Welcome to the 273rd Witnessing Revolution Liveblog bearing witness to the populist anti-authoritarian and/or pro-democracy movements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Our goal in this series is to consolidate reliable witness accounts and media reports concerning both the short-term events and longer-term processes related to these movements, as determined protesters across the region struggle to claim or reclaim an array of civil and human rights often in the face of grave personal risk. While coverage of these movements may ebb in flagship mainstream media, the commitment of the Eyes on Egypt and the Region Group to witness these individuals, events and processes is unwavering.
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
EGYPT
Egypt: Jan 25 anniversary demonstrations - live updates
you can watch live images of Tahrir Square here.
(h/t NY Brit Expat) Protesters carry an obelisk with the names of all the martyrs of the Egyptian Revolution.
11.35am: In the Cairo neighbourhood of Shubra, 3,000 protesters began marching towards Tahrir Square at 1pm local time, writes Abdel Rahman Hussein.
12.25pm: Liberals and Islamists are gathering on different sides of Tahrir Square in a reflection of Egypt's deep political divides, AP reports.
1.11pm: The ruling generals want to portray today as a celebration of the revolution, but activists have other ideas, Jack Shenker reports from Cairo.
"From where I am, it is most certainly a protest," he said.
Outside of Tahrir Square, from every corner of the city, including Giza where I am walking at the moment, there are possibly hundreds of thousands of people ... for them this isn't about celebration ... this about fighting to complete the revolution and bring down the military government. [There is] a very angry mood and a very confident one.
1.47pm: Many marches from across Cairo are converging in Tahrir Square, according to reports on Twitter.
A reporter's look back: When things snapped
5.29pm: Numbers in Tahrir have slightly receded, but that just means it's quite packed rather than fully packed, reports Abdel-Rahman Hussein: there are still tens of thousands in the square.
At the Radio and Television Building in Maspero there are about 500 protesters gathered there chanting "Here are the liars" as well as chanting against Scaf rule.
There is palpable anger at the state media for its coverage of the revolution and its pro-military line ever since. However protesters don't tend to mass in numbers at Maspero, and some protesters are urging people to head back to the square.
Whatever snapped in the Egyptian people last year that released years of built up frustration did not snap on 25 January.
Starting on 14 January, when Tunisia’s fleeing President gave Egyptians reason to believe that it was indeed possible to overthrow a dictator, the transformation of the public from an oppressed people to a revolting one could be detected.
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Taking Tahrir Square: As the protest took the turn that leads to Tahrir Square, the square appeared, completely empty except for high ranking police officers with walkie talkies in hand, and a final cordon blocking the entrance to the square from Abdel Moneim Riyad.
The protest paused in front of the cordon for a few minutes. Then, ending the hesitation, a group of no more than 10, mostly women, lurched forward toward the cordon. The others joined and then they were inside Tahrir Square. As they went around the square celebrating, it looked too big for them, until a few hours later when other marches reached the square.
One year later....
Hundreds gather in Tahrir Square ahead of revolution anniversary
Hundreds of Egyptians arrived Tuesday evening to Tahrir Square in central Cairo, the cradle of the 25 January revolution, in preparation for celebrating the first anniversary of its beginning.
The square was completely closed to traffic at 9:30 pm, and tents were erected in the middle of it.
...
Mohsen Radi, a member of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, said MPs will attend celebrations in the square to celebrate the revolution.
Ahmed Khalil, Nour Party spokesperson, said the party is not coming to celebrate but rather to demonstrate in favor of achieving the revolution’s goals and against the killers of revolutionaries.
One Year Later: What will happen to the Tahrir Demands?
January 25, 2012, will forever be a date remembered by Egyptians. Last year, the world witnessed the uprising of Egyptians against former President Hosni Mubarak. After 18 days of massive protests across the country, Mubarak was forced to step down. The military took over.
The military vowed to protect the revolution and lead Egypt's democratic transition. In hindsight, many Egyptians regret the decision of letting the military take over. Many activists have voiced their regret of leaving Tahrir Square on February 11.
In the eyes of many people, some policy decisions undertaken by the military during the last 12 months have stood in contradiction to democratic principles aspired by Egyptians in January 2011; hence, many are returning back in 2012. Tahrir symbolizes the hope for Egyptian democracy.
