Egyptian Revolution Tweets February 3 2010 Crackdown Part 2

[Catherina]

Thread 1 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x338175

Compare these two articles and understand the vicious organized crackdown on journalists and activists today.

CAIRO — Whipped up by state television and spoiling for a fight, thousands of supporters of President Hosni Mubarak flooded into the center of Egypt’s capital Wednesday, sparking violent clashes that shifted the momentum in a political confrontation that has gripped the region and the world.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020203035.html?wprss=rss_print

CAIRO — President Hosni Mubarak struck back at his opponents on Wednesday, unleashing waves of his supporters armed with clubs, rocks, knives and firebombs in a concentrated assault on thousands of antigovernment protesters in Tahrir Sqaure calling for an end to his authoritarian rule … The crackdown was in defiance of calls by the United States and Europe to avoid violence … The Mubarak supporters emerged from buses. They carried the same flags and the same printed signs, and they all escalated their actions, from shouting to violence, at exactly the same moment: 2:15 p.m. The protesters showed journalists police and ruling party identification cards which they said had been taken from Mubarak supporters who had been caught infiltrating Tahrir Square, also known as Liberation Square, and detained in a holding pen.

www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/world/middleeast/03egypt.html

Please rec if you like this. These are getting immediately unrec'd

[WilliamPitt]

1. How are you?

:hug:

[gateley]

4. I'm surprised her eyes are open and that she's coherent! Superhuman - kinda scary!

:7

[Catherina]

6. Coherent? We'll see.

:hi: We can't let those people down. It makes it hard to sleep knowing people are being brutally gunned down with weapons we provided.

[Catherina]

5. Fine.

Thanks for asking. Slept a luxury 5 hours and ready to tackle another day. I'm very concerned about the organized crackdown on journalists. I'm really pissed off that we knew it was coming and ordered ours on an airlift before the crack of dawn.


Massive crimes empires doesn't want on record about to start now. The journalists, on the ground, out there have been real heroes.

Thanks for the hug. :hug:

[Dappleganger]

8. Glad you got some rest.

The crackdown on journalists is worrisome to me as well--if Mubarak is so pro-democracy he wouldn't be afraid of the people's right to know!

[demmiblue]

2. Rec at +5!

[Catherina]

7. Haven't even started yet. You guys are great

:hi:

[gateley]

3. K&R (2+ as I post!) and thank you again.

What's your sense of what's happening today? I've just arrived and know the news journalists and bloggers/tweeters have been targeted, but other than that it seems to me it's essentially unchanged in any major way?

I sent Rachel that link and your post - hope she uses him as another source.

[Catherina]

9. I'm still catching up. Today begins the paint job begins in earnest

an internationally coordinated paintjob.

[gateley]

10. Yeah the V.Piece of filth just was on "state tv" spouting the most ridiculous BS --

Almost laughable. I wonder who it they think will believe this crap?

[EFerrari]

13. + Complications. Robert Fisk made a good point last night

although, I don't remember where any more, lol. He said, the army may be against Mubarack but that doesn't mean they are willing to back a government led by the groups protesting at Tahrir right now.

ETA: Fisk was on the phone with Amy this morning, that's where I heard him. :crazy:

[Ghost Dog]

30. You might like to check out the info presented in this thread:

both analysis and background.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x586188

and especially the essay by Paul Amar at http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/516/why-mubarak-is-out

[EFerrari]

38. You know, Springborg makes a perfectly logical case

but the outcome he envisions is not a lock by any means. It is true that the real power of the state is residing in the Army. But it is possible that the army will accept a civilian face for the next regime, like El Baradei.

The people aren't going back, they're on their feet. Even if they suffer setbacks, Egypt has changed. They may go through a series of more or less repressive governments, but soon their chant will be "no more old generals" as it was in El Salvador about 50 years ago.

[defendandprotect]

58. Egyptians for democracy have opened and exposed the lies of US government and Israel...

for the world to see --

Not only the true face of Mubarak, but the true face of America/Obama and this

administration which Robert Fisk has just described on DemocracyNow! as "gutless"

and "cowardly."

