You are in the 211th 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. Please see the 200th edition where participants shared what this series means to them.
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
FROM LIBYA TO SYRIA
(ht JustJennifer 7/7) - Solidarity with humor
Gadaffi calls those fighting for #freedom in Libya 'rats' and #Bashar the Butcher calls those fighting for freedom and #democracy 'germs'. Freedom will come for #Syria
SYRIA
07-07-11 General strike in #Daraa #Syria This form of civil disobedience will hurt #Bashar the Butcher and his #Baath regime.
EGYPT
Workers of the Suez Canal Authority are continuing their three-week strike for better wages and working conditions. Improvements have already been negotiated, but with implementation now twice-delayed, the workers are calling for the resignation of Suez Canal Authority Chairman Ahmed Fadel.
BAHRAIN
Riot police brutally beating up a peaceful pro-democracy protester before arresting him.
The protester can be heard screaming from pain!
This is our daily routine in Bahrain, as the government have no mercy on people who disagree with the king and demand for their rights.
This time it just happened to be near someone who had his camera on!
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
(country names in bold are updated from the previous diary.)
GENERAL ANALYSIS
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) -
The Arab summer: Taking stock
Six months after the outbreak of protest in Tunisia, the Arab world has been transformed. Popular calls for change have reverberated from Morocco to Yemen. Of the republics, two are in transition towards democracy and three are in battles for regime survival, while the monarchies are scrambling to close their ranks and keep the wave of change from their shores.
(h/t dibsa 7/6)-Arab Spring needs Iranian Summer to survive
LONDON, July 6 (UPI) -- As Syrian President Bashar Assad continues to defy the demands of the Syrian people for change and maintains a policy of massacring his own people, evidence has arisen of a dangerous external influence in Syria
(h/t Dibsa 7/5)-Is Morocco’s new constitution an ‘Arab Spring’ antidote?
With the fragrance of Jasmine wafting through the Arab world, more and more countries were swept up in the “Arab Spring” that resulted in the fall of strongmen in Tunisia and Egypt and sounded the death-knells for regimes in countries ranging from Yemen to Libya
ALGERIA
(h/t JustJennifer 6/24)-Algeria responds to social protests
Algeria has witnessed unprecedented unrest in the past few months. Resident doctors, postal workers, students and the unemployed all have axes to grind. To placate the protestors, the authorities have adopted a raft of new measures.
BAHRAIN
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) -
Bahrain leaders, foes begin reconciliation talks
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A Bahraini opposition figure said reconciliation talks between the Sunni monarchy and the Shi’ite opposition started yesterday for the first time since antigovernment protests erupted in the Persian Gulf kingdom
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - Bahrain at the crossroads
Four months of protests and violence have left Bahrain, once regarded as one of the most progressive nations in the Middle East, in a sorry state
(h/t Dibsa 7/5) - Bahraini Doctors: A Thorn to the Regime - Ward 63: A Black Hole
Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): After March 16, ward 63 in the 6th floor of Salmaniya Hospital turned into a place shrouded in mystery and horror. Word had it that a number of the wounded and the clinically dead were detained there after the army had taken control of the hospital
(h/t Dibsa 7/5) - Bahrain: Dialogue Begins with Protests and Skepticism
As the National Dialogue began on Saturday, about 500 protesters marched from surrounding Shiite villages towards the capital. Upset with the opposition al-Wefaq party’s decision to participate in the dialogue and the recent sentencing of activists, they shouted: “no dialogue without the downfall of the regime.” After clashing with police, the mostly young protesters were dispersed with teargas and rubber bullets. The youth movement has refused to participate in the dialogue
BURKINA FASO
(h/t Dibsa 6/24 ) -
Burkina Faso Considers Reforms to Change Constitution
June 24 (Bloomberg) -- Burkina Faso is considering changing its constitution after a series of army mutinies and protests against the government, Bongnessan Arsene Ye, the country's minister of political and parliamentary reforms, told reporters yesterday in Ouagadougou, the capital
COTE D'IVOIRE
(h/t Dibsa 7/5 ) -
Security, recovery top list for Ivory Coast's Ouattara
Reuters) - Restoring security and basic services topped the to-do list for Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday as he outlined his new government's priorities
(h/t Dibsa 7/1) - I. Coast issues arrest warrants for Gbagbo allies
ABIDJAN — Ivory Coast has issued international arrest warrants for firebrand youth leader Charles Ble Goude and other close aides of former president Laurent Gbagbo, the Abidjan prosecutor said Friday
DJIBOUTI
(h/t Dibsa 6/22 ) - Djibouti Will Intensify Fight Against Poverty, Prime Minister Dileita Says
Djibouti’s government will intensify its fight against poverty, improve governance and implement renewable-energy projects to help spur economic growth, Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita said
EGYPT
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Turning to Tahrir
The tents have been set up since last week and preparations are in full swing ahead of tomorrow's "Day of Reckoning" in Tahrir Square. After a brief lull in June Tahrir is once again the centre of a revolution that dozens of political forces and groups now fear is not materialising in line with the aspirations that followed the toppling of Hosni Mubarak. The figurehead may have gone, but the regime he represented still needs toppling.
