Baheyya on myths about protest
Labels: Baheyya
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2005 9-15 NOVEMBER Cairo-Giza-Menoufiya-Beni Sweif-Minya-Assiut-Marsa Matruh-Wadi al Gedid 20-26 NOVEMBER Alexandria-Beheira-Ismailia-Port Said-Suez-Qalyubiya-Fayoum-Qena 3-7 DECEMBER Daqahliya-Sharqiya-Kafr al Sheikh-Damietta-Sohag-Aswan-Red sea-North Sinai-South Sinai
Labels: Baheyya
Labels: Democracy, dream TV, Dubya, Egyptian-American relations, Mona al Shazly, Peace, President George W Bush Sharm al Sheikh, Ricciardone
Remarkably, the regime seems to have abandoned the option of using political reforms to defuse socioeconomic tensions. Instead it has consistently tried to contain social strife through a combination of repressive measures that included arbitrary arrests, and minor economic conciliatory measures like expanding the welfare beneficiary pool and raising wages in the public sector. This stands in contrast to what happened in the 2003-2005 period. The political openings of those years followed the economic difficulties the country was experiencing as a result of the government's decision to float the national currency. Among the political reforms introduced in this period was eased control over opposition activities, constitutional amendments allowing multicandidate presidential elections, and toleration of political participation by the major Islamist opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood.
A similar wave of political reforms by the regime seems far less likely today, as a trouble-free presidential succession, anticipated for 2011, seems to surpass any other considerations. In fact, developments on the ground suggest that the regime has completely recoiled from the reform agenda and returned to old authoritarian habits.
Labels: April 6th, Democracy, Hamzawy, Herzallah, new vision, ¨Egypt´s Unrest in Perspective
Labels: as Sitt, culture, music, NPR, Oum Kalthoum, Qawqab ash Sharq, umm kalthoum

“This is the work of thugs, pure and simple.The government must show that those responsible for upholding the law are also subject to the law. Sadly, Maher’s treatment is part of a pattern of abuse and extralegal intimidation by state officials. Egypt needs to put an end to the lawlessness of its law-enforcement officers.”
Labels: Abd al Halim Qandil, Ahmed Maher Ibrahim, al Qahira al jadida, behind th sun, brutality, HRW, Imad al Kabir, Karim ash Shaér, Lazougly, Muhamed al Sharqawi, police brutality
Labels: Beirut, Lebanon, Majda al Roumi, Nizar Qabbani, sitt ad Dunya
Labels: bloggeractivism, Egyptian Blogosphere, Hellman-Hamlett award, Human Rights Watch, Wael Abbas