IMO, it's neither -- it's something much more frightening.

The embrace of violence to ensure greed and wealth -- and MIC to protect it.

[Catherina]

11. Still no news about Leila Fadel of WashPost. was held with other journos at Egypt interior min

HannahAllam Still no news about my friend and colleague Leila Fadel of WashPost. She, other journalists were arrested, held at Egypt interior min #Jan25
1 minute ago via web


Ssirgany RT @hadeelalsh: One my good friends @LeilaFadel with the #wapo was arrested by interior ministry http://bitURL.net/a4xg
6 minutes ago via TweetDeck



But Suleyman know nothing.

[EFerrari]

15. Yesterday, there was a cryptic message from someone on the ground

who say security forces pointing lasers at a journalist's hotel room door. The message was retweeted by Schahill and someone else -- it was, get out of your hotel room NOW. Looking back, it came about 12 hours early but was right on. :(

[Catherina]

12. "Leave!" Echoing around the square now in response to Omar Suleiman's words

marwame RT @mosaaberizing: "Leave!" - إرحل. Echoing around the square now in response to Omar Suleiman's words. #Tahrir #jan25
6 minutes ago via HootSuite

[Catherina]

14. Video from the front line of defense against murderous pro-regime thugs

occupiedcairo RT @cairocitylimits: Video from the front line of defense against murderous pro-regime thugs: http://youtu.be/Eh0kexSL4bY #jan25

[Catherina]

16. Brilliant. On AJ live interview visuals

marwame RT @sate3: Brilliant. On AJ live interview of Omar Suleiman on right half of screen & video of police car crushing protesters on left #Jan25
7 minutes ago via HootSuite

[Catherina]

17. ppl enraged after suleiman's speech

ElFoulio From friend in #tahrir: ppl enraged after suleiman's speech
7 minutes ago via TweetDeck

[Catherina]

18. plea for time not legit, here's why

SherineT In 2007 the govt changed 13 articles of the constitution in 17 days says egyptian analyst showing suleiman plea for time not legit he says
10 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

[Catherina]

19. Laugh with the revolution "A call for all prisoners to go back to prison."

marwame Laugh with the revolution RT @etharkamal: Egyptian VP: "A call for all prisoners to go back to prison." #Jan25 #egypt
10 minutes ago via HootSuite

[Catherina]

20. Applause rising outside Egyptian museum as most of pro-Mubarak crowd have fled

jrug Applause rising outside Egyptian museum as most of pro-Mubarak crowd have fled - for now (heavily outnumbered)
1 minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

[Catherina]

21. Kareem Banouna was just killed by sniper fire. Shot in the head

NadiaE A good friend of mine just posted on FB that his friend Kareem Banouna was just killed by sniper fire. Shot in the head. #egypt #jan25
5 minutes ago via web


@still_Jeff Grew up with him! His sister was my best friend.
8 minutes ago via web in reply to still_Jeff
I really can't believe we still let people fool us with conspiracy theories of foreign agents and the likes. Grow up, Egyptians! #egypt
35 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

22. an MP hired the horses&camels which charged into Tahrir. No camels at the pyramids today

bb_aisha My flatmate & tourist friends went horse-riding at Pyramids today.Were told by owner an MP hired the horses&camels which charged into Tahrir
about 1 hour ago via web
Retweeted by NadiaE and 48 others



This was noticed by journalists. The saddles on the horses and camels are the ones used around the Pyramids for tourists. That was a big hint on who planned that chaos.

The Egyptian govt was targetting journalists from day one. Picture of Western Journalist being trampled by a camel.



Saddles and other trappings

[Dappleganger]

54. Did you notice the horses in some of the footage?

They were terribly thin so I wonder where they came from.