BAHRAIN
Two more deaths in Bahrain due to teargas, activist beaten, and other updates
21 January 2012
Yaseen Jassim AlAsfoor, 14 year old boy, was taken to the hospital after he was subjected to excessive teargas twitpic.com/89gd7o. His house was shot with three tear gas canisters at the time. He suffers from acute asthma and he was moved to the ICU when his lungs collapsed. Yaseen was in the hospital for 3 weeks, passing away last night. yfrog.com/h3phkzsj
author's note: please go read the entire article and peruse the Bahrain Rights' web site, for a fuller sense of just how horrifying things are in Bahrain, while our media doesn't say a thing.
YEMEN
Please watch this video to the end. The man speaking is a surgeon and poet with a beautiful blog called Late Night Surgery. At times when he hasn't posted for a bit, we worry about what might have happened. But, he always resurfaces, inshallah. The juxtaposition of his beautiful & serene presence as he speaks about corruption in Yemen is simply a precursor to the jarring reality documented in the final scenes.
This is the woman he's referring to when he speaks of why the government lashed out at women: Tawakel Karman
While Saleh has left Yemen for the US, after a Gulf Cooperation Council deal wherein he supposedly relinquished power, the people of the revolution continue to make it clear that their voices were not included in this deal-making and they don't approve; particularly of the immunity agreements:
The Yemeni Life March
Youth from the strife-torn city of Taiz are marching 250km to the capital Sana’a to demand that Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh stands trial for alleged crimes against humanity. The march, dubbed the March of Life, is a rejection of a deal that guarantees Saleh immunity from prosecution after months of violence in the country. The unrest has seen hundreds of civilians killed by the armed forces amidst both peaceful protests and complex armed confrontations.
“I feel very happy to participate in the march of life to vonvey our message that we reject any immunity for those who killed protesters and destroyed our life,” female marcher Shinaz al-Kahli said.
The march comes before the parliament’s expected meeting on Saturday to give Saleh and his aides immunity from the prosecution in accordance with the Gulf-brokered initiative signed by Saleh in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in November 23.
Map of the Life March
SYRIA
author's note: Syria continues to be the most difficult to witness. Photos and videos of people who have been tortured and killed are far too prolific. It only takes moments to be overwhelmed. Human rights organizations say the number of murdered is over 5,000 now.
The Syrian Days Of Rage - English
(01-25-12) #Daraa #Syria | Martyr Ibrahim Hazza Al-Ghuzawi was tortured to death in an #Assad prison. This is the #Baath punishment for the one who dares to call for #freedom. The brave will continue, we will not go back until Syria is free!! http://ow.ly/... #Bufferzone
Warning: graphic
(01-24-12) Jurat Al-Shiyah #Syria | 4 Year Old Leads Freedom Demonstration
(01-24-12) Al-Twayni | #Hama #Syria | (GRAPHIC) Martyr Ma'moon Muhammad Abu A'yoosh
Warning: graphic
country by country updates below the fold
author's note: Many of the Witness Revolution team have become involved in the US Occupy movement. It has been several months now since I've scoured through all the sources I follow, giving them detailed attention, in order to choose what to highlight here so that we can get, through a brief glimpse, a sense of what is happening for our brothers and sisters in these countries. I had forgotten how painful it is; how much crying it evokes. I'm glad I'm not inured. At the same time, the deaths of children, unarmed people being shot at, the visible marks of torture; these are more than overwhelming. It has been a good reminder, as I face my own challenges with Occupy Boston, that what we face here is so different; that we are not walking in the streets knowing that we or those around us are likely to be killed or tortured. May we all find peace together, for each other.
Thank you for bearing witness.
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.
NEWS UPDATES
(country names in bold are updated from the previous diary.)
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Arab Spring: Painful progress
Nearly a year after uprisings first erupted across the Arab world, it is still unclear whether they will produce real democracy, or an era of instability and unending street politics.
Tunisia, which was the inspiration behind other Arab states rising up against autocratic regimes, is also the first to reap the fruits of its revolution. It also suffered the least in terms of loss of life and property. The North African Arab country is now on the path towards establishing a real democratic state thanks to its adoption of a clear roadmap charting its future. All political groups, Islamic and liberal, agreed on a peaceful approach.
Millions of frustrated youth — in Egypt, Yemen, Libya and Syria — were inspired by Tunisia's revolution to rise up against their autocratic regimes. Countries such as Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Morocco and Algeria also saw waves of protests demanding reforms, but did not see calls for regime change.
BAHRAIN
Diplomats move to calmer areas
AMERICAN diplomats in Bahrain have confirmed they are being relocated out of troubled areas, saying months of severe traffic disruption and violence made it impossible for some people to leave their homes.
