You are in the 192nd Witness Revolution diary, bearing witness to pro-democracy movements in North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. We aim here to simply report, from as many reliable worldwide resources as possible, on the successes, challenges or failures of the brave people striving against oppression for representative democracy with civil and human rights. One small bit of assurance that they do not strive in obscurity.
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
SYRIA
(ht jnhobbs 05/24) - Syrians take to night protests to outwit security forces
"Protests begin in one area as residents of another area monitor the movement of security forces, so that by the time security arrives to subdue and arrest the demonstrators, they would have already moved to another location."
BAHRAIN
Bahrain: Child accused before a military tribunal
Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about trial of a child before a military court.
Today 24 Monday 2011 , The second hearing session for Mohammed Ebrahim Khatem before a military court (National Safety court).
He is 15 years old, was arrested from his house at 1:30 am.
“Mohammed was arrested 20 days ago” his family said.
Charges: Gathering for more than 5 people without a authorization and riot.
Libya
According to the person who posted this, the people are "whistling, cheering for the NATO air strikes"
I found myself imagining what it must be like to have these lights and sounds in the night, knowing what they are. I was chilled. There is an eeriness to the stillness and quiet of it, to my mind.
YEMEN
Photos from a field hospital in Sana'a
More news listed country by country below the fold...
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ABOUT OUR GROUP
Eyes on Egypt and the Region produces a different series of diaries which provide background and analysis on the region in general and on individual countries. We hope those provide context for you as you read about current events. The published diaries in that series are:
Eyes on Egypt and the Region Background Resources
See the group stream for even more diaries.
DO YOU KNOW OF GOOD READING MATERIAL?
We collect suggested readings for background reference materials in support of the Eyes on Egypt and the Region group. These may be non-fiction or fiction, general to the region or specific to a country or issue. If there are resources which you believe could aid our understanding of the events and processes we are witnessing, please either a) post a comment in the Liveblog with the title "Suggested reading:" and a brief description of the reading in the body of the comment, or b) send your suggestions via the dKos internal message to angry marmot.
Libyan Doctors for Hospitals in Libya is an impressive new aide organization launched by one of our own: StepLeftStepForward.
NEWS UPDATES
GENERAL ANALYSIS
(h/t Dibsa 5/17)Obama's Reset: Arab Spring or Same Old Thing?
This week, the words will take center stage. On Thursday, according to administration officials, President Obama will “reset” American policy in the Middle East with a major address offering a comprehensive look at the Arab Spring, “a unified theory about the popular uprisings from Tunisia to Bahrain,” and possibly a new administration approach to the region.
ALGERIA
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) - London praises Algerian reform talks
LONDON, May 23 (UPI) -- Algeria is commended for the start of negotiations on political reform in the country, the British foreign minister for North African affairs said
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) - Algeria health unions end strike
Algiers - Algeria's two main health care unions ended a week-long strike on Monday after government assurances on salaries and work conditions.
BAHRAIN
(h/t Dibsa 5/24) - Bahrain Responds to Obama Speech by Continuing Crackdown
Washington, D.C.—Bahraini authorities have reacted to President Obama’s May 19 speech, in which he urged the Bahraini government to “create the conditions for dialogue,” and made clear that “the United States opposes the use of violence and repression against the people of the region,” by continuing their brutal crackdown. On Saturday 21, the home of prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab was attacked, and the following day two death sentences were confirmed against two young Shiite men, Ali AlSingace and AbdulAziz AbdulRedha, who had been convicted in a secret military trial on April 28 for the alleged murder of two policemen
(h/t Dbsa 5/23) - Attack against Mr. Nabeel Rajab's house
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources that the house of Mr. Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Secretary General of FIDH, was attacked by tear gas on May 21, 2011.
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) -
Bahrain must commute protesters’ death sentences
The Bahraini authorities must overturn death sentences imposed on two activists for the alleged killing of two police officers during anti-government demonstrations earlier this year, Amnesty International said today.