[Catherina]

23. Why #Mubarak should be ousted & arrested Facebook for those who do FB

Raafatology Why #Mubarak should be ousted & arrested http://www.facebook.com/pages/Why-Mubarak-should-be-ousted-arrested/198809493468987 #Egypt
4 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

24. andersoncooper Situation on ground very tense Vehicle I was in attacked. My window smashed. All ok

andersoncooper Situation on ground in #egypt very tense. Vehicle I was in attacked. My window smashed. All ok.
4 minutes ago via ÜberTwitter

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. There's a protest in Birmingham, UK tonight at 6pm in Victoria Square. #jan25

[Dappleganger]

26. Fox News Team severely beaten, hospitalized in Cairo

http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/fox-news-team-severely-beaten-hospitalized-in-cairo/


FOX News Channel's foreign correspondent Greg Palkot and producer Olaf Wiig have suffered severe injuries in Cairo while covering the unrest in the Egypt capital. Palkot was badly beaten and Wiig has a possible broken jaw. Both have been hospitalized. In 2007, the same producer, Olaf Wiig, was taken hostage in the Gaza strip with correspondent Steve Centanni. They were released 2 weeks later.

This marks the most severe attack on journalists in Egypt where violence has been escalating. Yesterday, CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC News' Christiane Amanpour were confronted by angry mobs but left largely unscathed.
**********************

And from one of the commenters which is particularly disturbing:

"Horrible. I also heard about a university professor who did an interview with Democracy Now there in Cairo. As soon as the interview ended, she was nearly beaten to death, and her necklace and belongings stolen…by pro Mubarak thugs."

***********************

I'm quite certain that I saw that interview with this professor and she was astoundingly articulate about the details of the revolution, especially about Mubarak's history of hiring goons to stuff ballots and cause violence during elections. Can't help but wonder if she is the same one who was attacked--if so, this is extremely vile and targeted. I am just disgusted beyond belief.

[snot]

46. I hope Fox acknowledges which side attacked them.

[Dappleganger]

49. The Muslim Brotherhood, of course!

That was sarcasm, btw. ;)

[Oilwellian]

27. Video posted on the Tweet stream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdpQD_JD2g0

Someone has translated it in the YouTube comments. Seems to be an ongoing translation. Not sure if they're through yet. Here's what they've written so far:

Here is the translation for the international community to see.. please spread so the international community would know..:

What is your name?

Ahmed Fayez Sayed Mohammed

Tell us what happened, we are recording

There were demonstrations, I found people going from Sayed Zeinab (area in Cairo) to Tahrir square. The night before that it was said that a meeting will be held at 10 am. So, doctor, I went along with them (obviously he is speaking to a doctor).


He is a pro-mubarak protester/thug. He was caught by the pro-democracy protesters. He is saying that he was paid 50 LE (approx 10 $) to attack the pro-democracy protesters. He mentioned that the people who hired him mentioned that they are acting on behalf of Fathy Sorour: the house speaker and the prominent ndp (mubarak party) member.

The man was making his way to Tahrir till he was stopped and paid 50 Egyptian pounds to join them... there were 15 he says. But hundreds were joining from many deprived poor areas of Egypt.. they gave them molotov bombs... they were told to meet at 10 in Khairat street in Sayeda Zeinab... they were handing out money..

TRANSLATION CONT: Then your men took me, but I was not hitting anyone. I was walkign without a weapon. I swear to god I did not have a weapon Those goind to Tahrir were going for Husni Mubarak, agains that guy who wants to oppose his in elections.. (he doesn't know his name) Q: Did they give you money? They gave me 50 pounds (about 9 USD) Q: When, before or after? In the morning Q: Who is the person that gave you the money? People from Sayeda Zeinab (poor neighbourhood in Cairo)

TRANSLATION CONT: Q: They told you to hit people I had no weapon Q: Did any of them give you a weapon No Q:What is the name of the person who gave you the money? He is a stranger I don't know his name Q: How does he look like? He is tall Q: Where is he from? From Sayeda Zeinab area Q: how did you know he is from the national democratic ruling party? They were saying he is from the party