A US Embassy spokesman said the decision had been prompted by anti-government demonstrations that often descended into violence.
Embassy personnel living on the Budaiya Highway have now been ordered to relocate to other areas of the country for their own safety.
"Demonstrations throughout the country have degenerated on several occasions into violence, resulting in injuries and property damage," the spokesman told the GDN yesterday.
"We expect that planned and spontaneous demonstrations will continue.
"While demonstrations and violence have not been directed towards Westerners, the department's paramount concern is the security and personal safety of all US citizens abroad and we share with embassy staff the responsibility for ensuring the security of members of the entire official American community.
Bahrain Grand Prix again in doubt as US State Department moves staff due to political unrest
Just days after Bernie Ecclestone insisted he had no concerns about taking Formula One back to Bahrain, April's grand prix has been thrown into doubt by reports that the US State Department is moving American Embassy employees to safer locations in the island kingdom due to ongoing political unrest.
EGYPT
Egypt's women missing from formal politics
The remarkable revelation of the Egyptian revolution concerns women. It turns out that the women of Egypt are at the heart of our politics.
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hundreds of thousands of women from all over Egypt standing side by side with men in the streets and in Tahrir
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Samira Ibrahim won her case against military police and gained recognition for women’s bodily integrity when the court ruled that the virginity tests that she had endured at the hands of military police are unlawful.
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the whole world stopped and gasped at the image of a young woman dragged by two soldiers and kicked by a third.
...women joined the long queues of voters waiting to have their say in Egypt’s first free elections in decades. Near 60% of all Egyptians entitled to vote did so and at least half of them if not more were women. The female vote has been instrumental...
...
Yet women are near absent from this parliament. There are eight women who have succeeded in winning seats and two who have been appointed. That means that two per cent of parliament has gone to women. The world average for female representation in elected legislative bodies is 19 per cent and the Arab world average is 13 per cent.
Timeline: Egypt's year of revolution - 25 January: Revolution continues
Via Ahram Online--a great chronology of a whole year, by Hatem Maher and Wael Iskander
LIBYA
Why are Libyans protesting again?
It has been less than four months since the war ended in Libya with the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi.
But for two weeks now Libyans have been protesting again - this time against the slow pace of reform under the new leadership. They have accused the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) of failing to honour those who died fighting for the country's freedom.
On Saturday, up to 2,000 angry protesters attacked the Libyan transitional government's headquarters in the eastern city of Benghazi. They stormed the building and ran off with computers, chairs and desks while the country's interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil was holed up inside.
Libyans have become increasingly frustrated with their new leaders. They want, among other things, better compensation and greater rights for those who fought Gaddafi's forces.
Libyans are particularly concerned about the new election laws the NTC is introducing. They say the public has not been properly consulted and the new rules do not live up to the democratic ideals they had all hoped for.
No revolt after Libya violence
Bani Walid - A bullet-scarred barracks, scorched and abandoned like the ageing tanks guarding its shattered gateway, was all that remained on Tuesday of what passed for the Libyan government's grip on Bani Walid.
But a day after townsmen put to flight a force loyal to the Western-backed interim administration in Tripoli, elders in the desert city, once a bastion of support for Muammar Gaddafi, dismissed accusations they wanted to restore the late dictator's family to power or had any ambitions beyond their local area.
"Allegations of pro-Gaddafi elements in Bani Walid, this is not true," said Miftah Jubarra, who was among dozens of leading citizens gathered at a local mosque to form a municipal council now that nominal representatives from the capital have fled.
Gaddafi loyalists seize Libyan city
Muammar Gaddafi loyalists seized control of a Libyan mountain city in the most serious challenge to the central government since the strongman's fall, underlining the increasing weakness of Libya's Western-backed rulers as they try to unify the country under their authority.
The taking of Bani Walid, one of the last Gaddafi strongholds captured by the new leadership late last year, was the first such organized operation by armed remnants of Gaddafi's regime
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)
SYRIA
Syria May Be Kicked Off UNESCO Human-Rights Panel Amid Crackdown
More than two dozen governments are backing an initiative to expel Syria from UNESCO’s human-rights committee, a move that would mark the first time the United Nation’s culture and education agency has removed a member.
The U.S., the U.K., Japan, Italy, Chile, Kuwait and Qatar are among 26 countries supporting the initiative after Syria was elected in November to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization panel that judges human-rights complaints. Over half the countries signing on to the proposal are members of UNESCO’s 58-member executive board.