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) -
Bahrain says 515 released since protests crushed
DUBAI (AFP) – Bahraini authorities have released 515 detainees since a mid-March crackdown on Shiite-led protests, an official said, adding that six women are among those who remain in custody
BURKINA FASO
(h/t JustJennifer 5/24 ) - Burkina students maintain protest, army quietens down
Students demonstrated across Burkina Faso Tuesday to support striking professors, witnesses said, but troops in the capital Ouagadougou returned to barracks after a protest late Monday.
Normal activities resumed in the morning around the main gendarmerie base, Camp Paspanga, where the National Guard is also housed, and streets were clear in the area where National Guard soldiers had fired shots into the air the previous evening.
COTE D'IVOIRE
(h/t JustJennifer 5/24 ) - Border issues concern Ouattara
With fighters loyal to the former leader fleeing to neighboring countries, Ivorian problems are part of the regional landscape, the new president said.
The Ivorian government in mid-May said fighters loyal to former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo had fled the commercial capital Abidjan and went on a killing spree. A statement from the country's Defense Minister said the fighters were mercenaries from Liberia and Ivory Coast militia.
DJIBOUTI
(h/t UnaSpenser 4/14 ) -
JIBOUTI: WHY NO ONE CARES
section of article which covers pro-democracy movements throughout Africa
Whilst the world was watching Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt and Libya, Djibouti had an election on 8 April. With no opposition, a state-controlled media and no civil society movement, it was easy enough for President Omar Guelleh to change the constitution allowing him to run for a third term - thereby continuing 35 year rule by the same family. But this little dictatorship is strategically central to the US Africa Command (2,000 US troops are based here) and the NATO countries. Unlike in Libya, Djibouti's 1 million population can expect no support from the West in their small attempts to have a voice.
EGYPT
(h/t angry marmot 5/24) - Coalition of Revolutionary Forces to join 'Second Day of Anger'
The “Coalition of Revolutionary Forces” declared Tuesday that they would be joining this Friday’s “Second day of Anger”, announced for the purpose of continuing the revolution and pressing for its demands. The coalition criticised the military council, describing it as lacking political vision.
The coalition said it disapproved of the manner with which the ruling military council has been dealing with Egyptian citizens. The approach to choosing the governors has also been highly criticised as well as the sluggish pace by which ex-regime officials are being tried. Furthermore, coalition members object to the method and speed by which state institutions are being cleansed of corruption. The state’s negative approach to labour unions and syndicates, limiting their freedoms while scaring people of a potential economic crisis as an excuse has also come under significant fire and criticism.
(h/t angry marmot 5/24) -
Youth complain their voice wasn’t heard in Egypt's National Dialogue
The second opening session of the National Dialogue, a series of invitation-only forum between political movements and the interim government, was calmer and more organised than the first, where disgruntled youth spoke out against the presence of now-dismantled National Democratic Party and old regime figures.
Despite the calmness of the second session, titled the “Democracy and Human Rights” seminar, conducted by politician Amr Hamzawy, witnessed objections from the General Union of the Revolution members.
IRAN
(h/t JustJennifer 5/12 ) - Ahmadinejad and the Ayatollahs
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may soon be ousted from office by the ayatollahs who control Iran. More importantly, there may be a split within the principal Iranian military/terrorist force that is destabilizing the regime.
This is not another popular uprising like the one that led to the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. But it may be related to the so-called "Arab spring" in an oddly Iranian way.
IRAQ
(h/t Dibsa 5/19) - Anger Lingers in Iraqi Kurdistan After a Crackdown
SULAIMANIYA, Iraq — The protesters are gone from the central square, pushed out by the brutal tactics of the security forces. The jails have been emptied of the young students and journalists who were rounded up for speaking their mind in public. The wounded are home, quietly nursing their injuries
ISRAEL
(h/t Dibsa 4/21 ) - Israeli leftists call for Palestinian state
TEL AVIV (AFP) – Some 300 Israeli left-wingers, including prominent cultural leaders, gathered in Tel Aviv on Thursday to call for the Jewish state to embrace the creation of a Palestinian state.
The activists met to sign a petition, which is endorsed by 17 winners of the prestigious Israel Prize, in a symbolic ceremony in front of the building where the state of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948.