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Suez canal authority and shipyard workers will join martyrs families sit-in on Thursday
The sit-in staged by family members of 25 January revolution martyrs at the main square in the Suez district of El Arbaen is expected to grow in numbers on Thursday as shipyard and canal authority workers have announced that they will be participating tomorrow.
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Cairo activist convoy off to Suez
A group of Cairo activists are moving today in a convoy from Cairo to Suez in solidarity with martyrs' families and others who are currently sitting-in at Arbaen Square..
{h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - University professors to join Persistence Friday protests
The March 9 university professors movement has called for a march from the Cairo opera house to Tahrir square to join the Persistence Friday protests.
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Suez on the brink
Hundreds of protestors in Suez have taken to the streets on Wednesday 6 July, with others trying to storm into the police headquarters, demonstrating their rage and threatening another revolution after a Cairo court refused an appeal to reverse the release of police officers accused of killing protesters on 25 and 28 January.
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - Riots erupt in Egyptian city over police trials
CAIRO, (AP) — Hundreds of protesters pelted the security headquarters in the city of Suez with rocks on Wednesday, angered by a court's decision to uphold the release of seven policemen facing trials for allegedly killing protesters during Egypt's uprising
IRAN
(h/t Dibsa 7/1) -
INTERVIEW - Opposition to Iran's rulers growing - Nobel laureate
LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi believes Iran's rulers will one day be overthrown even though a crackdown there has prevented the kind of uprising seen in the Arab world
(h/t Dibsa 7/1) - UK condemns arrest of Iranian female activists
LONDON—Britain says Iran's government has recently arrested several female activists as part of a campaign to stifle dissent
IRAQ
(h/t JustJennifer 6/24)-New Wave of Iraqi Bloggers Cover Stories Ignored in the West
When thousands in Sulaymaniyah, the second biggest city in the Kurdish region of Iraq, rose up in protests daily for two months this year, American and European media gave the movement and its results only minimal coverage. This was despite security forces having shot numerous protestors, injuring hundreds and killing at least 10.
ISRAEL
(h/t Dibsa 6/28) -
Israel should not intimidate reporters covering flotilla
New York, June 27, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Israeli authorities to allow journalists covering a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla to do their work without interference or reprisals
(h/t Dibsa 6/27) - Israel backs away from threat to flotilla reporters
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel backtracked on Monday on a threat to bar foreign journalists from entering the country for 10 years if they board a new international aid flotilla that plans to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip
(h/t Dibsa 6/27) - Germany: Israel accepted swap with Hamas
JERUSALEM – Germany says Israel accepted a proposal by a German mediator to free a soldier captured by Hamas-linked militants in Gaza five years ago, but Hamas did not sign off on it
(h/t Dibsa 6/27 ) - Activists: Israel presses Greece to halt flotilla
ATHENS, Greece – Organizers of a flotilla to challenge Israel's sea blockade of the Gaza Strip say they'll sail any day now, but are struggling to overcome delays that they blame on Israeli pressure
(h/t Dibsa 6/27 ) - Israel approves plan to repel new Gaza flotilla
JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israel's security cabinet on Monday ordered the navy to stop an international aid flotilla from breaching a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, but also to avoid clashes with activists on board
JORDAN
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7)-Jordan navigates warily in turmoil of Arab Spring
At the traffic circle in front of the prime minister's office, demonstrators still crowd the streets every week after Friday prayers. Six months since the protests in this desert kingdom started, hundreds of people still join in weekly chants calling for political reform. They still hold up signs demanding an end to government corruption.
