At least 100 residents from Qale’t el-Kabsh slum, in Sayyeda Zeinab–whose houses were burnt down last March, and who were left with no compensation from the government that unleashed its security forces on the victims using sticks and teargas–demonstrated today in Tahrir Square.
The protesters tried to gather in front of the People’s Assembly, but were chased by the security forces, so they descended on el-Qasr el-Eini St. A Socialist activist who witnessed the protest told me he (and a group of activists) bumped around 3pm into the crowd, largely composed of baladi women, near the American University of Cairo. He said the women were chanting repeatedly: “Ya Hokouma Weskha! Ya Hokouma Me3arassa!” (You dirty government! You government of pimps!) and “El-sahafa fein? El-ta3rees ahoh!” (Where’s the press? Look at the pimps!) while pointing at the dozens of State Security agents who appeared.
Scuffles continued till the protesters were cornered in front of the KFC joint facing Tahrir by the CSF troops and plainclothes SS officers. The police promised the residents the government would find a solution to their problems by Sunday. The protesters were then allowed to leave one by one out of the security cordon, only to reassemble in downtown again, and march over Bab el-Louq, repeating the same chants, joined by a number of Kefaya activists.
Karama Party activist and photographer Peter Alfred was briefly detained for 15 minutes by security agents inside the entrance of one of downtown’s buildings.
The residents are threatening to march over the parliament on Sunday if the government promises turn out to be bogus.
