Egypt- dawn of a new age!

Tonight, Egypt is on the verge of a new dawn due to todays announcement that Hosni Mubarak had stepped down. After weeks of demonstrations and three decades of dictatorship, Egypt finally rid itself of Mubarak tonight, sparking wild celebrations as Tahrir Square erupted with delight.

Announcing Mr Mubarak’s resignation, Vice-President Omar Suleiman said the president had handed power to the army.

History made before our eyes, a nation reborn, a region shaken to its core; fireworks skimming the night sky, joy unconfined, but admist the jubilation, the big question that dominates is where does Egypt go from here? In an address, President Obama stated that Egypt must now move to civilian and democratic rule, adding that “the people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard, Egypt will never be the same again. They have made it clear that nothing less than genuine democracy will carry the day.”

I sincerely hope that now the Egyptians will for once be able to decide their own destiny due to their brave actions, that the army will again listen to the peoples demands and that a transition to democracy will now occur.

Rejoice my brothers, today is the day,

Your bravery, your sacrifice  has paid off today,

Your persistance on the streets, in the square sent the pharaoh on his way,

Jubilation in the air tonight;  doubt, oppression the Nile washes away,

The iron fist lifted, the shackles of fear and corruption lifted today,

The path ahead uncertain, hazy in the desert day,

Yet have the courage to walk Brother Egypt,

You alone shall lead the way!

Mr President its time for you to go! Egypt crisis

Protests in Egypt have reached an intense phase, with violent clashes have erupted in the Egyptian capital between supporters of President Hosni Mubarak and demonstrators calling on him to step down immediately.Rival groups of protesters are fighting pitched battles in and around Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Several people have been wounded and shots have been heard.

The violence triggered condemnation from British Prime Minister David Cameron, who amidst rumours that the pro government violence was sanctioned by the government, said ”If it turns out that the regime in any way has sponsored or tolerated this violence, that is completely unacceptable,” he said after meeting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in London.

For the latest news here is the link to BBC news- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12345656 . In my opinion, the use of violence by those loyal to Mubarak is shameful and quite rightly should be condemned if it is officially sanctioned by the president. I fear that the longer Mubarak stays, the worse things are going to get. Mubarak, why wait till September to do the right thing- GO NOW! THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!

Mr President

Mr Presdient its time for you to go,

Shame on you for daudling, you drag out the pain,

You’re dragging them heels, you’re moving too slow.

The people have spoken,

On the streets, on the bridges, your chains of fear finally broken.

Shame on you for using your thugs,

Call the dogs off, they demand nothing less,

Time to go Hosni, time to clean up the mess!

Rise my brothers (in honour of those fighting tyranny in Egypt!)

 

Defiance- extraordinary images from todays protests

 

Today on the so called “Day of Rage” after Friday prayers, tens of thousands of people joined the ongoing protests in Cairo and other cities to demand the end of Mr Mubarak’s 30-year rule shouting “Down, down with Mubarak” and, “The people want the regime to fall”.

The BBC website gives a lowdown on the events http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12311007 , also recounting the horrific stories of riot police responding by firing rubber bullets and tear gas, and by using water cannon, and even BBC Arabic reporter Assad Sawey, in Cairo, said he was arrested and beaten by plainclothes policemen.

I dedicate this poem to those who are protesting against dictatorial tyranny and lets hope as an eventual outcome of this, Egyptians shall have a chance to have a say in their own governance! 

Rise my brothers

Rise my brothers,

Rise from your slumber with energy anew,

Rise as many, not just the few.

Rise up from your prayers brothers,

With zeal and faith you march,

For justice against the tyrants hand,

Let no violence, nor tear gas, nor the mighty Nile herself stop you.

Rise up my brothers against the tyrants hand,

Turn oppressed Egypt into the promised land!

Egypt- has the jasmine arrived?

Over the past few days, riots and protests have erupted in Egypt, eerily confirming predictions made during the Jasmine Revolution of Tunisia weeks ago. Security officials say about 700 people have been arrested throughout Egypt in a crackdown against anti-government protests, the arrests came as police clashed with protesters in two cities following Tuesday’s unprecedented protests. Police broke up demonstrations in central Cairo, beating protesters, and in Suez parts of a government building were reportedly set on fire- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12289475 .

So this begs the question, will what I call the ‘Jasmine Effect’ sweep the regime of Hosni Mubarak from his golden throne? We know that Mubarak’s son, who is considered his successor, has left the country for London, along with his family, and similar factors are in play here as Egypt has many of the same social and political problems that brought about the unrest in Tunisia – rising food prices, high unemployment and anger at official corruption. In his interesting blog at http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/01/26/the-lion-and-the-lion-tamer/ , Jody McIntyre seems to think so, likening the ”relationship between a dictator and the people of his country is like that of a lion tamer and a lion” adding that now, the Egyptians have “awoke from a lion’s slumber.”

With US Secretary of State Clinton saying: “We urge the Egyptian authorities not to prevent peaceful protests or block communications including on social media sites,” possibly signalling the end of US backing, who knows the future of Mubarak’s reign. Maybe the lion will devour the tamer, maybe the Jasmine will sweep the pharaoh from his throne!

Jasmine in the air tonight,

Wind blowing in from the west,

Fanning the flames of resistance,

Fanning the discontent, the defiance.

The tamer thinks he holds the power,

A whip to beat them, a yoke to oppress them,

Yet he plays with fire, the beast awakens,

Beware Pharaoh on your golden throne,

Like Ozymandias, you will be toppled,

A broken foot, a broken hand, buried in the sand,

Buried by the sands of freedom,

I smell jasmine in the air from a far off land!