tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4748284739676437532024-03-14T11:52:01.637+02:00Egypt and beyondScribbles of a Swedish journalist in Cairo.Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-38696794485457931542011-07-07T15:47:00.003+02:002011-07-07T15:49:59.462+02:00Solidarity with Egypt's workers and trade unions<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">This letter of solidarity is being circulated among Swedish trade unionists,</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">parliamentarians and activists. If you want to sign it, send an e-mail to </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">egyptensolidaritet@gmail.com.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Solidarity with Egypt’s workers and free unions</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br />On June 8, the Egyptian transitional government announced its<br />intention to enforce a ban on strikes and protests that “obstruct the<br />work of public institutions” or harm “national unity, societal peace<br />or public order”, penalizing those who participate in such actions<br />with a fine of 30.000 – 100.000 Egyptian pounds or a prison sentence<br />of no less than one year. On that same day riot police forcibly tried<br />to break up a peaceful sit-in outside the People’s Assembly in Cairo<br />and arrested at least 5 of the participating tenant farmers, according<br />to press reports and eyewitness accounts. A few days earlier, military<br />police arrested 5 petroleum workers following a sit-in outside the<br />Ministry of petroleum.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br />We are deeply concerned about these and numerous other reports of<br />repression against peaceful protests since the resignation of Hosni<br />Mubarak on February 11, and strongly urge the Egyptian authorities to<br />refrain from all forms of violence against demonstrators or striking<br />workers. We call upon the government to reconsider the decision to<br />impose the ban on strikes – a clear violation of international<br />conventions signed by Egypt. As the right to strike is a fundamental<br />human right under international law, imposing such a ban would amount<br />to nothing less than a betrayal of the revolution of the Egyptian<br />people, and its legitimate demands for a just and democratic society.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br />We also call upon the government of Egypt to uphold its promise to<br />guarantee the right of all Egyptian workers to form independent and<br />democratic unions, and extend our full support to the Egyptian<br />Federation of Independent Trade Unions and all the workers of Egypt in<br />their struggle to realize this demand. The emergence of free and<br />independent trade unions is an event of enormous significance for<br />Egypt and the entire region and is to be welcomed by trade unionists<br />and all democratic forces around the world.<br /><br />Signed,<br /><br />Björn A. Borg, Swedish Dockworkers Union<br />Hans Linde, Left Party of Sweden, Member of Swedish Parliament<br />Josefin Brink, Left Party of Sweden, Member of Swedish Parliament<br />Amineh Kakabaveh, Left Party of Sweden, Member of Swedish Parliament<br />Lotta Johnsson Fornarve, Left Party of Sweden, Member of the Party<br />Central Committee<br />Mussie Ephrem, Left Party of Sweden, Member of the Party Central Committee<br />Ann-Margarethe Livh, Chairman, Left International Forum<br />Jytte Guteland, President of Swedish Social Democratic Youth</span></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-79788567965547948032011-06-08T22:08:00.008+02:002011-06-09T11:25:44.396+02:00A return to the past? Egypt's neoliberal counter-revolutionIn a harshly worded statement Egypt's "interim government" led by Essam Sharaf - <a href="http://www.arabawy.org/2011/05/23/essam-sharaf-and-the-ndp/">a former member of the influential "higher policies secretariat" of the ruling party NDP</a> - today vowed to begin <a href="http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/466149">enforcing the "anti-strike law"</a> that was issued in April and bans any strikes or protests that disrupts the economy (in contradiction with international treaties signed by Egypt that confirm the right of workers to resort to peaceful strikes to press their demands on employers).<div><br /></div><div><div><div>Shortly after the statement was issued on the governments web page, <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/13930/Egypt/Politics-/Renewed-strikes-met-with-police-aggression.aspx">Central security forces and plain-clothes agents descended on tenant farmers</a> that had been staging a peaceful sit-in outside the Cabinet, protesting years (or rather decades) of displacement and <a href="http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/465923">ill-treatment by the state</a>. Several farmers were arrested and hauled into police vans, according to <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/norashalaby">Nora Shalaby</a> who was there and took these pictures:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a target="_blank" title="yfrog.com - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://yfrog.com/5p6ulzj"><img src="http://img205.yfrog.com/img205/6654/6ulz.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a target="_blank" title="yfrog.com - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://yfrog.com/h39uubtbj"><img src="http://a.yfrog.com/img615/6683/9uubtb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>These images are a dark reminder of the state of things before January 25, when central security forces in cooperation with plain-clothes agents and thugs routinely clamped down on peaceful demonstrations in Egypt, and comes <a href="http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/466137">days after the military arrested five Petrojet workers</a>, who had been taking part in a two-week sit-in outside the petroleum ministry protesting the sacking of 1200 workers. It also comes after <a href="http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/465247">renewed accusations of police brutaliy</a>, most notably in the case of a bus driver that was allegedly taken to the police station in Ezbekiyya and beaten to death last week after refusing to pay a bribe to a police officer - an event that sparked protests and riots in the area.