freedom of expression and would adopt a more liberal market policy.

It became clear a few years into his rule that he has failed miserably on the first two and partially succeeded on the later pledge.

Last year, Human Rights Watch published an extensive report about the human rights situation in Syria in which the organization concluded that Assad's decade in power was marked by repression.

Assad belongs to the ruling Alawite minority party whose members have full control over military and intelligence posts. The rest of the Syrian population is made up of a Sunni majority, Christians, Kurds, Ismailis and Duruz. There are also over 1 million Palestinian immigrants and more recently over 1 million Iraqi refugees living in Syria.

The United States and the United Nations have called for an independent investigation into the recent violence.

- HUMNews staff 

EGYPT'S EVOLUTION: View from Cairo. What We Couldn't Show You.

(HN, 2/2/11) - HUMNEWS' Michael Bociurkiw had arrived in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday, January 27, 2011 from an assignment in Africa.  His hotel, the Four Seasons on the First Residence in Cairo had been about 65% full when he checked in, about 10% full when he left this past Monday 1/31/11.  Throughout his stay with Egyptian friends who live in the country, Bociurkiw, who had been to Cairo many times - even living there for four months in recent years - toured the city as demonstrators took to the streets in ever larger numbers as the days of protests for Egypt's future wore on. He had no internet or SMS for the length of his stay, only hard line phone and a mobile phone in later days. 

He has since been evacuated by the Canadian government (you can see his report below) through a chaotic airport experience to Frankfurt, Germany and now onto assignment in Africa.  Internet in Egypt has been sporadically restored just today inside the country, and with Bociurkiw out we are able to share his photographs of the historic Friday protests across Cairo, and bring you his eyewitness video report. 

-- HUMNEWS staff. 

Update on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 3:17PM by HUMNEWS

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM FRIDAY PROTESTS, CAIRO, EGYPT - 1/28/11, By MICHAEL BOCIURKIW.

      

(c) HUMNEWS, 2011

(Report) - Fleeing Egypt Tourists Leave Chaos In Their Wake. `Million Person March' Planned.

(HN-1/31/11) Cairo, Egypt.  The Cairo International Airport was mass chaos today as many countries evacuated citizens to their home countries and many Egyptians attempted to make their way back to their home towns from major cities such as Cairo and Alexandria.

Many foreign citizens, regardless of whether or not they wanted to leave, even given the dangers of staying, almost have to go. After a foreign citizens home government issues a travel warning and then an evacuation order, often times the citizen is essentially giving up the security and concern of their consulate offices and are on their own. In fact many insurance companies will not support claims of citizens who have defied their own governments orders. 

And, in the case of Egypt, even if your home government issues an order to evacuate, you may even have to pay for the privilege of leaving.  Canadian citizens who arrived at Cairo’s airport today for their flights out were told they needed to sign a waiver for a bill that would later be sent to them of $400 so they could leave the country and make it just as far as Frankfurt, Germany. While they may make their flights, they were told their luggage may not; and many did not have much with them as the call for evacuation came only with hours to pack.

Today, Lufthansa had many of the flights out of Cairo after Delta and several other major carriers stopped operations into and out of the Egyptian capital.

Michael Bociurkiw, our correspondent in Cairo stated that, “On the way here to the airport from the Four Seasons hotel on the First Residence, the taxi driver took another way around to avoid Tahrir Square.  In one part of the city I saw at least 40-50 tanks lined up in a column.  Many intersections were still being guarded it looked as though by private militia, and I saw absolutely no national police in the streets.”  He added, “Almost all of the legendary historical sites that I could see such as the Cairo Zoo and the entrance to the Pyramids at Giza were being guarded by Egyptian military vehicles”.

Bociurkiw goes on to say that the “Four Seasons hotel on the First Residence was operating at only 10 percent today. The manager stated they are not going to close because once you close its very hard to open again. And I spoke to a construction company owner early this morning who said he had to lay off close to 1000 men because his projects are no longer going forward with the crisis on. The impact on businesses in the country is staggering”.

Once he arrived at the Cairo airport, Bociurkiw spoke with many of those waiting in long lines at the airport to find out how they were getting out of the country.  All had been told that everything was being done to get them out of the country by 7pm local time tonight, even though a new curfew was put into place today restricting people's movements from 3pm to 8a.

A CBC television crew who Bociurkiw was interviewed by, told him that they were already aware of the 6 Al Jazeera journalists who had been arrested and then later released without their camera equipment and that many reporters they were in contact with had taken to shooting still photos on their blackberries and Iphones as a way to document the crisis.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the opposition in Egypt has called for a `Million Man’ style march in order to show their displeasure with the steps the Mubarak government has taken so far in addressing the demonstrators concerns and this morning the Egyptian Army issued a statement essentially endorsing the protesters rights to demonstrate.  

 ---HUMNEWS staff

Mubarak says a new government will be appointed but, shows no signs that he is stepping down (News Update)

Egyptian President Hosini Mubarak tried to diffuse enormous discontent among the Egyptian people Friday night by announcing that a new government is on the way. He gave no indication that he himself planned to step down, despite increasing calls for him to do so. 

