Almost ten months after the instigation of the largely successful revolution of Egypt, protesters have flooded the streets of Tahrir Square the main focal point of the uprising. This move sparked a violent crackdown by the Egyptian military and police who responded by firing mountains of teargas and rubber bullets relentlessly submerging the square in clouds of fire and smoke.

Protesters scattered and defended themselves by throwing rocks at armored vehicles that blocked roads to prevent a protest march to the interior ministry. Military personnel and police also beat protesters on the streets using batons and truncheons sparking anger just a week before Egypt’s parliamentary elections are due to take place. This raging violence has reportedly resulted in 13- deaths and over 1000 injuries, the most intense confrontation since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in February.

The anger of the Egyptian people comes from the draft constitution set up which protesters feel retains too much power. The power would be held by the military until presidential elections that may not blossom until 2013. Development of the new Egypt is seen to be insufficient and extremely similar to the one Hosni Mubarak oppressed. The violent response of the military and police who beat and shot at protesters has also contributed to the continuous diminution of confidence in the region. New videos that have been surfacing of the events have illustrated the disturbing and arbitrary response from the police and military which has also included a video showing police dragging a dead body to the rubbish! The situation is deteriorating by the minute with reports of live ammunition being used as well as snipers to hunt down demonstrators.
The injured have been flooding into mosques as reports emerged of the military attacking a hospital where the injured were trying to reach.

The twitter scene has exploded with online activists crying out for help and chanting “down down with the military rule!”. The activists have been reporting events live from the square with many of them describing the bloody attacks and resulting injuries as “mostly to the head and neck”. One activist has also vowed to “keep fighting until death”.

After dispersing protesters from Tahrir Square, protesters have now stormed back and tried to take back the square while the army continued attacking them uncompromisingly. This is a new development in the uprising concerning a fight back from protesters to take back what they have set up which was not seen in previous months whenever Tahrir was cleared.

The violent and unjustifiable response of the military is worrying and has been in breach of International Human Rights Conventions. Protesters right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression have not been safeguarded but disrupted following the weekend of attacks. This has further challenged the legitimacy of the military whom have been reported to have tortured activists back in march using electric shocks and sexual abuse. The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has called for the military to “listen to the people and protect their democratic aspirations”.

Following these events, doubts have been cast on the development of the Egyptian legal and political scene that has been demanded by the nation. The intensifying crackdown has sparked anger and disruption in the Egyptian capital and other areas. Slogans have arisen comparing the military rule to that of Mubarak’s tyranny and the fall of this uncompromising rule that has shed light on a possible start of a second revolution. It is unclear whether this is to be the result of the violent confrontation, however what is clear is that activists have made their stance and justifiable defiance of the army and police clear which has pumped a new beat in the heart of Tahrir.

Ahmed Ali, HumanRights TV
21/11/2011