TRANSLATION CONT: Q: What are the names of those in the NDP Mohammed Saber and Kofta ElFawwal Q: Those are the ones who gave you the money? No.. these were marching from the doctor (Fathy Sorour, head of parliament) Q: The people who gave you the money, how do you know them? I don't know them, they just collect people to go to Tahrir Squar Q: How old are you? 22 years Q: What is your job? Electrian Q: How much did the others take? I didn't see.. I only took 50 pounds

[Catherina]

28. Ben CNN Wave of attacks against journalists motivated by State media,

bencnn Wave of attacks against journalists motivated by State media, gov't. claims of a "foreign hand" in #Jan25 uprising. #Egypt #Tahrir
half a minute ago via web

[Catherina]

29. Deputy Director of State TV, resigned in disgust and protest and headed to Tahrir

bbclysedoucet Egypt State TV Anchor Shahira Amin said she took ''spur of moment " decision to resign. Went to Tahrir Square instead #Jan25 #Egypt
3 minutes ago via web


When the deputy director of your state tv channel is now at Tahrir Sq, you have a big problem on your hands.

[Catherina]

34. "the tight space was suffocating" Told to cover only pro Mubarak protests

bbclysedoucet Egypt State TV anchor Shahira Amin on resigning:"the tight space was suffocating" Told to cover only pro Mubarak protests #Jan25 #Egypt
7 minutes ago via web

[snagglepuss]

35. What a remarkable woman. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

37. THREE CHEERS FOR HER!!!

[demmiblue]

50. Wow, just wow! n/t

[Catherina]

31. More mubarak gang have appeared on bridge. Maybe 300 now

RiverDryFilm More mubarak gang have appeared on bridge. Maybe 300 now #jan25 #egypt
6 minutes ago via txt

[Catherina]

32. Journalists at the Hilton ok. lvng first thing in the AM, told not to film anything

ShereefAbbas Journalists in the Hilton are fine & spending the night. Planning to leave 1st thing in the morning & were told not to film anything. #Jan25
6 minutes ago via TweetDeck

[Catherina]

33. journos colleagues being stopped around every corner of Cairo

Linaattalah When not on the square to try to file, we get busy with journos colleagues being stopped around every corner of Cairo. #jan25
7 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

36. quick dispatch on targeting of journalists (link)

ashrafkhalil #Jan25 quick dispatch on targeting of journalists in #egypt http://tinyurl.com/4t395mx
8 minutes ago via web

FEBRUARY 3, 2011
BY EMILY BUTSELAAR
Egypt: A co-ordinated campaign against reporters

If Wednesday was the day that the protesters occupying Cairo’s Tahrir Square were besieged by armed pro-government thugs, then Thursday was the journalists’ turn for a little terrifying mob violence.

All through the day, came steadily increasing reports of journalists — both foreigners and native Egyptians — being harassed, detained and even assaulted by pro-Mubarak crowds.

It’s 6pm Cairo time as I write this, and I’ve personally heard of at least a dozen separate incidents. The Washington Post has confirmed on its website that their Cairo Bureau Chief Leila Fadel was “among two dozen journalists arrested this morning by the Egyptian Interior Ministry. We understand that they are safe but in custody.”

At least three reporters from Al Jazeera’s English channel were apparently arrested by the Army, according to staffers there. A Greek journalist was stabbed in the leg, and Mohammed Dahshan, a reporter with the English Edition of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper, was beaten by Mubarak supporters — apparently for the crime of carrying a laptop in his bag.

Andrew Lee Butters, a reporter working with Time Magazine was detained and roughed by civilians, who he said were taking orders from uniformed police officers on the scene. The prominent local blogger Sandmonkey was arrested while attempting to bring in medical supplies to help the wounded in Tahrir. He later tweeted

: I am ok. I got out. I was ambushed & beaten by the police, my phone confiscated, my car ripped apart & supplies taken

The sheer scope of the number of incidents in one day should immediately discredit any government argument that these were isolated or spontaneous events. This could only have been a coordinated campaign. And it’s a surreal irony that many of these attacks were taking place at the same time that new prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq was apologising for the previous day’s violence and promising an investigation.


http://uncut.indexoncensorship.org/2011/02/journalists-bloggers-under-siege/

Mods, Emily, the author, said I can reprint this. She wants this distributed far and wide.