More than 5,000 people have been killed since last March in Syria’s crackdown on unrest, according to the UN. Navi Pillay, the UN’s top human-rights official, has called for a probe into President Bashar al-Assad’s government for crimes against humanity and said “gross violations” by Assad’s security forces should be referred to the International Criminal Court.
Clashes, mortars kill 7 in Syria
Government forces clashed with army defectors and stormed rebellious districts in central Syria on Wednesday, firing mortars and deploying snipers in violence that killed at least seven people, including a mother and her 5-year-old child, activists said.
Pressure on Syria to end 10 months of bloodshed has so far produced few results. Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia have pulled out of the Arab League's observers mission, asking the UN Security Council to intervene. Decisive action from the UN appeared unlikely, however, as Russia, a strong Syrian ally, has opposed moves like sanctions.
While Syria has approved extension of the observers' presence for another month, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem signalled that the crackdown on protests will continue, insisting that Syria will solve its own problems.
Syria crisis: Red Crescent official in Idlib shot dead
The Red Crescent said Abdulrazak Jbeiro was killed as he drove from Damascus to Idlib - a focal point of the Syrian conflict.
Anti-government activists the Local Co-ordination Committees blamed his death on "security forces".
But Syrian state news agency Sana pointed the finger at "a terrorist group".
TUNISIA
Journalists assaulted at 'Persepolis' trial
In a sign of growing tension between secularists and religious zealots in Tunisia, Islamist extremists attacked several journalists in the capital on Monday – right in front of a courthouse. The journalists were going to court to express their solidarity with a TV station on trial for blasphemy. According to our Observer, the police did little to stop the violence.
From Post-Revolution Tunisia, Hope That the Arab Spring Will Unleash Regional Innovation
A year after the fall of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisians can demonstrate some tangible changes in the North African country. Elections were held, installing a new prime minister and constituent assembly. But anxieties over the economy and unemployment have heightened, and stark ideological cleavages have emerged. Yet Mondher Ben Ayed, president and CEO of the Tunis-based technology firm TMI remains optimistic.
YEMEN
Yemeni leader ends 32-year rule
YEMENI President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left his battered nation on his way to the US for medical treatment after passing power to his deputy and asking for forgiveness for any "shortcomings" during his 33-year rule.
But in a sign that Mr Saleh's role as Yemen's top power broker is likely far from over, the 69-year-old said he would return to Yemen before the official power transfer next month to serve as the head of his ruling party.
Protesters took to the streets to protest an immunity deal he brokered in the transfer of power to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, saying they want to see Mr Saleh tried for his alleged role in the protester deaths.
Over 40 killed in sectarian clashes
At least 46 people have been killed and dozens injured in clashes between Houthi-led Shia rebels and pro-government Sunni Salafi gunmen in the northwestern Yemeni governorate of Hajjah, assistant head of Hajjah security department Atif Sulaiman told IRIN.
Yemeni independent news website Barakish.net has also reported on the fighting and deaths which occurred there over the past couple of days.
“Houthi gunmen continue to increase their dominance over several areas and mountaintop positions in the eastern parts of Hajjah in what they say is ‘their effort to liberate these areas from mercenaries [members of the pro-government Islamist Islah Party]’,” Sulaiman said.
Qaeda gunmen quit Yemen town under tribal pressure
Qaeda gunmen quit Yemen town under tribal pressure
Armed tribesmen sit in the back of a pick-up truck in the town of Rada
Hundreds of Al-Qaeda gunmen bowed to tribal pressure on Wednesday and withdrew from a Yemeni town they had held for nine days after authorities pledged to free 15 militants, tribal sources said.
"They have left the town" of Rada 130 kilometres (85 miles) southeast of Sanaa, one tribal source said hours after a senior military official said mediators had convinced the extremists to withdraw
It bears repeating - Please Rec this diary.
Our Egyptian brethren articulated what people around the region are fighting for. Variations of this theme exist from country to country. Holding people accountable for corruption is a fairly universal theme, for instance. 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
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
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
@libyanexpat - Libya
@lissnp - Iran
@sandmonkey (Mahmoud Salem ) - Egypt
@JRamyRaoof - Egypt
@Elazul - Egypt
@Ssirgany - Egypt
@sharifkouddous
@monasosh
@ioerror
@ElBaradei
@SultanAlQassemi
@evanchill
@glcarlstrom
@3arabawy
@shadihamid
@bencnn
@arabist
@speaktotweet: Egyptian Voice Tweets on Twitter
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.