KUWAIT
(h/t Dibsa 6/27) - Kuwait arrests duo over Twitter comments
Kuwait will put two citizens on trial for criticising Gulf Arab ruling families on social media site Twitter, a security official said
LEBANON
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7)-Lebanon parliament backs cabinet as opposition boycotts
Lebanon's new government has won a parliamentary vote of confidence, after a heated debate over an international tribunal investigating the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
LIBYA
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Libyan rebels battle in plains south of Tripoli
Libyan rebels fighting to oust Maummar Gaddafi pressed ahead on Thursday with day two of a NATO-backed offensive after seizing a desert hamlet some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Tripoli..
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Libyan rebels seize Gualish hamlet in first push on capital
Libyan rebels Wednesday seized the desert hamlet of Gualish on the first day of a NATO-backed push on the capital Tripoli and captured a number of African mercenaries, an AFP correspondent reported..
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - Libya to charge 21 rebel leaders in special court
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libyan prosecutors plan to charge rebel leaders with national security crimes, seeking to convict as traitors those leading the armed uprising against Moammar Gadhafi that has plunged the country into civil war, officials said Wednesday.
A judge compiling the charges laid out his case
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - Libyan rebels seize 2 mountain towns
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Rebel fighters in western Libya seized two mountain towns from government troops Wednesday, while the embattled regime of Moammar Gadhafi said it would set up a special court to try rebel leaders for treason
(h/t Dibsa 7/5) - The week ahead on the Hill: The Senate votes on Libya; Democrats to talk debt with Biden
The Senate’s back in town after having canceled its regularly-scheduled recess to continue working toward a debt-limit compromise
(h/t Dibsa 7/5) - Despite Military Struggles, Rebels Plan for Post-Gadhafi Libya
Libyan rebels have been bogged down in their military fight to unseat Moammar Gadhafi, but that hasn't kept them from planning for a country without the long-time leader
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 6/16) - Mauritania opposition says October vote not possible
NOUAKCHOTT — A Mauritanian opposition leader said Wednesday elections due in October could not go ahead without reforms, accusing President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's government of abuse of power
MOROCCO
(h/t Dibsa 7/6 ) -
A Middle East model
Morocco moved in democracy's direction over the weekend, but unlike this winter's much ballyhooed revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, the world -- including the Obama administration -- barely noticed. Spring? Where?
(h/t Dibsa 7/6 ) - UN Women report: Access to justice in Morocco
Morocco is at an interesting moment. Inspired by events elsewhere in the region, the 20 February protests by the Movement for Dignity led to last week's referendum on constitutional reforms proposed by King Mohammed VI. The changes mean executive powers will rest with a prime minister but allow the king to remain head of the military, religious authorities and judiciary. But what does this mean for women in Morocco?
(h/t Dibsa 7/6 ) - Morocco's constitution could hold lessons in Arab world
Morocco's overwhelming approval of a new constitution granting new rights to women and minorities was met with scorn by some democracy advocates and hope by foreign policy experts that the reforms could become a model for Arab monarchies facing uprisings
OMAN
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) -
Oman jails 12 more protesters, bringing total to 80
MUSCAT (Reuters) - An Omani court jailed 12 protesters from the coastal city of Sohar for up to three and a half years, a local paper said Wednesday, bringing the total number of people sentenced for taking part in the unrest to 80
PALESTINE
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Failed peace talks led Palestine to the UN
Israeli government officials and much of the Israeli population seem to be dead set against Palestinians going to the UN for recognition of an independent Palestinian state. The Palestinian attempt to obtain full membership in the UN has been called "an attempt to delegitimise Israel", a "unilateral act", a "crime", and even "a declaration of war" against Israel..
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Welcome to Palestine Organisers Deny Israeli Allegations that they are a Fly Flotilla to Gaza
Organisers of the Welcome to Palestine campaign issued a press release denying Israeli allegations that they intend on going to Gaza and cause disruptions at Ben Gurion airport...