The ceremony was met with anger by several dozen right-wing protesters who also gathered at the site and had to be kept away by a heavy police presence, an AFP photographer at the scene said
JORDAN
(h/t Dibsa 5/20) -
Jordanians want 'corrupt, oppressive' govt sacked
AMMAN (AFP) – Thousands of Jordanians demonstrated on Friday across the kingdom, calling for regime reforms as well as the sacking of what they called the "corrupt and oppressive" government
KUWAIT
(h/t JustJennifer 5/10) - Kuwaiti legislators walk out in protest at old faces in new cabinet
At least 15 Kuwaiti lawmakers withdrew from Tuesday's parliamentary session as the cabinet was sworn in, to protest the re-appointment of former ministers.
The swearing-in comes two days after Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al- Ahmad al-Sabah appointed the new cabinet, in which he retained all the former key ministers.
LEBANON
(h/t UnaSpenser 04/19 ) - Turkish envoy to Lebanon: Democracy will spread
Turkey's ambassador to Lebanon, Inan Ozyildiz, believes that despite the recent political uncertainty, all political actors in Lebanon are "engaging in dialogue," and expects democracy to take root in every country in the Arab world.
"Although every country in the region has its own characteristics and political history, the people of the Middle East have a common demand: Democracy," said Ozyildiz.
According to Ozyildiz, the Arab world's transition to democracy is late in coming. "These uprisings were kind of late, they should have started immediately after the end of the Cold War," said Ozyildiz.
LIBYA
h/t Dibsa 5/23) -
Libya: 'Forced to rape in Misrata'
Was there a systematic campaign of rape by forces loyal to Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi during the battle for Misrata?
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) - Libya: British attack helicopters to be deployed
British attack helicopters will be deployed in Libya within days in a significant expansion of the military mission against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces
(h/t Dibsa 5/23 ) - US calls for Kadhafi to leave Libya
BENGHAZI, Libya (AFP) – The United States on Monday called on Moamer Kadhafi to leave Libya as Washington's most senior envoy to date held talks in the rebel capital
(h/t Dibsa 5/23 ) - High-level US diplomat meets Libyan rebel leaders
BENGHAZI, Libya – The highest-ranking U.S. diplomat in the Middle East was in the de facto rebel capital in eastern Libya Monday — a show of growing support for the loosely formed movement that seeks to oust longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) - Daily life begins to return to Libya's Misrata
MISRATA, Libya – Less than two weeks after wresting itself free from a brutal siege and pushing Moammar Gadhafi's forces out of rocket range, the rebel-held city of Misrata is taking its first steps toward normalcy
RESOURCES:
A vision of a democratic Libya an 8-point plan from the National Transitional Council
The full text of UN Resolution 1970 on Libya.
The full text of UN Resolution 1973 on Libya.
President Obama's letter to Congress regarding commencement of operations in Libya. (h/t greenbird)
Al Jazeera Libyan live blog. (h/t jnhobbs)
UK Telegraph Libyan live blog. (h/t bee tzu)
BBC Libyan live blog found here. (h/t greenbird)
The New Yorker Dispatches from Libya. (h/t suejazz)
BBC's Libyan crisis mapped. (h/t phil S 33)
revolutionology is a blog from an American in Benghazi
MAURITANIA
(h/t dibsa 4/26) - Mauritanian police use teargas to break up protest
NOUAKCHOTT, April 25 (Reuters) - Security forces using teargas and batons dispersed several hundred anti-government protesters in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott on Monday, the most serious clash in the West African state for nearly two months.
MOROCCO
(h/t jnhobbs 5/24 ) - Many wounded as Moroccan police beat protestors
Moroccan police beat protesters who defied a ban on demonstrations across the country on Sunday, leading to arrests and dozens of injuries, some of them life threatening, witnesses said.
The violence appears to signal a tougher government line against the protest movement, which has become more defiant after festive demonstrations starting in February, but has yet to attract mass public support.
OMAN
(h/t Dibsa 5/19) - The world's enduring dictators: Qaboos bin Said, Oman
This is an installment in the WorldWatch series, "The world's enduring dictators," inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, in which CBSNews.com takes a look at the men who continue to rule their lands unimpeded by law. See a complete explanation of the series and a list of others profiledhere.
