(I stayed up to watch Mubarak’s live telecast at about 5 am Malaysian time, expecting to see a peaceful Egyptian Revolution on-the-make but Mubarak’s speech and demeanour filled me with great sadness with the premonition that a tragedy is to befall the great Egyptian people. Kit)
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 11, 2011
CAIRO, Feb 11 — Joy turned to despair and then anger in Cairo’s Tahrir Square yesterday when President Hosni Mubarak’s dashed the hopes of hundreds of thousands of Egyptian protesters demanding his resignation.
The huge crowed squeezed into the square danced, sang, chanted and waved a sea of red, white and black Egyptian flags as a sense of expectation mounted through the afternoon that Mubarak would meet their demands to give up power.
“Tonight he leaves, tonight he leaves,” sang some, their confidence growing steadily through the afternoon as news reports suggested Mubarak would step down.
Rumours were rife. Some said he would leave to Germany, others were confident he would go to the United Arab Emirates.
Protest organisers painted Egyptian flags on the faces of those arriving. Tahrir Square seemed to be hosting a carnival more than a protest.
As usual, Egyptians of all walks of life and political persuasions rubbed shoulders, from bearded Islamists to secular leftists, liberals and entire families on a day out.
One girl, sitting atop her father’s shoulders, had the word “leave” written on her forehead, echoing the demand that has drawn ever larger crowds to Tahrir Square this week. As Mubarak was about to speak, protesters said they were about to witness history. “Sit, sit, sit,” chanted some.
Thousands responded, sitting on the ground in a scene that reflected the spirit of cooperation in the protest camp.
On the projector screen ahead of them, the appearance of the 82-year-old president prompted calls for quiet. Again, the crowd cooperated, a blanket of silence falling over the square.
SHOES
Under a clear night sky and a half moon, soldiers standing atop tanks and armoured vehicles were paying as much attention as anyone. Some smoked cigarettes as the president began talking.
Within less than a minute, the crowds’ joy had given way to despair. One man bowed his head as it became clear Mubarak intended to stay on.
Some took off their shoes, waving the soles at the screen. Others wagged their fingers disapprovingly or gave Mubarak the thumbs-down. Some wept.
Half-way through the speech, the protesters’ patience appeared to wear out. They stood up, chanting: “Leave, leave, leave.”
“He doesn’t want to understand. The people don’t want him in power,” said Hesham al-Bulak, 23. “He is holding onto power in a way that is utterly bizarre.”
Some demonstrators left right away, while others stayed where they were, chanting slogans into the night.
Addressing protesters as they left, one organiser, his eyes welling up with tears, shouted: “Don’t despair, don’t despair”. “There is no despair,” replied one protester. “There is not despair and there is no surrender.” — Reuters
As with Iran’s Shah, the Philippines’ Marcos and countless other dictators, the Americans are the main power brokers. The moment American backing is withdrawn, Mubarak will have to run for his life. But for the moment he is safe, because the Americans are still looking for a viable successor who would continue to uphold the peace treaty with israel.
Why is the Burmese dictatorship being condemned while similar dictatorships in Thailand, Egypt, saudi arabi ect are allowed by the americans?
The battle for Egypt is about to begin.
People’s power (final episode) will soon flex its muscles in Egypt.
those umno goons who adopted the middle eastern style so call democracy are shaking with fear now. they know they can’t overcame peoples power with all sorts of suppressive laws.
they have all the characters copied from their middle east dictators. Corrupted, arrogant, being religiously fake, suppressive laws, brutal police… Etc. in the end it will be their own downfall and need to tuck tail and run. one bunny Ben Ali already scoot, joining him will be another bunny mobarak…. soon mamak will be joining them as well
I hope that in Egypt, sanity will return. Mob democracy is not the way to go. We must NEVER change government through mob behaviour, my freinds. Goons can be hired to demonstrate. The richer you are, the more goons you can get.
There are 8 million people in Cairo, and 78 million people in Egypt. I million ( so call ) in the Square does not represent a majority. It is fair to use it to ask the government to institute free and fair elections.
Can you imagine, if this mob brings down Mubarak, the next guy up there, without legitim acy, will face another mob to bring him down. Where is the end? If we all believe in democracy, we must change government through the ballot box, not be street demonstrations. Coming back to home, some parties here can hire alot of goons, legal or illegal, to go to the streets and overthrow the next government after GE 13. Bacareful what you ask for.
As I said earlier, let sanity return to Egypt. Free and fair elections, is the way to bring Mubarak down.
This 82 year old old corrupted dictator .and like most corrupted dictators..will stay on until more deaths in Egypt …making military or police to support him or advises him to retire.
He is worst than Marcos of Philippines.
But I do blame USA President Obama playing diplomatic games…that disappoint world citizens.
He could have lived up to his ‘CHANGE” promise…as world top truthful and brave policeman.
I guess…because it is a Muslim country…he plays dirty race and religion politics too.
He sounds no better than Bush.
At least Bush have the balls to say or do things…right or wrong. Obama is a disappointment to the world.
This 82 year old old corrupted dictator .and like most corrupted dictators..will stay on until more deaths in Egypt …making military or police to support him or advises him to retire.
He is worst than Marcos of Philippine
LKS,I too would like to stay up at anytime,the sooner the better,to watch Mahathir’s live telecast from Kerala appealing on his knee to grant Umno another mandate to govern our nation.Agreed Terms and Conditions will be for him to be able to swim across to Malaysia shore from Kerala without any single aid provided.
Mubarak has finally stepped down….after 30 years of dictatorship.
Military took over.
Time for UMNO B to stop their nonsensical race and religion politics and step aside.
They have caused enough hardships to Malaysians with their corrupted acts.
Another two great Muslim countries have thrown out dictators.
Nearest to us..is Indonesia.
Malaysia is coming soon.
The fall of Marcos, Suharto, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Mubarak are a classic case of people power triumphed over dictatorship.
Bodohwee has finally stepped down due to lullaby..ship
Najis has finally stepped down due to stray..ship
Mamakotek took over and tutoring them to koteking this country.Koteking and teteking this country till doom is what his lustful ideal.
Eventually M’sia too will hv a class war n people power soon, when we r bankrupt
UmnoB/BN plz continue with your corrupt n evil practices, n U will b checkmated by rakyat
Eventually M’sia too will hv a kelas war n rakyat power soon, when we r bankrupt
UmnoB/BN plz continue with your corrupt n evil practices, n U will b checkmated by rakyat
///Pro-democracy rally begins in Algeria, defying ban///
@@http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12438015
ABC NEWS indicated that experts believed the personal wealth of Mubarak and family
to be between US$40 billion to US$70 billion
founded on military contracts made during his time as an air force officer and also due to corruption and kickbacks.