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Breaking: Major Shouman tells Reuters “The armed forces’ solidarity movement with the people has begun”

Posted: February 11, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Breaking News, Egypt | Tags: , , |26 Comments

Scroll past image for the actual post.

This is a PHOTO UPDATE; 12:20 pm in Cairo:

Click image to go to Al Jazeera Live Blog on Egypt

 

An Egyptian anti-government demonstrator holds a sign that reads in Arabic and English 'Hitler commited suicide, you can do it' at Cairo's Tahrir square on February 10, 2011 on the 17th day of consecutive protests calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. (PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Last week it was “Departure Friday.” The protesters have dubbed today’s demonstrations “Farewell Friday.” At around 2 am my time (10 am in Cairo), an Al Jazeera English reporter observed that Liberation Square has become unusually full already for morning time. She said that it’s usually around or after prayers that the crowds got to these numbers before. Egyptian military leaders have met and are supposed to be issuing a statement (“Communique 2”), but one of the Al Jazeera commentators I was just listening to a short while ago characterized this development as a sham. Here is some of the latest from the AJ Live Blog:

9:51am An army officer joining protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square says 15 other middle-ranking officers have also gone over to the demonstrators.

“The armed forces’ solidarity movement with the people has begun,” Major Ahmed Ali Shouman tells Reuters.

I’m trying to get more insight on what exactly that means. I’m not hearing anything about it on the AJE feed.

Here’s the Reuters article.

UPDATES

(in reverse chronological order, so latest is first)

4 am/noon Cairo: Midday prayers are under way. AJE also saying protesters are calling this “the Final Friday.” We’ll see about that. I have to say that from what I can make out, this is panning out according to prediction of the AJE commentator who said that the military meeting and issuing a statement would be a sham (his exact words were that it sounded like a “fake” to him). Dakinikat’s morning thread will be up at the top of the next hour. If there’s anything major that happens between now and then, I’ll add an update here… otherwise check the comments!

3:47 CST/11:47 Cairo: Military statement (Communique 2) is being read. Emergency law will end, but only once the current circumstances end. Free and fair elections, but no real specifics. Peaceful transition of power, restoring “normal life” and going back to work, etc. “Honest men who say no to corruption will not be prosecuted.” This is no military coup. AJE anchor characterized it as a “placatory statement” that amounts to “sitting on the fence.” Another AJE journalist is calling it the first signs of the army positioning itself, but it’s a “timid” positioning.

3:40 CST/11:40 am Cairo: Friday prayers are in about 20 minutes. Shouman said the other officers will address the protesters after midday prayers, and we’re also waiting on that statement from the military, so in the meantime, I’m going to quote a bit from that Reuters article above:

“The armed forces’ solidarity movement with the people has begun,” Major Ahmed Ali Shouman told Reuters by telephone just after dawn prayers.

On Thursday evening Shouman told crowds in Tahrir that he had handed in his weapon and joined their protests demanding an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.

“Some 15 officers … have joined the people’s revolution,” he said, listing their ranks ranging from captain to lieutenant colonel. “Our goals and the people’s are one.”

More:

Another army major walked up to Shouman while he was talking with a Reuters reporter in Tahrir on Thursday and introduced himself, saying: “I have also joined the cause.”

“What drove these officers and I to join the people’s revolution is the pledge of allegiance we all took upon joining the armed forces — to protect the nation,” Shouman said when asked whether officers were risking court-martial.

Protesters carried Shouman on their shoulders, chanting “The people and army are united”, after he spoke to them on stage.

This is a semi-live blog/developing thread. For more, see the Al Jazeera English LIVE feed (or AJE Live on youtube):

Vodpod videos no longer available.

26 Comments on “Breaking: Major Shouman tells Reuters “The armed forces’ solidarity movement with the people has begun””

  1. Seriously's avatar Seriously says:
    February 11, 2011 at 3:11 am

    The photo on the AJE live feed right now is really beautiful: “broken bones, not broken spirit.”

  2. Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
    February 11, 2011 at 3:59 am

    So the military statement was read… I added the update to the thread, but I’ll add it here too….

    3:47 CST/11:47 Cairo: Military statement is being read. Emergency law will end, but only once the current circumstances end. Free and fair elections, but no real specifics. Peaceful transition of power, restoring “normal life” and going back to work, etc. “Honest men who say no to corruption will not be prosecuted.” This is no military coup. AJE anchor characterized it as a “placatory statement” that amounts to “sitting on the fence.” Another AJE journalist is calling it the first signs of the army positioning itself, but it’s a “timid” positioning.

