You are in the 203rd 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
BAHRAIN
Thousands of Shiite Bahrainis rallied Friday in Sitra, estimated crowd at 50k
SYRIA
Protests continue and are spreading to more cities.
This one in Idlib, which is in Northwestern Syria. “....the people want the toppling of the regime...death and not humiliation....oh the shame, o the humiliation..#Bashar is going to hell...'
And in Hama, the site of the 1984 massacre where it is estimated that 40k died….
..We are going to remove you (from power) with our strong resolve...#Syria wants #freedom..May God curse Duniya and #Syrian channels..Syria wants freedom..when we interviewed Tlas they said we are terrorists...Syria wants freedom..they called us salafis..Syria wants freedom....'.
The brave and free of #Homs #Syria chant in support of the martyrs: ''...whoever doesn't participate has no honor..God is the Greatest...the people want the toppling of the regime..' #Bashar #Baath #Freedom.
(ht JustJennifer 6/18) - Protest sign in Syria
Bashar Al-Asad's mobile showing a missed call from Ban Ki-moon
More news listed country by country below the fold...
PLS REC THIS DIARY! Will you please do the following to keep our dKos community eyes on our international friends risking their lives for self-determination?
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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 JustJennifer 6/17)-Where the Arab spring will end is anyone's guess
Tunisia's Jasmine revolution will always be remembered as the event that triggered the Arab spring, which has shattered the status quo from Libya to Syria and is widely seen as the biggest transformative event of the 21st century so far. But, six months on, progress has been patchy
(h/t Dibsa 6/17)-Analysis: Arab Spring still a work in progress
It is not over. That much is clear, six months after a desperate young Tunisian set fire to himself in a public square, provoking a wave of protest throughout the Middle East
(h/t Dibsa 6/17)-Letters: Perspectives on the Arab Spring
To date 1,109 people have been detained and 61 prisoners have "disappeared"; 867 are still detained of whom 77 have been convicted out of the 82 tried. These trials take place with no defence lawyers and confessions have been obtained under duress, with the prisoner not seeing what they're signing
ALGERIA
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Tahar Belabes: Algerian youths need motivation
A young jobless man's suicide in Ouargla last week sparked a wave of protests and brought to the fore the persistent problem of unemployment in the southern Algerian town. Despite the abundance of natural resources, the city is unable to put educated youths to work. To address the paradox, Magharebia sat down with Tahar Belabes, a spokesman of the National Committee for the Rights of the Unemployed (CNDDC).
BAHRAIN
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Special Report: In Bahrain, a symbol at the heart of revolt
MANAMA/ZURICH, Jun (Reuters)- Until a few months ago, the twin towers of the Bahrain Financial Harbour development -- clad in green glass and shaped like over-sized toy sea-horses -- were symbols of the island state's role as a regional financial hub
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Bahrain cleric raises fresh doubts about talks
MANAMA, Bahrain – Bahrain's top Shiite cleric denounced the Gulf kingdom's rulers for "damaging the country" and warned Friday that tension-easing dialogue cannot take place until authorities halt crackdowns used to crush protests demanding greater political rights
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Bahrain Shiites hold another mass rally
DUBAI (AFP) – Thousands of Shiite Bahrainis rallied Friday outside Manama in the second mass demonstration organised by Al-Wefaq opposition group since a mid-March crackdown on pro-democracy protests
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Bahrain hunger striker sees husband for first time in two months
The young Bahraini woman who became a prominent voice of the Arab uprisings after going on hunger strike to protest at the detention of relatives has described in a series of heart-rending tweets her first meeting with her husband in more than two months
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - AFL-CIO Supports U.S. Decision to Review Trade Agreement with Bahrain
Washington, DC (June 16, 2011)—Today the AFL-CIO applauded the U.S. Department of Labor's decision to accept our complaint regarding the government of Bahrain's failure to live up to its trade agreement commitments with respect to workers' rights
BURKINA FASO
(h/t Dibsa 6/17 ) - Burkina Faso Government Plans to Dismiss National Electoral Commission
Burkina Faso’s government will dismiss the country’s electoral commission following the June 8 resignation from the panel by representatives from opposition parties, said Jerome Bougouma, minister of territorial administration and security
COTE D'IVOIRE
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-I.Coast struggles to unite rival military camps
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara faces the daunting task of uniting the country's security forces two months after taking power following a bloody conflict sparked by disputed polls last year.
