Agenzia Fides REPORT - “The situation is returning to normal even if the protests continue in Tahrir Square, where speakers alternate, making addresses using a speaker system,” Fr Luciano Verdoscia, a Comboni missionary who works in Cairo tells Fides. “Yesterday I witnessed a touching moment when the people who died in recent clashes were remembered. I also heard the speech of a famous writer and activist for human rights, Sakina Fouad, which can be summarized in three points: why hasn't the Government heard us when we denounce the corruption and lack of democracy? Where were the protesters when we denounced this situation? The Egyptian people is a great people, of culture and of great historical heritage, but that has yet to express itself in the international context. He concluded that leadership must be taken by people who love the Country, not those that exploit it.”
“I asked some demonstrators if they were planning to design the future of the country,” continued Fr Luciano. “They told me no, because now they are only interested in the protest and in reiterating the request for the resignation of President Mubarak. But there are already programs that are being spread around the protest movement.”
“In this regard, opposition to Omar Seleiman's leadership seems to be emerging (the former intelligence chief appointed as vice-president), initially accepted because the contract for the pipeline from Egypt to Israel would be assigned to a person close to him. Demonstrators are calling for the formation of an interim caretaker government. A list of names has also been released that could be part of the executive.”
According to Father Luciano, “the situation is not resolved, also because adherers to the protests grow and there are several other squares occupied by the protesters. There might be new surprises.”
Regarding any signs of fatigue by the people about the protests, Fr Luciano replied: “Most people want change and want to continue the protest. There are, however, Mubarak's supporters who are pressing for a rapid return to normality. In particular, business people and those who somehow live a decent life under the scheme are asking: what awaits us now? We are facing a terrible crisis, because every day we lose millions of dollars. This situation must end, they say, because otherwise our lives will be completely devastated.”
The missionary describes a polarisation between those who want a rapid return to normality and those who instead want to continue the protest until the regime changes: “the first group claim that Mubarak has made a reasonable proposal (to govern until elections in September, in which he will not be standing). Thus, we wait until September. It is not the end of the world. The other group's answer is no because they believe the regime wants to ensure succession, and that nothing will change. The protesters want a radical change.”http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=28295&lan=eng
“I asked some demonstrators if they were planning to design the future of the country,” continued Fr Luciano. “They told me no, because now they are only interested in the protest and in reiterating the request for the resignation of President Mubarak. But there are already programs that are being spread around the protest movement.”
“In this regard, opposition to Omar Seleiman's leadership seems to be emerging (the former intelligence chief appointed as vice-president), initially accepted because the contract for the pipeline from Egypt to Israel would be assigned to a person close to him. Demonstrators are calling for the formation of an interim caretaker government. A list of names has also been released that could be part of the executive.”
According to Father Luciano, “the situation is not resolved, also because adherers to the protests grow and there are several other squares occupied by the protesters. There might be new surprises.”
Regarding any signs of fatigue by the people about the protests, Fr Luciano replied: “Most people want change and want to continue the protest. There are, however, Mubarak's supporters who are pressing for a rapid return to normality. In particular, business people and those who somehow live a decent life under the scheme are asking: what awaits us now? We are facing a terrible crisis, because every day we lose millions of dollars. This situation must end, they say, because otherwise our lives will be completely devastated.”
The missionary describes a polarisation between those who want a rapid return to normality and those who instead want to continue the protest until the regime changes: “the first group claim that Mubarak has made a reasonable proposal (to govern until elections in September, in which he will not be standing). Thus, we wait until September. It is not the end of the world. The other group's answer is no because they believe the regime wants to ensure succession, and that nothing will change. The protesters want a radical change.”http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=28295&lan=eng
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