Tag: mahalla

Downtown Cairo demonstrators under police siege; new round of arrests

Posted on By 3arabawy

Sandmonkey called me from in front of the Cairo Press Syndicate, where around 100 demonstrators are under siege by the police, who crackded down earlier on the Talaat Harb Sq solidarity demo, banning There are unconfirmed reports journalist Jano Charbel has been detained by the police, together with three others. I tried calling Jano, but his phone kept ringing and no one was answeringPolice troops also blocked the entrance of the building that houses Al-Ghad Party HQ in Talaat Harb banning activists from leaving the building to demonstrate.

UPDATE: It’s confirmed, Jano Charbel has been arrested, according to a message I received from the Sandmonkey. He says there are 200 people in front of the syndicate now demonstrating in solidarity with the Mahalla strikers, and calling for the release of the detainees.

UPDATE: Jano has been released. I’ve just spoken with him now. He says he and three other citizens were detained for over an hour near Groppi Cafe in Talaat Harb, and that earlier reports about them being taken to el-Tagammu el-Khames are not true. Jano added that police searched their bags and digital cameras, and when they found pix of the Mahalla strike on his digital camera memory card, they accused him of being a “modawwen” (“blogger”)! That one cracked me up. “Blogging” is a crime these days for Mubarak’s pigs.

Mahalla updates: Mubarak’s envoy to negotiate with the strikers

Posted on By 3arabawy

According to an activist stationed in the factory, an envoy from President Mubarak, accompanied by four Members of Parliament are on their way to the factory to negotiate with the strikers.

UPDATE: No envoys from Mubarak. The workers were told instead that a delegation from Mubarak’s National Democratic Party MPs and from the General Union would come to negotiate.

According to two labor activists inside the company I spoke with, if a settlement is not reached tonight, then Friday will be a HOT day of mass demonstrations, as the mood of defiance is only on the rise.

Also keep your eyes on Kafr el-Dawar, my sources tell me it’s likely there’ll be a solidarity strike in less than a week.

Mahalla updates

Posted on By 3arabawy

The Workers’ Coordination Committee issued statement no. 6, Wednesday night, reporting on the fourth day of the Ghazl el-Mahalla strike.

UPDATE: Here’s an English translation (Thanks Aida)

Coordinating Committee for Trade Union and Workers Rights and Liberties
Statement No. 6
Workers Anger escalates in Mahalla; trade union chair changed; wide international solidarity with Mahalla workers, security forces mobilized around factory and surrounding streets; Gamila Ismail, Amir Salem and Bothaina Kamel prevented from entering the company and attempts at their arrest; for the first time closure of factory gates and concern regarding possible police attack tonight.
While the prosecution had ordered the release of the 8 trade union activists since yesterday at 2 p.m., yet they were not released until 12 midnight and after they were summoned t the state security intelligence, which asked them to “calm” the workers and try to convince them to accept the 50 days bonus in exchange for the resignation of El Gebali from the company management. Next Saturday, the prosecution will continue to listen to the officers who carried out the investigations.
On the fourth day of the strike, the workers’ anger continues to escalate. They continue to chant their slogans and beat their drums, refusing to compromise their demands under any pretext, insisting on the 150 days bonus, the incentives and the execution of their plan. Local and Arab media channels have been continuously visiting the company to monitor the strike and take the testimonies of the strikers. International solidarity messages have started reaching the workers, among which is a message from the General Federation for Public Sector Workers of South Africa representing 170 thousand workers. The Brazilian caricaturist Carlos Latuff also sent the Mahalla striking workers a caricature displaying “the strike challenging neo-imperialism represented by Mubarak”. Those acts of solidarity and the release of the trade union leaders have positively inspired the workers. Also news reached the factory of a change in the bureau of the trade union committee and change of its chair.
On the other hand security forces have started to move from the peripheries of the city to the city center and the streets surrounding the company. Also, Bothaina Kamel, Gamila Ismail and human rights activist and lawyer Amir Salem and a delegation from El Ghad party have been prevented from entering the company and taken to Mahalla police station where Gamila, wife of Ayman Nour, was accused of breaking through a police check point, although she was not driving the car. Furthermore, for the first time, the gates to the company have been closed in an attempt to control entry of supporters . The gate is at present surrounded by anti riot police and there is concern regarding a possible police raid of the company tonight.