Identity Magazine: Special Coverage – Interview with Tarek Amr and Nadia El Awady #Jan25 #Egypt

Identity Magazine: Marwa Rakha's Special #Jan25 Revolution Coverage

March/April 2011

Tarek Amr – Cairo (Egyptian Blogger and Engineer)

I didn't participate in the first day of the revolution. I was a bit scared, a bit unconvinced that it will change anything, and I prefer to follow such events on twitter and facebook instead of participating in them.

Then protesters were killed by the security forces even though the protesters insisted that it will remain a peaceful protest. Two days later, the government switched off the mobile phones, the internet, blackberry, and all other means of communication. They thought that they might prevent people from communicating and arranging for further demonstrations. But the truth is that such information blackout made me – as well as thousands of other people – more eager to get down to the streets and participate in the "Friday of Anger".

Again, the police brutality didn't stop. Rubber bullets, tear gas bombs, and even lethal bullets were used in different places in Egypt. They were doing their best to prevent the protesters from crossing the bridges and going to Tahrir square. We tried different bridges in different areas, but we faced the same resistance from the police, till a curfew was announced and I preferred to go back to home, along with many others. Later on, on news channels, we found out that the police was defeated and people succeeded in reaching Tahrir square.

Later on, news from here and there claimed that the police left their locations on purpose, they unlocked the prisons for looters to go to the streets and terrify people, and some people on TV even claimed that the police and (NDP) National Democratic Party's militias participated in terrorizing people. With the high death toll, the pressure of the United States as well as many other international entities on the government, we expected the president to resign. They announced that Mubarak will give a speech in a while, but it was delayed for hours. And during those hours every one was sure that he was preparing himself to resign. Then came the speech, and he said nothing but changing his prime minister!

In the following three days, all security forces and policemen dissipated from the streets. Protesters stayed in Tahrir Square calling for a million-person protest/march on Tuesday. People at homes lived in a state of terror, where they carried sticks and knives every night and spent their nights in the streets protecting their homes and businesses. People also cleaned the streets by themselves, and protected some governmental and national buildings. During those three days, every visit you paid to Tahrir Square made you believe that Mubarak should be now packing his stuff to leave the presidential palace, then a single glance on the national TV made you believe he was getting himself ready for thirty more years inside the palace.

Then came Tuesday, and at least million persons went to demonstrate in down town. After seeing those huge numbers in the streets, people were sure that Mubarak will give another speech. Lots of them were expecting him to finally resign, yet some others were suspicious. And once more, I experienced Mubarak's roller coaster. I was happy with his promises after a while, I found myself wondering, isn't this just another maneuver by the president.

Also, after the speech, we found demonstrations everywhere in support for the president and asking him to stay in charge. Such kind of suspicious pre-organized demonstrations along with those suspicious people who started calling the different TV shows, weeping and asking the president to stay infuriates us more in Tahrir square.

A few hours after his speech, the regime sent their thugs to attack the peaceful protesters. One day, I was taking some medical supplies to Tahrir Square, as the Ministry of health doesn’t give a damn about the wounded people there, and on my way Mubarak’s police officers stole the medical supplies and told me it’s either to give them the bag or they will arrest me. The officer also called the protesters, traitors and that we shouldn't offer them any help.

Finally the magical moment came and the president responded to the demands of the street; he stepped down! Nothing is certain yet about our future, but I am just sure of one single thing, Egypt has changed. I still remember that poor lady I met in Tahrir who said something that summed the whole thing in few simple words. She told me, "A couple of days ago I was so scared of every single police soldier, and today I am here protesting against the head of the state".