2011 Africa & Middle East Protests/Revolutions

Whose next you reckon?

Syria or Jordan. Perhaps Yemen or Morocco.

Algeria is planning a very big protest tomorrow. The only problem is that the Algerian army and police are worse. It could be bloody.

I still find it hard to happen soon in the Middle East (Asian part). Libya could also be next.

I thought I read something about Algeria's protests being quelled or something on wiki. Have to check. Are they really planning on such a protest?

If so, Woopie. Fuck the Middle East, North Africa all the way.

North African trade union and better relations with Europe after this please.

Libya is on deck, followed by Yemen

Happy for you guys

Protesters remained in Tahrir Square today to clean up the streets after 18 days of protests.

Who's next?

Algeria: Nearly 2000 pro-democracy protesters clashed with police forces at the central May 1 square. The government had imposed a ban on all opposition rallies but protesters seemed deteremined to come out on the streets. Reports claim that the police have blocked all entry points into the capital and are arresting activists. Algeria could be next in line to Egypt, but analysts believe the government will silence the protests with its oil and gas wealth. Al Jazeera reports that internet services Twitter and Facebook have been disrupted.

Libya: A "Day of Rage" in Libya and by Libyans in exile is planned for 17 February.

Yemen: By noon, at least 4,000 protesters gathered to demonstrate in Sana'a, with numbers expected to rise.
Approximately 5,000 police with clubs and government supporters beat the anti-government protesters who were celebrating the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and were also demanding the removal of Saleh. Protesters also tried to reach the Egyptian embassy in Sana'a, but police forces kept them back. The General People's Congress sent busloads of their members, equipped with food, water and tents, to Sana'a Square to prevent protesters from gathering there. Clashes then broke out between the groups after pro-Saleh protesters, armed with knives and sticks, forced about 300 anti-government protesters to end their. The Associated Press reported government troops as beating the anti-government protesters who were chanting "After Mubarak, it's Ali's turn" and "A Yemeni revolution after the Egyptian revolution."

Kuled wrote:Happy for you guys

Thanks.

Thank god it's over then. But will this spark a huge chain of other countries trying to protest the way Egypt did?

Jord wrote:Thank god it's over then. But will this spark a huge chain of other countries trying to protest the way Egypt did?

It already has. Tunisia is the one who started it and should receive the most credit. But once Egypt succeeded, it gave everyone more hope. Algeria and Yemen picked up there protests to a new level the day after Mubarak resigned. Libya is trying their own "Day of Anger" later this week.

The governments of most of the Middle East have already made concessions and plans on reforms before Egypt was toppled because they feared it could happen in their country if Egypt succeeded.

Here is a Wiki article on the 2010-11 Arab world protests: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%932011_Arab_world_protests

In an interview, Gaddafi (Libya's president), tried to explain the meaning of democracy. He claimed it was an Arabic word formed from two words: demmo + karacy. Demmo in Arabic means "keep" and karacy in Arabic means "chairs". So he is saying he is democratic because he has maintained in power for 41 years.

ahlycotc wrote:In an interview, Gaddafi (Libya's president), tried to explain the meaning of democracy. He claimed it was an Arabic word formed from two words: demmo karacy. Demmo in Arabic means "keep" and karacy in Arabic means "chairs". So he is saying he is democratic because he has maintained in power for 41 years.

my god.

Gaddafi gone the better. Chavez's best friend, had him over for Christmas.

It's almost impossible to say who is next. So many protests turned ugly today. Clashes happened in Iran, Bahrain, and Yemen. The Palestinian Cabinet was sacked today as well. The chief negotiator of Palestine resigned a couple of days ago.

This is exciting, The Middle East finally has a hopeful future. If the West knew any better, they would be supporting this because this would deal a blow to Al Qaeda and others. The reason these terrorist groups exist is because they believe violence is the only way to topple the governments and the people supporting the corrupt governments. When people see that nonviolent protests can lead to the goals, ordinary people will get less convinced by these terrorist groups.

Over 200 dead in Libya in 6 days.

Gaddafi is hiring sub-Saharan African mercenaries to fight the protests. He is also using artillery, snipers, and helicopter gunships.

This guy is fucking crazy!