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the same day Samir Radwaan, new minister of finance after Youssef Boutrous Ghali (who fled Egypt before Mubaraks ouster and was handed a prison sentence of 30 years in absentia last week on charges of corruption and squandering of public wealth), <a href="http://www.alwafd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54732:%D8%B1%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1&c#axzz1OiQ9jRGX">promised that Egypt won't back away from the "economic reforms" and free-market polices</a> pursued under Mubaraks decades-long rule. (He doesn't seem to understand that in a supposedly democratic Egypt, that should be up to the voters to decide). As elsewhere where the neoliberal doctrine has been applied since the 70's, these "reforms" (mainly privatization of public enterprises and tax-cuts for companies and the rich) resulted in exploding inequality, a rapid decline in the quality of public welfare and increasing poverty. They have proved <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/08/egypt-imf">disastrous for the majority of the population</a>, to the extent that they may be identified as the single most important cause of the revolution.</div><div><br /></div><div>In what was perhaps an unintended coincidence but still a very clear signal of the inclinations of Egypt's current rulers, a proposed capital gains tax of 10% was <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110608-712176.html">reportedly cancelled today</a>, after pressure from investors and the head of the national stock exchange. So today's events can be summed up: at the same time as the government vows to use force against farmers and workers who insists on demanding a fairer share of Egypt's wealth after the revolution, demanding "patience" of poor families who can barely feed their children let alone send them to decent schools, they quickly bow to pressure from the privileged minority who benefited most of Mubarak's corrupt and neglectful rule. Disturbing, but hardly surprising.</div></div></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-52829034400856827552011-05-30T19:20:00.006+02:002011-05-30T22:12:10.214+02:00Egypt, the Left and International Solidarity<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://swf.tubechop.com/tubechop.swf?vurl=NWaiY4KdNzQ&start=661&end=721&cid=169888"><embed src="http://swf.tubechop.com/tubechop.swf?vurl=NWaiY4KdNzQ&start=661&end=721&cid=169888" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: As I was about to publish the post below, I read the news on twitter that Egyptian journalist and blogger <a href="http://www.arabawy.org/">Hossam al-Hamalawy</a> has been </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/13270/Egypt/Politics-/Egyptian-journalists-to-be-questionned-tomorrow-by.aspx">summoned to a military prosecutor for questioning tomorrow</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, after talking about military tribunals against civilians and violations by the military police against peaceful protestors on a TV-show broadcast last thursday (the clip above). This futile - I'm sure - attempt to silence one of Egypt's most well-known radical voices, and one who has played a vital role in spreading news about Egypt's nascent labour movement and the wave of strikes and protests that lead to the revolution has to be condemned. More than anything it underlines the need for international solidarity with the democratic and progressive forces in Egypt as they struggle to create a just and democratic society. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106968386061476">Protests in solidarity</a> with Hossam and the other summoned journalists will be held tomorrow in Cairo and Alexandria.</span><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:hyphenationzone>21</w:HyphenationZone> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>SV</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> 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tabell"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-US">Here it goes - another attempt to revive the blog which consumed so much of my time back in they days, when strikes and protests occured almost every day but a revolution stilled seemed like a distant possibility (a funny thing I learned about revolutions is that they always do, <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-country-is-on-brink-of-revolution.html">even as more and more people tell you it has become inevitable</a>). I switched to blogging in Swedish after I was kicked out of Egypt back in 2009 and have been blogging intensely the past few months, as well as giving talks about Egypt around Sweden. However, there are very few resources in English about the Egyptian left and labour movement (<a href="http://www.arabawy.org/">Hossam al-Hamalawy’s blog</a> remains one of the best place to go to find such news), which is one of the reasons I have decided to go back to writing in English - at least now and then. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Being barred still from entering Egypt this is at least something I can do.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"> Don't expect daily updates however - expect irregular postings, far-from-perfect-translations of news or articles, and an occasional commentary or rant.