[Catherina]

39. @TravellerW suspected missing. he asked us to check on him in an hour. It's been 2

Sarahngb Blogger @TravellerW is suspected to be missing. We spoke to him after his last tweet & he asked us to check on him in an hour. It's been 2
9 minutes ago via YoruFukurou

[Catherina]

40. IvanCNN Cairo battle...positively medieval. Combatants advancing behind shields, some using slings

IvanCNN This Cairo battle...positively medieval. Combatants advancing behind shields, some using slings to hurl stones and burning petrol bombs.
10 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

41. LaraABCNews watching Tahrir with dread, was crackdown on cameras and journalists was to keep us from

LaraABCNews we're watching Tahrir Square with dread, wondering if the crackdown on cameras and journalists was to keep us from seeing something bloody
10 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

42. I'm locked down in my hotel

ishta_dreams @Gsquare86 I'm locked down in my hotel so I wont be able to see you tonight but YULA tomorrow :)
31 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

43. Only about 50 thugs left on 6th Oct bridge. Checkpoints and barricades erected.

RiverDryFilm Things calm on the front line. Only about 50 thugs left on 6th Oct bridge. Checkpoints and barricades erected. #jan25 #Egypt
32 minutes ago via txt

[Catherina]

44. Tahrir Square looks like part of the Gaza strip

pakinamamer Tahrir Square looks like part of the Gaza strip #Jan25 #StrangeTimes #Egypt
34 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

[Catherina]

45. lots of fake twitter accounts (more) I'm only going to repost from ppl I know

waelabbas lots of fake twitter accounts each has only 5 followers and 5 tweets, they all say: حرام عليكم كفاية ولعتم في البلد
35 minutes ago via web


Twitter propaganda about to start hot and heavy soon.

[Catherina]

47. Jan25voices is at Tahrir Sq with Journalist Jano Charbel. Largely calm.

Jan25voices LPC: Tahrir with Journalist Jano Charbel. Largely calm. Audio shortly. #Egypt #Jan25
5 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

48. Big sound system on stage. "this is the greatest revolution in history" they cheer

sharifkouddous Big sound system on stage. Hundreds sitting listing in front. "this is the greatest revolution in history" they cheer
8 minutes ago via txt

[Catherina]

51. Journo resistance: Call to state media journos: resign, walk out, or you're culpable for murder

ElFoulio Call to those who work for state media: resign, walk out, anymore and you're culpable for murder #egypt #tahrir #jan25
11 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

[Catherina]

52. WSJ Egyptian bloggers, journos, protesters: Working on story for wsj

TamerELG Egyptian bloggers, journos, protesters: please contact me abt friends or fam who've gone missing. Working on story for wsj. Please RT
half a minute ago via web

[Catherina]

53. Two dozen journalist unaccounted for, arrested, attacked in #egypt on thursday

marwame RT @AymanM: Two dozen journalist unaccounted for, arrested, attacked in #egypt on thursday #jan25 #tahrir
1 minute ago via HootSuite

[PhillySane]

55. Whose unrecing?

Is the Egyptian government logged into DU?

[Catherina]

56. It's the ARMY confiscating cameras

Zeinobia Why does the army confiscate cameras from everybody !!?
8 minutes ago via TweetDeck


I can't shout this enough that the Army is involved

[Catherina]

57. perfect plot to unblock internet just in time for the growing popular protests

AbouBakr_ perfect plot to unblock internet just in time for the growing popular protests' opposing views influenced by government. interesting? #jan25
2 minutes ago via web

[Catherina]

59. Thread 2 here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x339917