Showing posts with label North Africa and Middle East. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Africa and Middle East. Show all posts
16 May 2011
18 Feb 2011
The Jasmine Revolution
Today Francis Ghilès from the Centre for International Relations & Development Studies spoke amongst others at the Chatham House event on Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution.
After Ben Ali’s resignation, who is currently in coma after a stroke, the media quickly moved on to other countries like Egypt, Bahrain and Algeria – where the action is. But what is happening to a country after its leader has left? Let's go back to where it all started.
Ghilès reminds of the islamic revolution of 1979 but says today it is different. The people are more individuals than 30 years ago. They have changed and the political Islam no longer finds affection.
What fascinates the people in the Maghreb region is Turkey, Ghilès says, the combination of Islam and democracy is interesting to them. The revolution in Tunisia and also Egypt is a question of dignity. Under the repressive regime there was no room for dignity.
Ghilès tries to explain the differences between Tunisia and Egypt. As example he states that the birth rate collapsed in Tunisia and in Egypt not. Also north Africa is much more influenced by France and Europe; this is a huge difference to the Middle East.
Domino effect
Ghilès doesn’t like the idea of a domino effect. He thinks Algeria and Morocco are more stabile countries than Tunisia and Egypt. Still corruption and unemployment can be found there too.
He says the biggest problem here in Europe is that people don’t know enough about North Africa and the Middle East and their history. In France the Middle East studies have collapsed. Journalists don’t have the knowledge to report about the whole picture. Inland Tunisia is poor. Where can we find that in the media?
He says the biggest problem here in Europe is that people don’t know enough about North Africa and the Middle East and their history. In France the Middle East studies have collapsed. Journalists don’t have the knowledge to report about the whole picture. Inland Tunisia is poor. Where can we find that in the media?
Ghilès carries on and talks about the differences between Tunisia and Algeria with its revolts they have over and over again. Algeria has a diminished middle class and lost many people in the civil war. Tunisia doesn’t have those problems.
Karama stands for dignity
The rebelling all over the Maghreb region is because people want to be respected – Karama – it is all about dignity, Ghilès explains. He adds democracy won’t make things easier. And he thinks an election in Tunisia in six month time is simply not possible. It takes much longer to build political parties and to "clean up the police" that still has the old pictures in their heads.
Ghilès speaks about the demonstrations in Algeria last Saturday and is asking who is manipulation whom?
Ghilès knows for sure the future generation of Tunisia became into being when the Tunisians lost their fear of the police. Fearless and with dignity – that’s the new Tunisia.
Let's see what the future might hold for Tunisia.
Ghilès knows for sure the future generation of Tunisia became into being when the Tunisians lost their fear of the police. Fearless and with dignity – that’s the new Tunisia.
Let's see what the future might hold for Tunisia.
17 Feb 2011
Three protestors killed in Bahrain
Dozens of armor-cased vehicles drove against Pearl Square Thursday morning in the capital Manama, where protestors have built up their base.
Encouraged of what happened in Egypt and Tunisia also in Bahrain members of the opposition called for a “day of anger”. In the last couple of days protests in countries throughout North Africa und the Middle East took place.
The square where the night before about 2000 protestors have camped was deserted on Thursday morning and littered with abandoned tents and blankets. Since the beginning of the protests three days ago five people have been killed at riots.
The changes of power in Tunisia and Egypt have encouraged thousands of protestors in the last couple of days to demand the resignation of the Sunnite family.
The Shiite majority of population moans about being excluded from housing market, health system and governmental place of employment in the archipelagic state of Saudi-Arabia.
12 Feb 2011
Impressions of celebrating Egypt
People are celebrating all over the world. Egypt is a free country.
At Trafalgar Square in London people stood in solidarity with the people of Egypt, the wider Middle East and North Africa in their demands for an end to repression, for their freedom, their basic human rights, and immediate democratic reform.
"It's the first step," say the Egyptian protesters. "We have got rid of the dictator. Now we must get rid of the dictatorship."
We all are Egypt. Press play to listen:
What do people have to say on Trafalgar Square?
Press play to listen:
Message from Trafalgar Square to Tahrir Square. Press play to listen:
Naji Al Ali, Gender Studies SOAS, about women rights in Egypt. Press play to listen:
Proud to be Tunisian. Press play to listen:
11 Feb 2011
What a difference a few hours make
Egypt is celebrating the start of a new era and is changing the history of the whole Middle East. On Friday Mubarak stepped back and left the people in his country. On Saturday the future begins.
The people of Egypt have reached their goal. After 18 days of demonstration they finally got the long wished revolution. Mubarak is off to the red sea, where he is staying at tourist haunt Sharm el-Sheikh.
Suleiman had the news
But not Mubarak himself announced the news. It was vice president Suleiman. Mubarak was brave enough to step in front of his people on Thursday to tell them he will be dying in Egypt.