<br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-US"><br />Besides the labour movement and left in Egypt, another theme that I will try and highlight in this blog is that of international solidarity. Last week the Egyptian doctor and leftist Alaa Shukrallah and the women’s rights activist and author Azza Kamel visited Sweden to meet political activists, feminists and unionists, and to speak at a seminar at the Worker’s Educational Association (ABF) in Stockholm (<a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2011/05/video-alaa-shukrallah-on-egyptian.html">watch part of Alaa's speech here</a>). The subject was international solidarity, and </span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">if the importance of this <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span>wasn’t already apparent it became so the next day, when news reached us that Azza Kamel’s daughter had been arrested by military police while putting up posters ahead of the May 27 protest in Cairo (she was released later that same day).</span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br /><br />While there is a great need for </span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">immediate solidarity work and campaigns against human rights abuses in post-Mubarak Egypt, both Alaa and Azza stressed the importance of another task for the left in Europe today: to raise awareness about the link between democracy and social justice in Egypt and the region. This involves exposing and resisting the failed neoliberal economic policies that caused increasing poverty and inequality and ultimately led to the revolution - but are still being promoted by the international financial institutions and European and US governments. An international campaign for debt cancellation would be very helpful, as the regime now uses the external debt and the threat of “bankruptcy” as a propaganda weapon against any demands for social reforms.<br /></span><br />The international left should also work to expose the regional counter-revolutionary alliance with Saudiarabia as the driving force, and the hypocrisy of Western governments that still ally themselves with authoritarian regimes while claiming to “support democracy” in Egypt and Tunisia. (Another suggestion that came up during the meeting was for international activists to put together lists of companies from their countries that collaborated with Mubaraks regime, especially within the security field, or benefited from or contributed to corruption in Egypt.)<br /><br />Both Alaa and Azza pointed out that the Egyptian people need support in hard times as well as good times. While some in the west (as well as within Egypt) may have had unrealistic expectations of what the revolution would achieve in the short term it is necessary to realize that the people of Egypt are only in the beginning of a long and difficult struggle – the outcome of which will not only decide the future of Egypt for decades to come but will influence the whole region and the world. Alaa stressed again and again that the left in Egypt doesn’t need or ask for financial support (something which foreign embassies and NGO:s has been all to eager to throw on Egyptian youth activists and bloggers) but practical solidarity and cooperation based on the notion that “our struggle is one”: “A democratic and just Egypt can only survive in a democratic and just region, which in turn can only be built in a democratic and just world”.Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-33748171502157161272011-05-26T14:09:00.003+02:002011-05-26T14:17:27.247+02:00Video: Alaa Shukrallah on the Egyptian revolution - causes and prospectsWatch Alaa Shukrallah from the Popular Socialist Alliance speak about the Egyptian revolution at a meeting in Stockholm on 25 may 2011 (filmed by Lennart Kjörling):<br /><br /><object id="bplayer" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="371" width="480"><embed name="bplayer" src="http://static.bambuser.com/r/player.swf?vid=1686045" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="opaque" height="371" width="480"></embed><param name="movie" value="http://static.bambuser.com/r/player.swf?vid=1686045"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></object>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-72033240007189702232011-02-17T20:47:00.000+02:002011-02-17T20:48:07.624+02:00Appeal for solidarity from Bahrain<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Comrades at various leftist parties and organizations</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Bahraini people went out on the streets on the Feb. 14 on the 10th Anniversary of the National Action Charter . The national reform document on which people have voted in a referendum with 98.4% for it in 2001. On this date, the people decided to demand the royal regime to start implement the political reforms it promised. The demands state that to start effective procedures towards reforming the political regime, combatting corruption, abolishing racist and sectarian discrimination in Bahrain, guaranteeing fair distribution of wealth. And these protests were faced with a crazy reaction from the Bahraini authorities, the number of casualties till now is 7 so far, and this repressive campaign continues to use live ammunition, blocking entrances to a number of villages and towns, raiding and attacking homes in addition to the spreading of armed military tanks in roads.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">This repressive attack is considered abandonment from the government of the reform project which guaranteed to the people their right to protest as per the 2002 Bahraini constitution.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Henceforth, we call on all Arab and International organizations to begin a protesting campaign to expose these practices of Bahraini authorities and to protest in front of Bahraini Embassies and UN headquarters in their countries and to maintain contact with Rights organizations regarding this matter. We also call on them to send denunciation letters to those embassies or to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs against these policies. The Bahraini people awaits your courageous stance for its struggle to its legitimate right to live in freedom, justice and dignity.Our path you know is rough and filled with thorns, death on its sides... but we will march on.