CAIRO,
September 28 (IslamOnline.net) - Hundreds of Egyptians converged on
Cairo's largest downtown square on Sunday, September 28, for a
demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinians and against the U.S.
bias and the Arab governments' complacency.
"Intifada
should continue against the occupiers and the despots," shouted one
of the protestors surrounded by banners reading "Palestine and Iraq
are one question" and "We need more freedoms".
Noticeably,
there were dozens of Armored vehicles and more than a thousand security
forces standing by for any possible clashes with the jeering crowd.
"Nevertheless,
this gathering is clearly awakening of public feelings after the March
demo in which oppression was used to disperse the protestors,"
Member of Egyptian Parliament Hamdin Sabahi told IslamOnline.net.
Sabahi,
a member of the Nasserist Party, set out a number of demands in the name
of Egyptian people.
"Egyptians
will continue their support for the Intifada and turning it into an
armed struggle against Israeli occupation and opposition to
normalization with Israel," he said.
Sabahi
said that the support also extends to the Iraqi resistance to
U.S.-British occupation, which he said makes the two questions moving in
one line.
"We
are in a very critical juncture for the whole region, and in which Egypt
is targeted, that requires us to take actions," said writer Fathia
Al-Assal.
'Complacent
Governments'
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The
protestors slammed the U.S. bias towards Israel
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Coming
on the third anniversary of the Intifada against Israeli occupation in
2003, and coinciding with the convening of the ruling National
Democratic Party (NDP) Congress, the protest witnessed calls for an end
to the emergency law and opening the door to more democracy in the Arab
world's most populous country.
"It
is a message to the NDP members that we are against the Weakness of all
Arab governments vis-à-vis the occupation of Palestinian and Iraqi
territories," said an Fatin Mohamed Ali in the protest.
Member
of the Egyptian Press Syndicate Mohamed Abdel-Qudous agreed that
differences between the people and the government still as deep on Iraq
and Palestine.
"The
government does not want to cut relations with Israel due to the
American pressures, but people do," Abdel-Qudous said, lamenting
that the protest is mainly organized by leftist party.
"Despite
all attempts to liquidate the Palestinians under claims of terrorism
through organized assassinations and massacres, Palestinians will stand
steadfast with these stones," read a statement signed by the
"revolutionary leftists" and distributed at the protest.
The
protests saw anti-American sentiments, with the demonstrators blaming
U.S. for the current deteriorating situation in Iraq and the Israeli
threats to oust Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The
united States had blocked a U.N. vote to prevent Israel from ousting
Arafat, a move that seethed Arabs' anger over the American policy in the
region.
One
protestor raised a picture showing a deck of four cards for U.S.
President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the four was left with a question mark.
"Down
with America, Down with Bush, Down with Blair," shouted another,
wearing a Tshirt on which the sentence "Bush is wanted" was
painted.
"I
think the United States has to change its policy and come down more
stronger on Israel to comply with its commitments, including the
roadmap," said one American who gave his name as John.
Price
Hike
The
protestors blamed the American dominant policies for the hike of prices
that had triggered another demonstration in the Egyptian capital few
weeks earlier, but also slammed the government for allowing the spread
of corruption and favoritism.
"Down
with Mubarak, and No for grooming his son to leadership," shouted one
of the demonstrator, to be repeated by others around.
MP
Sabahi said the U.S. economic measures "led to the rocketing prices
that left many Egyptians as furious as resentful".
MP
Mohamed Farid Hassanein said the grinding economic crisis now in Egypt
could help stir up feelings of support to the Palestinians and Iraqis
and push people forward to ask for their own rights.
"But
we do not need the American aid, which helped to improve nothing as it
does not reach out the hands of people. But we do want an end to the new
colonialism," said one demonstrator through the microphone.
Demonstrations
have been forbidden in Egypt under emergency laws in force since 1981,
though the authorities tolerate some tightly-controlled rallies on
campus and more rarely in the streets of Cairo.