He told them he would not leave the country before the new election in September will hand over his power to the new elected president. He said, he would keep his pledge. One day later, he changed his mind and broke his promise. Again.
Except this time, this is what the people have waited for for a very long time.
Tahrir stands for Liberation - and that is what the Egyptian people faced today. Freedom.
Obama compared the situation in Egypt in his speech he held a few hours after Mubarak's denouncement with the fall of the Berlin wall in Germany. The Egyptian people have spoken and they were heard.
Start of the future or beginning of the end?
But what is it Egypt will face in the future? What if all they get is the old regime with just a new face? Is it too early to celebrate? And will all this really end in democracy?
The media is talking about a domino effect of uprising against the government, first Tunisia, now Egypt - who might follow? While Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Mubarak might slurp their cocktails at a Beach Resort, I am asking: Who will join the cocktail party next? Jordan, Yemen, Syria and Libya? Kuwait and Bahrain? Iraq and Lebanon? Turkey and Qatar?
Fukujama wrote in 1992 about the end of history. Democracy as the final solution for all of us. Is this the beginning of the end?
 |
| Down he is. |
Suleiman had the news
But not Mubarak himself announced the news. It was vice president Suleiman. Mubarak was brave enough to step in front of his people on Thursday to tell them he will be dying in Egypt.
He told them he would not leave the country before the new election in September will hand over his power to the new elected president. He said, he would keep his pledge. One day later, he changed his mind and broke his promise. Again.
Except this time, this is what the people have waited for for a very long time.
Tahrir stands for Liberation - and that is what the Egyptian people faced today. Freedom.
Obama compared the situation in Egypt in his speech he held a few hours after Mubarak's denouncement with the fall of the Berlin wall in Germany. The Egyptian people have spoken and they were heard.
Start of the future or beginning of the end?
But what is it Egypt will face in the future? What if all they get is the old regime with just a new face? Is it too early to celebrate? And will all this really end in democracy?
The media is talking about a domino effect of uprising against the government, first Tunisia, now Egypt - who might follow? While Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Mubarak might slurp their cocktails at a Beach Resort, I am asking: Who will join the cocktail party next? Jordan, Yemen, Syria and Libya? Kuwait and Bahrain? Iraq and Lebanon? Turkey and Qatar?
Fukujama wrote in 1992 about the end of history. Democracy as the final solution for all of us. Is this the beginning of the end?
10 Feb 2011
Change in Egypt?
President Mubarak's speech on Thursday disappointed a lot of people throughout Egypt. He didn't step back, he didn't step aside.
Mubarak said in his speech he would keep his pledge. He transferred some of his power to the vice president Suleiman and will lift the state of emergency, but only if the situation was stabile.
He also said death's that occurred during the last 17 days of demonstrations will be investigated.
But people on the streets fear after 30 years of broken promises, he will break his promise again. The people of Egypt want to see a change right in front of their eyes.
Now they fear more corruption. People expected to hear something different. They hoped Mubarak would transfer all of his powers and step back.
Mubarak said Egypt will not listen "to dictates from abroad", he will not be dictated by foreign countries, he told the US to back off. The message was clear: Egypt is sitting in the driving seats.
Suleiman speaks to the Egyptian people
Vice president Suleiman hold a speech just after Mubarak. For him with the movement of the 25th January history has begun - history that changes into democracy.
He strengthened Mubarak's words and underlined that Mubarak is aware of the seriousness of the situation. The president's supreme interest is of the country above anything else, he said.
Suleiman said he was empowered to preserve the achievement of the country and to restore the stability and happiness in Egypt.
He asked the people to contribute to this goal and added Mubarak has opened a door of dialogue and reached understanding.
The door is still open for more dialogue. Suleiman says he is committed to whatever he can do to achieve a peaceful transfer of power.
He asks all citizens to look forward to the future full of freedom and democracy. He is sure; the people will never choose the danger of chaos.
What will happen?
But they might do. On Tahrir Square one can hear words like "he has to leave, not we have to leave". Now people might march to the president's palace, which is 15-20 miles away from Tahrir Square.
How will the army respond to this? Will they stand by or step in? They need to decide between Mubarak and the people of Egypt.
Mubarak said in his speech he would keep his pledge. He transferred some of his power to the vice president Suleiman and will lift the state of emergency, but only if the situation was stabile.
He also said death's that occurred during the last 17 days of demonstrations will be investigated.
But people on the streets fear after 30 years of broken promises, he will break his promise again. The people of Egypt want to see a change right in front of their eyes.Now they fear more corruption. People expected to hear something different. They hoped Mubarak would transfer all of his powers and step back.
Mubarak said Egypt will not listen "to dictates from abroad", he will not be dictated by foreign countries, he told the US to back off. The message was clear: Egypt is sitting in the driving seats.