(h/t Dibsa 7/6 ) - Activist: We only want to tour Palestine
Dozens of police and Border Guard officers were deployed at the Ben Gurion Airport Wednesday morning as part of preparations towards the arrival of the pro-Palestinian fly-in
(h/t Dibsa 7/6 ) - A PALESTINIAN VIEW: We are ready for freedom and independence
After its last meeting, the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization announced officially its intention to go to the United Nations to seek the help of the international community in ending Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, achieving freedom and independence and enjoying the legitimate rights of self-determination in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions
SAUDI ARABIA
(h/t Dibsa 7/1) - Basu: Saudi women are driving change
Americans may not be driving as much this holiday because of high gas prices. But in Saudi Arabia, where the price of gas is about half what it is here, one group of adults is not supposed to be driving anywhere, ever: Women
(h/t Dibsa 7/1) - Saudi Arabia's clerics challenge King Abdullah's reform agenda
On a Friday at one o'clock, Sheikh Saad Bin Naser al-Shethri is leading prayers in a small mosque in an upmarket neighbourhood of Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The faithful fill two floors, listening to the cleric's sermon on the true sense of the traditional greeting "salaam aleikum" – peace be upon you. This, Shethri says, means love thy neighbour
SYRIA
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) -
General strikes reported in Syrian cities
Protest organisers reported general strikes in several Syrian cities on Thursday over the continuing crackdown by security forces loyal to the president, Bashar al-Assad.
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - 'Hundreds flee' Syrian city of Hama
About 1,000 people have fled Syria's central city of Hama fearing another military crackdown on protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, a Syrian rights group said..
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Syrians block Hama streets with burning tyres
Residents in the Syrian city of Hama blocked streets with burning tyres on Thursday to keep out busloads of security forces, and dozens of families fled to a nearby town, an activist and a resident said..
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - Syrian forces round up dozens in Hama
(Reuters) - Syrian forces rounded up dozens of people in Hama on Wednesday after shooting dead up to 22 people, activists said, and Amnesty International said Syria may have committed crimes against humanity in an earlier crackdown
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - 'Crimes against humanity' claims in Syria
Syria has drawn strong condemnation for its deadly crackdown on protesters in the central city of Hama, with human rights campaigners hinting at the possibility of the country's leaders being tried for crimes against humanity
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - Amnesty cites murder, torture, rape, mutilation in Syria. By Lucy Stuart
In a report published by Amnesty International Wednesday, the organization reveals an atmosphere of torture and violent repression used by the Syrian security forces in order to subdue protests in the country
TUNISIA
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) -
Trade Unions' Role In New Tunisia
The revolution was spontaneous, carried out by ordinary, simple people. But because opposition political parties were not at all powerful, it was the trade unions which rallied to lead the protests. This was the way to defend workers, address social and political problems, as well as provide a platform to criticise then president Ben Ali.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
(h/t Dibsa 6/15 ) - UAE urged to release five activists on trial
DUBAI — Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged Emirati authorities to drop charges against five activists, including a blogger and a lecturer, facing trial for "criticising" the government
WESTERN SAHARA
(h/t Dibsa 6/23) -
The latest round of U.N.-sponsored talks to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara foundered recently. In an email interview, Yahia H. Zoubir, a professor of international relations and international management and the director of research in geopolitics at Euromed Management in Marseilles, France, discussed the Western Sahara talks
YEMEN
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) -
Yemen VP presents new transition plan: Saleh stays
Yemen's acting leader has put forward a new plan to end the country's political stalemate, which would keep President Ali Abdullah Saleh in power longer than outlined in earlier initiatives, an opposition source said on Thursday..
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - In Yemen, soaring food and fuel prices hit poor hardest
Motorbike taxi driver Abdulkarim Mohammed has been finding it increasingly difficult over the past few months to buy sufficient food for his eight-member family in Yemen...
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7 ) - Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh appears on TV
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has appeared on TV for the first time since being badly burned in an attack on his palace last month..
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:
1. we invite you to join our wiki. (we'll need an email address from you)
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.
PLEASE PLACE LINKS NOT EMBEDS INTO COMMENTS
Embeds can lead to problems for some of our users.
We all thank you for your consideration.