Bahraini military opened fire on demonstrators on Friday morning, killing 5 I believe. Death toll is up to 7. Tanks were patrolling the streets until last evening. A dialogue has reportedly begun between the Crown Prince and opposition groups and things have calmed down a bit.

ahlycotc wrote:Over 200 dead in Libya in 6 days.

Gaddafi is hiring sub-Saharan African mercenaries to fight the protests. He is also using artillery, snipers, and helicopter gunships.

This guy is fucking crazy!

I hope Chavez is watching.

polska. wrote:

ahlycotc wrote:Over 200 dead in Libya in 6 days.

Gaddafi is hiring sub-Saharan African mercenaries to fight the protests. He is also using artillery, snipers, and helicopter gunships.

This guy is fucking crazy!

I hope Chavez is watching.

I just heard Gaddafi fled to Venezuela. Most likely rumours though.

I've always been fascinated with The Chaos Theory. That famous example where the butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the world and creates a hurricane on the other side is my favorite. Today while watching 60 minutes I realized that what was exactly what happened. All started with the death of one fruit seller in Tunisia. Amazing.

Rei wrote: I've always been fascinated with The Chaos Theory. That famous example where the butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the world and creates a hurricane on the other side is my favorite. Today while watching 60 minutes I realized that what was exactly what happened. All started with the death of one fruit seller in Tunisia. Amazing.

Yeah I'm still amazed how one person (by burning himself) led to protests in 20+ countries and the fall of 2 governments so far. One Tunisian achieved in months what the US and its allies couldn't do in 10 years.

Looks like Libya is indeed next. Qaddafi is on his last leg. Ambassadors are resigning. Members of his own government are starting to call for him to leave. He's not going to last much longer. I fear one more massacre might be in the cards though before he realizes it. Shame.

Gaddafi has to go down as the worst dictator ever! This guy is unbelievable. He is bombing his own people from navy ships and fighter jets!!! He is also burning soldiers to death for refusing to attack protesters. Two Libyan military aircrafts landed in Malta today as air force pilots are trying to seek political asylum for refusing to bomb their people. Gaddafi's son made a speech today saying he and his father will fight to the last man, woman, and bullet. He is declaring the worst kind of warfare against his own people. Gaddafi must be killed! I just don't get why leaders put themselves through this? It's obvious bombing your own people will not shut your people up. It only makes matters worse and you will eventually suffer a humiliating exit or death.

The death toll was over 500 earlier this morning (250 just yesterday). It could be reaching 1,000 soon at this rate. Nobody can put a number on today's death because it has been chaotic and media coverage is limited.

Happy Birthday

Jord wrote:Happy Birthday

Thanks

I would like to see Gaddafi step down for my birthday.

ahlycotc wrote:Gaddafi has to go down as the worst dictator ever!

Pound-for-pound, maybe. Depends on how you define bad. No dictators have done more damage than Hitler, Stalin or Mao, but each of them had some successes you could point to. And then you have Pol Pot, who did absolutely nothing aside from inflict misery, pain, suffering and death. My vote goes to Pol Pot.

Someone I know had this status up: "Gadaffi's speech seems to boil down to 'Everyone is on drugs except me. Also, I am Batman.'"

That hour and a half speech made Hitler roll in his grave. I will post the transcript and memorable quotes when I get home.

The UN Security Council passes a 15-0 vote for sanctions against Libya.

Travel bans, assets freezes, and trade embargoes.

I love the domino effect thats happening around the world, even if its not always succuseful it shows people can make a difference

ahlycotc wrote:The UN Security Council passes a 15-0 vote for sanctions against Libya.

Travel bans, assets freezes, and trade embargoes.

Here comes SUPER expensive petrol prices

People from Libya coming to get me

Egypt
Egypt's general prosecutor has imposed a travel ban on former president Hosni Mubarak and his family pending further investigations.
The prosecutor Abdel Magid Mahmud on Monday also ordered the freezing of all of their financial assets inside the country.

Libya



Oman
Demonstrators blocked roads and held rallies on Monday in Oman. In the northeastern port city of Sohar, where the protests originated, demonstrators blocked roads to the port, Oman’s second biggest, and to an industrial area that includes a refinery and an aluminum factory. They also set a supermarket on fire and clashed with the police. Protesters have also been camped out for three days in the city’s main square, called Kurra Ardiyah Roundabout, despite efforts by the police and army to push them out.

Yemen
Protests continue in Yemen.