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Ivory Coast deadline for ICC testimony
Victims of post-poll violence in Ivory Coast have been given 30 days to submit testimony to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court..
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Ivory Coast: Fear persists even after violence subsides
The situation in Ivory Coast remains volatile in the west following the post-election conflict that wracked the country for several months, intensifying existing inter-communal tensions and land rivalries..
DJIBOUTI
(h/t UnaSpenser 4/14 ) -
JIBOUTI: WHY NO ONE CARESsection 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 JustJennifer 6/17)-Revolutionary dreams on a peasant’s budget
Six a.m. Ahmed Abdul Hadi wakes up and rushes through breakfast. If he misses sunrise his already meagre earnings will suffer
Within minutes 70-year-old A’am Abdul Hadi, as the peasants know him in Kafr Baheeda village in Meet Ghamr, Daqahleyya, is knee-deep in water. With members of his extended family, he will be bent over planting rice all day. They have to do everything right -- there's no room for trial and error.
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Egypt's Bedouins begin to demand equal citizenship rights
Moussa Al Dalah, a 35-year-old tribal leader from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, knew it would be a risky step to try to take his employer to court over alleged discrimination: he could easily end up in prison.
"I had to tell the employer that the Bedouins won't be able to accept humiliation forever," Al Dalah told IRIN. "He used to give factory workers from other parts of Egypt higher salaries and better treatment."
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Election battle lines
Demands led by liberal and secular forces to draft a new constitution ahead of parliamentary elections are intensifying, with some threatening a million-man "Constitution First Friday", Gamal Essam El-Din reports
(h/t jnhobbs 6/17)-EGYPT: TV 25 chronicles post-revolution, bucks censorship, strives for balance
Egypt is seeing a post-revolution media renaissance, including in print and on television stations. The growth of coverage has posed a challenge to the transitional military government, which activists and some media have accused of slipping back into the censorship of the previous regime.
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Spain freezes assets of Mubarak associate
MADRID (AFP) – Spanish police said Friday they have frozen more than 30 million euros in bank accounts and properties valued at 10 million after arresting a close associate of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on fraud charges
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Inspired by the Revolution
When Ihab Fouly, 45, learned of the popular uprising in Tahrir Square on 25 January from his home in Kuwait, he made an admittedly bold decision. He booked one-way tickets on the next available flight to Cairo for himself, his wife, and two kids. He left what he considers “a perfect life” to be part of the revolution in the country of his birth
IRAN
(h/t Dibsa 6/15) - Iranian men banned from wearing necklaces
Iranian men have been banned from wearing necklaces as Islamic regime tightens rules on "un-Islamic" clothes and accessories
IRAQ
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Bloodied, beaten but ready to speak out
Freedom-of-speech protesters in Kurdistan are daily risking their lives, write Tracey Shelton and Harem Bahaddin in Sulaymanieh.
ISRAEL
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Israel: Facebook protest targets price of cheese
In a region rife with Facebook-fueled uprisings, Israelis have launched a modest revolt of their own — against the price of cottage cheese.
JORDAN
(h/t dibsa 6/16) - Jordanians condemn 'troubling' attack on AFP
AMMAN (AFP) – Dozens of journalists, trade unionists and politicians demonstrated on Thursday outside AFP's Amman bureau in support of the news agency after a gang broke into its office and destroyed equipment
(h/t dibsa 6/15) - Attackers raid AFP office in Jordan capital
AMMAN (AFP) – Ten men broke into AFP's offices in the Jordanian capital on Wednesday and destroyed furniture, two days after the news agency was among several foreign media to report that King Abdullah II's motorcade had been stoned
KUWAIT
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Kuwait emir warns against political turmoil
KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait's ruler issued a stern warning against chaos on Wednesday as the oil-rich Gulf state plunged into political turmoil and protests by youth activists demanding the premier's ouster
LEBANON
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Lebanese PM sends in troops as Syrian situation sparks clashes
Lebanon dispatched troops Friday to quell clashes that arose in the city of Tripoli over the Syrian crisis.
