Egypt from an insider’s perspective: Cut off from the world
This week, we continue to share excerpts from Sara’s blog http://asandstorminbastille.blogspot.com/, describing her experience amid the recent Egyptian Revolution.
Friday, January 28, 2011
[Internet and mobile service in Cairo has been cut off.]
3:00pm
Ahmad al-Fawal (one of my cousins) just called. He said he was on a mobile, and [not to] ask how. He’s demonstrating on the streets in Zagazig, where my dad grew up and much of our family still lives.
Al-Jazeera live is down again. “No or bad signal.” We’re waiting to receive a new frequency. I’m sure this cycle will continue all day. Another futile effort [by] the government to quell the demonstrations.
The streets are flooded from the water cannons. I doubt the water cannons are actually very effective. Unless you’re standing within maybe 20’ of the narrow stream, it wouldn’t even be painful. You might get drenched. So what? Waste of water, in my opinion.
Lamya is back from her exam. I asked what the streets [were] like. [She said] no one is on the streets in Nasser City.
Watching BBC Arabic… images of people fleeing Tahrir Square, holding cloths over their faces, weeping and rubbing their eyes from tear gas.
Men, women, and children have all taken to the streets. The vast majority are young people, probably 20 to 40 years old. The young, unemployed, and enraged…
Policemen are waving their batons, hitting everyone – protesters, each other, themselves…
5:00pm
Things are turning violent. Footage is now showing people stealing guns from police, throwing rocks at police trucks, overturning them and setting them on fire. The air above downtown Cairo is grey with black smoke and white tear gas. I saw one man get hit by an armored truck. Some have bloody wounds on their heads. Utter chaos.
The police are now retreating. The crowds are beating them back. Trucks are literally driving backwards. We don’t know if they were ordered to retreat or if they’re running on their own motive. We also don’t know if this means the army is on the way…
Demonstrations have now broken out in Luxor, Aswan, and even Istanbul.
The head of Al-Ahram newspaper, regarded by all Egyptians as a world-class [scumbag] (apparently, the newspaper was supposed to be reliable, but it’s actually been the biggest joke ever and no one trusts it), was at first criticizing the protesters and blaming the Muslim Brotherhood, and is now taking it back and saying “Actually, yeah, we need change.”
5:30pm
It was just officially announced…that a curfew will begin in 30 minutes. The army will take over the streets. Everyone is elated – people like the army much more than the police. Apparently the army is much more diplomatic and peaceful, while the police are just brutal and brainless.
Also just announced that Mubarak will be making an appearance soon. For the first time all week. This should be interesting. Though there’s nothing, nothing he can say that would appease the people. Egyptians are past the point of no return. This will continue until he is officially gone for good. The army’s arrival should be a good sign. Ibrahim said on Wednesday that Mubarak wouldn’t turn the city over to the army unless he had no other choice, as there’s no telling whether or not the army would simply overthrow Mubarak.
6:00pm
Protesters are welcoming the soldiers to the streets and celebrating the departure of the police. I watched a crowd rocking an armored truck and pushing it towards the Nile. One man climbed up the cockpit and was dancing on top of the truck. Then they set the truck on fire.
Army tanks are moving through the streets.
It is really shaking to watch all these events unfold in places I recognize very well, very close to my apartment in Dokki. Places I have been many times already. It’s hard to imagine. I wonder if I will find scorch marks or blood stains on the pavement when I return.
People don’t seem to be adhering to the curfew very much. There are still plenty in the streets, welcoming the soldiers, burning abandoned police trucks, and taking pictures with their cell phones and camcorders.
Kareem just called and confirmed that he is safe at Wafaa’s apartment, and that he was not in the streets today. Al hamdu liAllah. Thank God. Still no word from Amr. I pray that he’s ok. Rabbina ma’ahu. God be with him.
Just talked to Tanya again. Sara Abou Bakr returned safely from protesting all day. She survived the tear gas and the action. I’m so glad she’s ok. I was praying all day that I wouldn’t see her face amidst the crowds on TV.
Once again, and now more than ever, I firmly believe that it is no coincidence that I am here in Egypt at this time. I was meant to be here, to witness this with my own eyes, at this turning point in my life.
To be continued…