(h/t Dibsa 5/18) - Oman must charge or release detained protesters
The Omani authorities must say where and why they are holding some six people arrested during a recent peaceful protest in the capital Muscat, Amnesty International said today, as more than two dozen others faced trial on protest-related charges.
PALESTINE
(h/t Dibsa 5/20 ) - Palestinian protesters injured by Israeli fire in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – Two young Palestinians were moderately wounded in Gaza on Friday when Israeli troops opened fire at a protest near the border fence, a medical source said
QATAR
(h/t Dibsa 5/13) - Protests planned in Oman over failure to act on jobs pledge
MUSCAT Protest organisers in Oman were planning demonstrations outside the civil service offices in the capital yesterday, claiming the government has failed to fulfil its promise to create tens of thousands of jobs
SAUDI ARABIA
(h/t Dibsa 5/24) - Rights group wants Saudi female driver freed
CAIRO – Human Rights Watch urged Saudi authorities on Tuesday to release a female activist who led an online campaign against the country's driving ban and posted a video clip showing herself behind the wheel.
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) -
Saudi authorities re-arrest woman for driving
CAIRO – Saudi authorities have re-arrested an activist who defied a ban on female drivers in the conservative kingdom, a security official said Monday.
SYRIA
(h/t Dibsa 5/23 ) - Tough diplomacy: US forces Syrian retreat at UN
The Obama administration claimed a quiet diplomatic victory after a frantic but largely invisible campaign to keep Syria from winning a seat on the United Nations body charged with policing international human rights.
Failure would have meant a major embarrassment to the administration.
(h/t Dibsa 5/23 ) - Syria acknowledges sanctions will hurt
BEIRUT — Syria's foreign minister acknowledged Monday that European sanctions will hurt Syrian interests, but he said Damascus will not allow foreign countries to impose their will on Syria.
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) - EU blacklists Syria's Assad for first time
BRUSSELS (AFP) – Europe tightened the noose on President Bashar al-Assad Monday, imposing sanctions on the Syrian leader for the first time while calling for quick Middle East peace talks as it responded to the Arab Spring.
(h/t Dibsa 5/23) -
Syria denounces EU sanctions on President Assad
BEIRUT – Syria's foreign minister has acknowledged that U.S. and EU sanctions will hurt Syrian interests, but he says the country will not allow foreign countries to impose their will on Syria
TUNISIA
(h/t JustJennifer 5/24) - Refugees, residents clash in southern Tunisia
Violence broke out in the southern Tunisian town of Ben Guerdan on Tuesday between residents and people from a nearby camp for refugees from Libya, witnesses said, with some reporting deaths among demonstrators.
"The military were firing in the air to disperse the two groups ... hundreds were fighting," one witness from Ben Guerdan, who said his name was Mohammed, told Reuters. "The confrontation caused many injuries, and perhaps deaths too."
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
(h/t Dibsa 5/5 ) - FACTBOX-Political risks to watch in the United Arab Emirates
(Reuters) - As political upheaval sweeps through the Arab world, the federation of seven emirates remains one of two unaffected Gulf Arab states, in addition to Qatar.
The per capita incomes of the UAE and Qatar remain among the highest in the world -- eighth and third, respectively -- thanks to their relatively small populations and oil and gas wealth.
(h/t Dibsa 5/4 ) - UAE: Human rights officials condemn government crackdown
Human rights advocates decried what they called a “crackdown on civil society” in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after authorities replaced the leadership of the country's teachers association, a well-established group that had called for democratic reforms, with government officials sympathetic to the administration.
“This attack on civil society is further proof that those in power in the UAE see anyone calling for reform as fair game,” Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director of the New York-based nonprofit organization Human Rights Watch, said in a Tuesday statement. “UAE authorities should immediately stop their hostile takeover of civil society and free the peaceful democracy activists.”