Mubarak, who assumed power in Egypt 30 year ago and is now 82 years old, made the announcement that a new government would begin being formed on Saturday following a day of widespread protest, demonstrations and violence.

-HUMNEWS staff

Update on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 5:29AM by HUMNEWS

(Breaking News) - Egyptian television is reporting that the country's cabinet has formally submitted its resignation.

Update on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 5:51AM by HUMNEWS

(Breaking News) - HUMNEWS' Michael Bociurkiw in Cairo, Egypt says street protestors on Day 5 of unrest talking of cabinet resignation say, "This step is not enough.  We want total regime change".

The turning point in Egypt (Breaking News Report)

(HN, January 28, 2011) Clouds of acrid smoke are rising over central Cairo as thousands of protesters, men, women and children from all walks of life continue to take to the streets of Egypt.

The protests, which began in earnest, at the conclusion of the Muslim Friday prayers, around 1pm local time, started with a few thousand people taking to the streets in and around Tahrir square. – Thahrir  square is the main square in Cairo and center of government buildings.

The government security forces were clearly prepared stationing thousands of well armed riot police in strategic locations around the city – specifically around bridges and government buildings.

At first many Egyptians took in the events from little coffee shops watching the protest unfold on Al Jazeera as they decided whether or not to join in. – It was so quiet at first that it appeared that perhaps the disconnecting of the Internet and mobile phones by the Egyptian government may have actually succeeded in destabilizing the protests.  

As the afternoon has worn on it is clear that Egyptians have decided to take to the streets as the swell of protesters continues to grow well into the early evening hours in Cairo.

From HUMNEWS’ current vantage point in Giza a non-stop stream of demonstrators continues to grow carrying signs and shouting anti-Mubarak slogans as they march towards the bridge crossing the Nile in an attempt to cross into central Cairo and head to Tahrir square.

The number of riot police has also increased as has the number of water cannon trucks and use of tear gas. HUMNEWS observed police utilize, with no provocation, water cannons and tear gas on demonstrators as they stood stoically and got completely soaked.

Plainclothes secret policemen dragged protesters out of the crowd, kicking and beating them as they were loaded into lorries and driven away.

A protester in his 40’s named Mohammed who works as an importer/exporter spoke with HUMNEWS blocks away from Tahrir square, when asked what he hoped would happen he echoed the comments of many other interviewed saying: “I hope the government goes away.” When asked if that was realistic he clasped his hands together to illustrate the collaboration between the government, police and military forces and shrugged.

Demonstrators encountered by HUMNEWS have been exceedingly friendly and helpful at times protecting foreigners from tear gas and other obstacles and making way for photographers and cameramen to capture the historical events taking place – with the Interent being shut down images are more difficult to get out of the country - was witnessed by the lack of photos in this article.

As the day is now turning into evening there are reports that foreign journalists are being targeted and rounded up and taken “elsewhere” by police. As one BBC reporter said the police have set many red lines today so that if you breath you have crossed the line.

Egypt is now different - there is no doubting the dynamic on the street.

 - Reported by HUMNEWS' Michael Bociurkiw in Cairo, Egypt

Update on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 11:21AM by HUMNEWS

The government has announced that there is now a curfew set to begin at 1600 GMT. Anyone on the streets can and will be arrested. Although it is clear now that the number of protesters outnumber the military and security police.

HUMNEWS was out in the Giza district where the swell of protesters continues to grow. Protesters have overtaken 3 army verhicles, and a monument near the Shareton hotel at the the foot of a bridge leading into the center of Cairo where protesters are heading and being handed water by onlookers in the area.

A young protester spoke to HUMNEWS and when asked if he was scared he said, "no, because my life is dead". This is a common sentiment among young people who have felt the effects of the rising cost of living and continue to make very little money.

It is also being reported that Mubarak will make a statement on state television later this evening.

Update on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 2:00PM by HUMNEWS

Egypt's military has deployed troops and tanks to enforce the curfew, which is now being enforced in all the country's cities as protests demanding the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak continue.

Protesters have attempted to storm the state TV building and Foreign Ministry so far unsuccessfully. For the first time there have been some shots fired and reports of looting.

As one female protester told HUMNEWS on the streets of the Giza district, "I have been here for hours and am not leaving until this cowardly government goes away."

Senior ruling party figures have acknowledged for the first time that thare are facing a potential revolution and called on Pres. Mubarak to institute "unprecedented reforms." "Nowhere in the world can the security forces put an end to revolution," Mustafa al-Fekki, chairman of the Egyptian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told Al Jazeera. "The security option alone is not sufficient and the president is the only one who can put an end to these events."

It is still being reported that Mubarak will take to the airwaves on state television later this evening.

Egypt Air has announced that it will cancel all flights for the next twelve hours. There has been very little in the way of movement from boats that usually go up and down the Nile filled with locals and tourists alike.