  3. Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
    February 11, 2011 at 4:41 am

    Ahram Online:

    11:59am: Mixed responses to the military’s second statement. For many anti-Mubarak demonstrators there is disappointment over its lack of new substance and the army’s seemingly continued neutral stance.

  4. Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
    February 11, 2011 at 4:51 am

    on AJE just a moment ago, they pointed out that the army’s statement was read by TV person and not the army’s own reader.

    Analyst says this was to hide who was in the meeting, President should have been at meeting, we won’t find out till later if Suleiman was present. Also that we know there’s a rift beteen military and Mubarak. Doesn’t look like they’re shifting their neutral stance, though.

  5. Rikke's avatar Sima says:
    February 11, 2011 at 4:52 am

    That picture at 12:20 of Tahrir square is amazing. Look at all those people! I get claustrophobia just looking, but I’m full of admiration.

    I don’t want people hurt, but you know, it’s not our right to decide if Egyptians want to die for their cause or not. I support them in their choice and hope for the very best. Peaceful would be nice, but the tree of liberty is watered by the blood of patriots. That might be what it comes to.

    The ‘outing’ of the leaders of the movement was interesting. Not as headless a movement as it seemed at first. The leaders were just very cautious and private, with good reason!

    I watched a video from 7 Feb from AlJazeera, it was their program ‘Empire’, the episode was called Pax Americana. It was eye opening. My partner watched it first and was very enlightened by it. Here’s a link if you haven’t seen it:

    • Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
      February 11, 2011 at 5:29 am

      I added the 12:20 pic! Thx for the youtube.

      • Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:02 am

        Alshaheeed Khaled Said
        If the army can guarntee & implement that: http://on.fb.me/i9LE4vthen this is what most of us want #Jan25 #Egypt
        END TWEET & Start of rough Google Translation:

        Arabic to English translation
        We are all by Khalid Saeed on Friday, February 11, 2011 at 2:46 am

        Message from a group of youth January 25 represent only themselves and do not speak for everyone:

        The Egyptian army has vowed to protect the achievements of the popular revolution sparked by young people, and the army confirmed on the guarantee of the peaceful transition of power, and protect the right of the protesters and peaceful demonstrators to express their opinions without prejudice to them, and this confirms a firm desire to establish the principle of a civil state.

        Given the sensitivity of the historical period through which the nation, and because of our confidence in the impartiality of our army of Egypt and its national role, we would demand as a national institution with a great appreciation and respect in the hearts of the Egyptians to be the guarantor of popular demands with clarity of vision and the details of clear and specific timetables because of lack of confidence between the people and the current system :

        [1] to ensure that a serious step down Honorary President Mubarak and he will not return to power under any circumstances

        [2] end the state of emergency as soon as possible and re-elections in all constituencies, which was pre-emptive right provisions of the invalidity of elections

        [3] enabled the Egyptian judiciary to supervise the full electoral process as a whole.

        [4] to control the election by local civil society organizations and international levels.

        [5] to enable Egyptians abroad to exercise their right to vote in embassies and consulates.

        [6] to ensure the right to stand in the presidential election without arbitrary restrictions in line with Egypt’s obligations under the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights, and to limit the right to run for the presidency to two terms.

        [7] elections by national number.

        [8] the freedom to form political parties immediately, and be notified as soon as possible

        [9] the launch of media freedom and open expression of opinion in all its forms, and to ensure the right to establish newspapers, and the launch of the satellite channels

        [10] the release of all detainees, and to prosecute and try all the murderers responsible for the crimes in the right of Egypt’s youth, and to prosecute and shut down the symbols of corruption, confiscation of money stolen from the people’s livelihood and re-institution-building
        And creating the country to conduct parliamentary and presidential elections fair. In order to attain some of those procedures and safeguards to amend articles 76 and 77 and 88 and all other materials which will ensure a peaceful transition of power
        Security on the basis of transparent and prevent the encroachment of torture and intimidation of citizens

        [11] the formation of a government of technocrats assume management of the country during the transitional period until September and creating the country to conduct parliamentary and presidential elections fair. In order to attain some of those procedures and safeguards to amend articles 76 and 77 and 88 and all other materials which will ensure a peaceful transition of power

        We will provide a full detailed proposal includes a proposed timetable and details of legal and legislative Searches

        Our confidence in our army, we were pleased last statement of the armed forces, which pledged to complete the democratic transition, and we accept all that is

        We emphasize the points of the previous eleven

        Long live Egypt, the Egyptians and the Egyptians

        A group of young revolution January 25

        Wael Ghoneim

        Mustafa al-Najjar

        Amr Salama

        Mohammed Diab

        Abdel-Moneim told

        Abdul-Rahman Youssef

        The Youth Egyptian Revolution/Freedom/Pro-Democracy Movement Statement.

      • Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:04 am

        Yup, just starting to watch the vid now. Thanks.

      • minkoffminx's avatar Minkoff Minx says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:22 am

        That picture is absolutely something to see.

  6. Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
    February 11, 2011 at 6:06 am

    Apparently there’s going to be another statement. This will be the third statement. Seems like the army is just trying to stave off the energy of the revolt by stringing them along. I don’t think it’s working.

    • Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
      February 11, 2011 at 6:14 am

      I noticed CNN finally has Mona and not Donna Brazile as the Middle East Expert, what a relief that is. The first observation was that they were discussing the statement by the Youth Freedom / Pro-Democracy Protesters and their demands, but they didn’t cover them all.

      Please post the new statement if you see them. I only found that one, in via twitter from someone I follow.

      • Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:25 am

        There’s no third statement yet. There was the one this morning, and one yesterday. Some guy on Al Jazeera was saying that there’s going to be a third statement and we should wait and maybe that will meet the protester’s demands, or something to that effect. I think this is just an elaborate wear them down strategy.

  7. minkoffminx's avatar Minkoff Minx says:
    February 11, 2011 at 6:23 am

    Egyptian army backs Hosni Mubarak and calls for protesters to go home | World news | guardian.co.uk

    The Egyptian military has thrown its weight behind Hosni Mubarak’s decision not to resign as president and to transfer most of his powers to his vice-president.

    In a statement read out on Friday morning, the military announced it would lift a 30-year-old state of emergency “as soon as current circumstances end”, but gave no specific timeframe.

    The statement – called “Communique No 2” – also said the military would guarantee changes to the constitution as well as a free and fair election, and it called for normal business activity to resume.

    • minkoffminx's avatar Minkoff Minx says:
      February 11, 2011 at 6:24 am

      I think the proverbial “shit” has just hit the fan…

      • Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:28 am

        This was a big nothing… I watched it and blogged it all above. The people aren’t happy but they really don’t seem to be reacting much to any of that statement drama. They’re still saying people and army are one. They’re not taking the bait–they don’t want to go against the army at this point.

      • Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:37 am

        Minx, I just got your e-mail–no, they’re not different. The communique No 2 is the same statement as the one I blogged about this morning in the thread up top. There was another statement yesterday, that’s why they’re calling this communique 2.

      • Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:43 am

        CNN, just reported that the Army is in line with Mubarak, and expect the protesters to go home. The Danish PM is the first to take a moral stand and asked that Hosni Mubarak step down, as it is feared that there will be violence towards the protesters.

      • minkoffminx's avatar Minkoff Minx says:
        February 11, 2011 at 6:54 am

        Thanks for that info Wonk. Things move so fast it is truly hard to keep up.

      • Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
        February 11, 2011 at 7:33 am

        I added “Communique 2” to the post to help others out in case they have the same confusion. Sorry–when I was blogging they weren’t calling it Communique. Just “important” statement. Which it wasn’t!

  8. Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
    February 11, 2011 at 6:33 am

    @waelabbas رئيس وزراء الدنمارك يطلب من مبارك التنحي Denmark’s prime minister asked Mubarak to step down #Egypt #Tahrir #jan25

    OK, first one, then another before they harm the Youth Movement of Freedom/Pro-Democracy Protesters.

    • Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
      February 11, 2011 at 6:41 am

      monasosh monasosh
      by waelabbas
      #Jan25 Reminder all Egypt protesting RT @Zeinobia: Protests in Cairo , Alexandria,Mansoura,Damnhur, Tanta, Mahalla, Asuit, Sohag, Bani sawfi

    • Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
      February 11, 2011 at 9:22 am

      monasosh
      by streamsWL
      Infront of TV building, BIG CROWD RT @justimage: Army general on other side crying and shaking hands with protesters. #jan25

  9. Woman Voter's avatar Woman Voter says:
    February 11, 2011 at 7:05 am

    arabist arabist
    by taylormarsh
    America is really a push-over. Govts. in TelAviv and Cairo take its money and then tell it to fuck off. Americans deserve better FP leaders.

    Hemmm…

  10. Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)'s avatar Wonk the Vote says:
    February 11, 2011 at 7:16 am

    Troubling…

    HumanConfusion RT @marwame: AJTalk corr. reporting SNIPERS are in position on roof pres.palace in #Alexandria. Thousands of protesters there #Jan25 #Egypt

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