WESTERN SAHARA
(h/t Dibsa 5/17) - Killed in Western Sahara by a bomb shaped like a ball
Twenty years after a ceasefire brought a halt to a long-running conflict in Western Sahara, cluster bombs used by the Moroccan armed forces are still claiming victims - among them children attracted by their toy-like size and shape
YEMEN
(h/t Dibsa 5/24) - Powerful Yemeni tribe turns guns against Saleh
SANAA, Yemen – Fighters for Yemen's largest tribe sealed off key government buildings and barricaded streets in the heart of the capital Tuesday as the revolt against President Ali Abdullah Saleh sharply escalated after militiamen turned their guns against government forces
(h/t Dibsa 5/24) - Shelling kills five tribesmen in Yemen's capital
SANAA (AFP) – Shelling in Yemen's capital killed five supporters of a powerful opposition chieftain on Tuesday, his tribe said, as clashes intensified between embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh's security forces and the tribesmen.
(h/t jnhobbs 5/24) - Saleh again Defies US, GCC, refuses to Go
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused again on Sunday to sign an agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council with his opposition agreeing to step down. He demanded that the opposition leaders, who had signed on Saturday, come to his palace to sign again. In the meantime, his helicopters had to rescue the ambassadors who negotiated the deal from a mob of his supporters, who (probably on his orders) had surrounded the UAE embassy. The UAE ambassador flew out of the country, probably in a fury.
(h/t Dibsa 5/20) - Yemen's Saleh says wants early presidential vote
SANAA (AFP) – Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh told thousands of supporters on Friday that he wants an early presidential election to end a political crisis after months of deadly anti-regime protests.
It bears repeating - Please Rec this diary.
Our Egyptian brethren articulated what people around the region are fighting for, though variations to the theme may exist from country to country. banner held by protesters and translated to English:
1 The departure of Mubarak
2 An end to the current Parliament
3 An end of the state of emergency
4 The creation of a national united government
5 A parliament elected by the people to modify the constitution and run the presidential elections
6 Put those responsible for the killings on trial
7 Put those responsible for stealing the country's money and other acts of corruption on trial
Will you help us gather updates?
Many hands make light work and we rely on teamwork for timely posting.
Here's how it works:
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2. you choose 1 or more countries you wish to gather citations for
3. go to the page of that country, click EDIT,
4. copy the mini template and fill in what the red text prompts
5. click SAVE
We're working on a publication schedule: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. Ideally we would see fresh citations in the wiki by late evening the day before. That is, posts from late Monday evening would be published in Tuesday morning's diary. (If you'd like produce a diary on a different day of the week, we'd love to show you how to update the template and paste it into your diary!)
It's really that simple! Please join us.
Resources:
Note: The old Mothership Diary has good list of resources.
Al Jazeera English - Watch Live (the Youtube link below should work for Mac users unable to load this.)
Al Jazeera live also available on: Dish Network channel 9410 OR DirecTV Channel 375 Link
Al Jazeera on Facebook: - http:// www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Al Jazeera Live on YouTube
English Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
Arabic Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
BBC Middle East reporting
BBC Middle East and Arab Unrest
WorldWideTahrir{NEW} : Worldwide protests being organized to coincide with the upcoming ones in Egypt.
bicycle Hussein paladin - Why Iran 1979 Went to the Islamists and This One Won't
People to follow on twitter: - please suggest people for specific countries. Thank you!
@ArabRevolution - Region
@Dima_Khatib - Region
@March15Syria - Syria
@JNovak_Yemen - Yemen
@WomanfromYemen - Yemen
@Gheblawi - Libya
@ShababLibya - Libya
@feb17voices - Libya
@DrsForLibya - Libya
@libyanexpat - Libya
@lissnp - Iran
@prsianbanoo - Iran
@sandmonkey - Egypt
@JRamyRaoof - Egypt
@Elazul - Egypt
@Ssirgany - Egypt
@sharifkouddous
@monasosh
@ioerror
@ElBaradei
@SultanAlQassemi
@evanchill
@glcarlstrom
@nolanjazeera
@3arabawy
@shadihamid
@bencnn
@arabist
@speaktotweet: Egyptian Voice Tweets on Twitter
Previous Child Diaries:
Egypt and the Region Liveblog Archive by unaspenser
NOTE: We renamed the original "Egypt Liveblog" to "Witnessing Revolution". From Egypt the pro-democracy fire spread rapidly. It's not clear that it will be limited by geography or ethnicity. So, we wanted a name which states what is happening yet allows us to grow with the movement, wherever that will be. The number sequence will be continuous. The group name will remain the same. Only this particular diary series within the group changed names.
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