Suleiman speaks to the Egyptian people
Vice president Suleiman hold a speech just after Mubarak. For him with the movement of the 25th January history has begun - history that changes into democracy.
He strengthened Mubarak's words and underlined that Mubarak is aware of the seriousness of the situation. The president's supreme interest is of the country above anything else, he said.
Suleiman said he was empowered to preserve the achievement of the country and to restore the stability and happiness in Egypt.
He asked the people to contribute to this goal and added Mubarak has opened a door of dialogue and reached understanding.
The door is still open for more dialogue. Suleiman says he is committed to whatever he can do to achieve a peaceful transfer of power.
He asks all citizens to look forward to the future full of freedom and democracy. He is sure; the people will never choose the danger of chaos.
What will happen?
But they might do. On Tahrir Square one can hear words like "he has to leave, not we have to leave". Now people might march to the president's palace, which is 15-20 miles away from Tahrir Square.
How will the army respond to this? Will they stand by or step in? They need to decide between Mubarak and the people of Egypt.
6 Feb 2011
Road to Revolution
While marching to the Egyptian Embassy yesterday the message was clear: "Power to the Egyptian People", "Hands off the Middle East", "Down with Mubarak!"
"We march from the home of the puppet master, represented by the US Embassy to the home of the puppet, the Egyptian Embassy" were the opening words on Saturday's Solidarity for the Egyptian people demonstration organised by the Stop the war coalition (STWC).
Eyewittness talks about her experience at Tahrir Square
Speakers included Tariq Ali, Vice President of STWC and Cairo eye-witnesses, who spent four days last week at Tahrir Sqaure in Egypt. For her those days were the "most inspiring and humbling experience."
She spoke about what she has seen on Tahrir Square: People in Egypt have lost their fear. They don't want foreign intermission. They want to make their own decisions.
Tariq Ali about what will happen next
"Have no doubt" is what Tariq Ali is repeating. He is certain that the US want to replace Mubarak with as he says "a less known torturer: Suleiman."
"Suleiman and Mubarak made Egypt into a torture camp. No to Mubarak but no also to Suleiman. We want the entire regime to go."
Thousands of people had to go on the streets and fight to make the world understand what is happening in Egypt.
Ali says, they understood, the only one who didn't is Tony Blair. People laughed. He called him corrupt and shameless.
To Ali what is happening in Egypt today is also a response to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Londons view
While marching to the Egyptian Embassy, I talked to one of the protestants. For him the people in Egypt are heroic.
"Mubarak is gone already, he is just finding an exit stragedy" was his answer when I asked what he thinks will happen next. "The people have lost their fear, there is no way back. Mubarak is a dead man."
Another protestor told me people in Egypt will hold out longer than others might think. They waited a long time for this.
She is sure that the power of the Egyptian people is very strong. She told me that it started amongst people who had nothing and they just want to have something better for their children. "They have nothing to loose."
An unordinary sight for some of us. At this demonstration Islam, Christianity and Judaism are fighting together in what they belief: In a better future for Egypt.
"We march from the home of the puppet master, represented by the US Embassy to the home of the puppet, the Egyptian Embassy" were the opening words on Saturday's Solidarity for the Egyptian people demonstration organised by the Stop the war coalition (STWC).
Eyewittness talks about her experience at Tahrir Square
Speakers included Tariq Ali, Vice President of STWC and Cairo eye-witnesses, who spent four days last week at Tahrir Sqaure in Egypt. For her those days were the "most inspiring and humbling experience."
She spoke about what she has seen on Tahrir Square: People in Egypt have lost their fear. They don't want foreign intermission. They want to make their own decisions.Tariq Ali about what will happen next
"Have no doubt" is what Tariq Ali is repeating. He is certain that the US want to replace Mubarak with as he says "a less known torturer: Suleiman."
"Suleiman and Mubarak made Egypt into a torture camp. No to Mubarak but no also to Suleiman. We want the entire regime to go."
Thousands of people had to go on the streets and fight to make the world understand what is happening in Egypt.
Ali says, they understood, the only one who didn't is Tony Blair. People laughed. He called him corrupt and shameless.
To Ali what is happening in Egypt today is also a response to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.Londons view
While marching to the Egyptian Embassy, I talked to one of the protestants. For him the people in Egypt are heroic.
"Mubarak is gone already, he is just finding an exit stragedy" was his answer when I asked what he thinks will happen next. "The people have lost their fear, there is no way back. Mubarak is a dead man."Another protestor told me people in Egypt will hold out longer than others might think. They waited a long time for this.
She is sure that the power of the Egyptian people is very strong. She told me that it started amongst people who had nothing and they just want to have something better for their children. "They have nothing to loose."
An unordinary sight for some of us. At this demonstration Islam, Christianity and Judaism are fighting together in what they belief: In a better future for Egypt.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)