Egypt: A Second Wave of Reform Protests

Earlier today, Egyptians rallied by the tens of thousands in Tahrir Square, Alexandria, and Suez in protest of the current regime implemented after the fall of Hosni Mubarek February 11. Al-Jazeera reports that protesters are unhappy with the progress officials have made since the Egyptian Revolution. Al-Jazeera correspondent Sherine Tadros notes that the “main frustration…is over the release of the officers accused of killing protesters during the revolution”, referring to the release of multiple policemen accused of killing at least 17 on bail in Suez.

Additionally, protesters have voiced that they are ill-at-ease with the current field marshal, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, a two decade veteran of Mubarek’s previous regime. As Mohamed Fahmy, leader of the Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution states, “We oppose the military council and we demand Field Marshal Tantawi to step down immediately. The army is doing Mubarak’s bidding and the revolution is faltering.”

Additionally, some protesters are reported to have issue with the current plans for the parliamentary elections, stating that “the secretive council of generals in power has so far refused any postponement, but it has also failed to set an exact date for the election or start preparations for holding it — increasing the confusion and disenchantment with what some see as the military’s mismanagement of the transition.” Although the Muslim Brotherhood does not support moving the date back, other political parties feel that the lack of a cohesive process is not permitting them adequate time to plan for the elections.