DEMOCRACY, EGYPTIAN STYLE
Activist, Blogger, Prisoner, Kareem Amer
profiled by Al Jazeera English March 2007 (via
You Tube) His account deleted, now
re-instated
Each one of the green trucks above holds 40 soldiers. On this day, the Tarir Square (main downtown Cairo artery rush-hour cars must pass through) had perhaps 20 trucks or 500 to 800 soldiers, stationed there to block a protest by Kafya (means 'change') a moderate group calling for Democracy, something Hosni, nor his American benefactor, Condi, are interested in. Strange, these tactics are the same as Burma and America.
Location of the proposed protest 1pm (now 2pm)
These are not tourist vehicles, but mobile jails (White Bus, too)
The capo de capo discuss strategy using a subway map
Cell Phone cameras are great. They assume you are on a call, while you're taking a great profile shot which practically looks posed, no?. (Mobile: Samsung 3G)
Another day, another blocked protest
This is a face that says, "Ah, this is old stuff. What can we do?" ....classic Egyptian quandry.
Having traveled to Egypt for 10 years 1997-2007, one could not ignore a remarkable change, from a 'speaking on a cell phone while driving' law, to pollution controls to traffic cops. Politically, Ahmed Nazif was installed as Prime Minister to add legitimacy to Hosni Al-Mubarak's not so benevolent dictatorship. Ask who killed Sadat, even if you are Anwar's son and get 3 years in jail.
Ask yourself, 'Do I want to support this abuse?' Well, at least they do not photograph and fingerprint you on arrival (like the USA)
Julien Pain "Reporters without Borders"
Pintak, American University Cairo
"Democracy Egyptian Style" an excerpt from the new novel.....
Copyright 2000-2007 Internet TV News