LIBYA
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Libya's rebels deny negotiations as fighting flares
BENGHAZI, Libya (AFP) – Libya's rebels denied Friday they are engaged in negotiations with Moamer Kadhafi's regime as they came under deadly rocket fire in Misrata but seized a key stretch of road towards the Tunisian border
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Libyan rebels hurt by lack of discipline, training
DAFNIYA, Libya – Wearing flip flops and a baseball cap, the young rebel hoisted a backpack of five rocket propelled grenades and pretended to fire into the air
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Libyan leader Gadhafi says NATO will not win
TRIPOLI, Libya – Provoked by renewed daylight NATO bombing of his capital, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi raged against the alliance Friday, screaming his message and daring Western forces to keep it up
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Why a slow-moving NATO is good for Libya
Seemingly all the major U.S. newspapers, including the New York Times and Washington Post, are editorializing harshly that NATO (read: Europe) shows itself a complete failure in Libya. It acts too slowly, with too little force — and proves shamefully dependent on U.S. firepower
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 JustJennifer 6/17)-Morocco king sets referendum on new constitution July 1
Morocco's King Mohammed promised a new democratic constitution on Friday that would devolve some of his powers to parliament and the government, adding Moroccans would be able to vote for the changes in a July 1 referendum.
(h/t Dibsa 6/17 ) - Moroccan king to announce constitutional reforms
Morocco's king is set to deliver a landmark speech presenting new constitutional amendments that could transform the country into a constitutional monarchy with a more powerful elected government
OMAN
(h/t JustJennifer 6/4) - Oman sets protesters' trial for June 1
The trial of 27 protesters accused of rioting during violent demonstrations in Oman will start next Wednesday, a court official said.
Protests in Oman began in February, inspired by pro-democracy revolts that toppled the rulers of Egypt and Tunisia before spreading to Gulf Arab region.
PALESTINE
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Abbas calls on EU to recognise Palestine
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged European Union nations on Friday to separately or collectively recognise the state of Palestine.
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-What The Arab Spring Means For Israel And Palestine
The West Bank has yet to see a movement on this level. If and when that does occur, it could be a "game changer" for Israel and the United States, says Robert Malley, an expert in conflict resolution and the program director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group.
SAUDI ARABIA
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Saudi Arabia women test driving ban
At just after 10 o'clock on Friday morning Maha al-Qahtani swapped places with her husband, Mohammed, and took the wheel of the family car.
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Women defy Saudi Arabia's driving ban
Activists urging women in Saudi Arabia to defy a ban on driving say some have taken to the road in a planned challenge against the restrictions
SYRIA
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Syria shoots dead 18 as regime sacrifices reviled figure
Syrian forces shot dead at least 18 protesters yesterday as one of its most reviled figures gave up his business empire in an attempt to assuage public anger.
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-US and Russia discuss UN resolution on Syria
Hillary Clinton has held talks with Sergei Lavrov in an attempt to break a deadlock over a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Syria: Thousands protest before Assad speech Sunday
Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Damascus' suburbs and three of Syria's five largest cities Friday, in a weekly show of defiance that came days before President Bashar Assad was expected to address Syrians on Sunday for the first time in two months. Activists said at least 19 people were killed and dozens wounded..
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Syria eyewitness: Damascus divided on Assad regime
A journalist in Damascus - who cannot be named for security reasons - reports on the growing differences of opinion within the Syrian capital on how the crisis should end.
TUNISIA
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - Lawyer: Tunisia's ex-president denies charges
PARIS – An attorney representing Tunisia's ousted president denied Friday the charges against him and dismissed his upcoming trial as politically motivated
(h/t Dibsa 6/17) - On eve of Ben Ali trial Tunisians want real justice
Tunis/Paris - The trial of the first authoritarian leader to be shown the door in the ongoing Arab Spring of pro-democracy uprisings begins Monday in Tunisia
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 JustJennifer 6/10) - No progress in Western Sahara talks
The Moroccan government and Western Sahara separatist rebels on Tuesday ended new UN-brokered talks on the disputed territory without making a breakthrough, UN officials said.
YEMEN
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Yemen's VP meets youth leaders
The Yemeni vice president has asked for two more weeks to handle the evolving situation in the country, youth leaders said.
(h/t JustJennifer 6/17)-Yemeni govt says Saleh to return from Saudi soon
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, taken to Saudi Arabia for wounds suffered in an attack on his palace earlier this month, will return to the country within days, a Yemeni official said on Friday..
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.
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