</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Please send your solidarity appeal to:</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MMFF)</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">PO Box 547</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fix Line +973-17227555 +973-17227555</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fax +973-17212603</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fax +973-17210575</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fax +973-17225107</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">MINISTRY OF CABINET AFFAIRS (MMCC)</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">PO Box 1000, 26141</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fix Line +973-17223366</p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fax +973-17211363</p></span>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-73613890036742712302011-01-31T21:41:00.006+02:002011-01-31T21:46:06.199+02:00Blog resting for now...To all old and new readers that might have returned to this blog recently: The blog is resting and I'm currently blogging about Egypt (mainly) <a href="http://kairotillvarlden.blogspot.com/">in Swedish here</a>. Check out the blogroll to the left for some interesting blogs on Egypt in English...<div><br /></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-82847636673463899882010-11-24T15:42:00.002+02:002010-11-24T15:46:59.624+02:00Solidarity with Youssef Shaaban<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitpic.com/38yg4c" title="Share photos on twitter with Twitpic"><img src="http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/38yg4c.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Share photos on twitter with Twitpic" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Activists will demontrate today in solidarity with journalist <a href="http://cpj.org/2010/11/egypt-detains-journalist-on-drug-charges-in-alexan.php">Youssef Shaaban</a> who was detained while covering a demonstration on Friday:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:tahoma, 'new york', times, fantasy;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;">Solidarity with Yucef Shabaan and all the detainees</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span lang="AR-EG" dir="RTL" style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:14pt;">The popular democratic movement for change (7ashd),</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:14pt;">The Justice and Freedom Movement,</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:14pt;">The Free Front for Peaceful Change</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:14pt;">The 6<sup>th</sup> of April movement</span></b><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" dir="RTL" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span dir="LTR" style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" ;font-size:18pt;">Invite you to join their open sit in</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" dir="RTL" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span dir="LTR" style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;">Wednesday at </span></b><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;">7 p.m.</span></b><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;">At Press Syndicate</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" dir="RTL" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span dir="LTR" style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:18pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" ;font-size:18pt;">Freedom for Yucef Shabaan</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; direction: ltr; "><b><span style=" ;font-size:18pt;">Freedom for all Detainees</span></b></p></span>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-737733872790316132010-03-23T20:26:00.004+02:002010-03-23T21:25:36.002+02:00Workers to protest privatization, demand minimum wageHere's a (very) quick translation of parts of <a href="http://www.arabawy.org/2010/03/23/workers-9/">a statement (via Hossam al-Hamalawy)</a> being circulated by several workers' groups in Egypt, calling for a demonstration in downtown Cairo on April 3: <div> <br /></div><div><div><div>"We want to reach to poverty line<br /></div><div>Stop the politics of privatization</div><div><br /></div><div>Under these slogans, the labour and civil groups that have signed this statement will organize a protest meeting outside the cabinet, at 11 am on April 3, demanding a minimum monthly wage of no less than 1200 egyptian pounds, to be raised annually according to the rate of inflation, as well as an end to the waste of public funds through the politics of privatization."</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(The statement goes on to criticize the national council of wages - consisting of representatives of the government, unions, and business organizations - for not fulfilling its role and making sure that wages keep pace with prices...) </span></div><div><br /></div><div>"Down with the politics of making workers poor, destroying Egyptian industry, and sacrificing workers rights in order to attract foreign capital - that never comes because of corruption, political tyranny, the imposition of emergency laws and the absence of democracy. </div><div><br /></div><div>What has the politics of selling and wasting public funds in the name of privatization brought except more destruction through kicking the workers out and halting production in order to sell the land of the companies and factories, after first using it as a security to obtain loans from the banks?</div><div><br /></div><div>We call for all wage workers in Egypt to join the demonstration in order to defend our right to life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Workers Preparatory Committee</div><div>The independent tax collectors union URETA</div><div>Postal workers committee </div><div>Mahalla Textile Workers League</div><div>The Egyptian center for economic and social rights</div><div>Journalists without rights</div><div>Sons of the earth</div><div>Tadamon<br /></div><div><div><div><div><div>Al-Hilali foundation for freedom</div><div>Workers union of Suez</div><div>Railway Workers</div><div>Workers Solidarity Committee</div><div>Nasr Car Workers</div><div>The Workers preparatory committee in Alexandria"</div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-69901725286217167912010-01-07T21:14:00.002+02:002010-01-07T21:19:35.347+02:00The Regime is ResponsibleThe legacy of Mohamed Hosni Mubarak: After decades of "emergency laws" the Egyptian state still can't prevent things like <a href="http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/copts-wrath-following-egypt’s-bloodiest-christmas">this</a> from happening, because it is too busy maintaining a devastating siege on the Palestinians of Gaza. Tragic and disgusting.Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-34718689826614901352009-12-28T22:38:00.002+02:002009-12-28T22:41:37.221+02:00Egyptian police arrest local journalists during Gaza protest<a href="http://arabist.net/arabawy/2009/12/28/police-crack-down-on-local-journalists/">Hossam el-Hamalawy reports</a> that three journalists working for Al-Masry Al-Youm was arrested today while covering a pro-Palestine protest in front of the french embassy in Cairo. <a href="http://twitter.com/3arabawy">Follow Hossam on twitter</a> for updates. Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-14269254571180808692009-12-21T20:18:00.005+02:002009-12-21T21:04:01.416+02:00Free union celebrate anniversary, State unions withdraws from international federationTwo days ago, members of <a href="http://delicious.com/elhamalawy/taxcollectors">the independent URETA-union</a> for <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/search?q=tax+collectors">real estate tax collectors</a> gathered to celebrate the <a href="http://www.e-socialists.net/node/5065">opening of their headquarter</a> and the one year anniversary of the <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2008/12/tax-collectors-celebrate-free-union.html">founding of the first free union</a> in Egypt since 1957. The celebration was attended by the regional secretary of the <a href="http://www.world-psi.org/TemplateEn.cfm?Section=PSI_staff&CONTENTID=16596&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm">Public Services International,</a> which accepted URETA as a member last spring and has <a href="http://she2i2.blogspot.com/2009/09/psi-protests-against-interrogation-of.html">criticized</a> interference in the work of URETA by state-controlled union officials. <div><br /></div><div>Apparently, this visit has now provoked three state-controlled unions in Egypt to <a href="http://www.etufegypt.com/tasry7at%20elrays/tasry7%207.html">withdraw from PSI in protest</a> against recognition of the "illegal" URETA union. <a href="http://www.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=168535&">State union officials</a> explain that they are not against the right of free association (of course) but only against "interference in the internal affairs of Egypt," something every "honorable Egyptian would reject." </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, on December 26 the new general union for employees of tax- and customs authorities will be officially included in the Egyptian Trade Union Federation as the 24th general union in Egypt; <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2009/09/imposing-unions-from-above-to-counter.html">a move that should be understood</a> as part of the ongoing attempts by the ETUF to marginalize the free URETA union. </div><div> </div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-86535429327415455312009-12-18T00:26:00.004+02:002009-12-21T20:16:20.280+02:00Egypt drowning? Yawn...A UN analysis shows that <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/17/copenhagen-emissions-cuts-future-temperatures">emission cuts on the table in Copenhagen</a> could raise the global average temperature by 3 degrees. Meanwhile, new studies show that even a more moderate warming could lead to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/16/AR2009121604191.html?hpid=topnews">a much bigger increase in sea levels </a>than previously thought, <a href="http://bikyamasr.com/?p=5990">drowning</a> <a href="http://jackshenker.blogspot.com/2009/08/death-of-nile-egypts-climate-change.html">the Nile delta</a>. Even so, the voice of Egypt can hardly be heard on this issue - tiny island nations like <a href="http://www.grist.org/article/2009-12-14-tuvalu-to-obama-and-the-senate-the-fate-of-my-country/">Tuvalu</a> and the Maldives are making a lot more noise. Is it because they are not busy <a href="http://arabist.net/arabawy/2009/12/15/rafahs-apartheid-wall/">building walls</a> protecting against the dreaded palestinians in Gaza and cracking down on opposition movements ahead of coming elections? Or is it because Egypt's ruling elite believe they will be safe behind the walls of their luxury compounds with the <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blogs/copenhagen/507013/climate_structural_adjustment_we_ll_save_your_life_on_our_terms">consolation aid</a> offered by Hillary Clinton when the flood hits? I just wonder.<div><br /></div><div>Update: Egyptian blogger <a href="http://egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/12/mubarak-and-cop-15.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EgyptianChronicles+%28Egyptian+chronicles%29">Zeinobia also shares her opinion on this subject here</a>.</div><div><br /></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-29756133951823621722009-12-16T00:32:00.003+02:002009-12-16T00:47:57.344+02:00Copenhagen Mass Climate Protest in Pictures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/perbjorklund/sets/72157623008532728/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtSbg85Gpqg1r1h_fGCxiSkZLlci3BZXCtFA2x-04KU8BC0oCHQF3_iiSCp7BYiWIjcHSiqmVHSXR4FNGxI-HJB2_h0JEVlQMj_xxxWLU7gXvVkWLy7eRY_4B_6SiGUvzk6uy8nD1MQs/s320/DSC_0641_s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415594676828563410" border="0" /></a>Click the photo above for a set on flickr from the massive "planet first, people first" demonstration in Copenhagen this Saturday. Around 100.000 people took part in the march, demanding "climate justice" and "system change, not climate change." The march was peaceful, but Danish police intervened and detained almost 1000 people on the pretext of arresting a few masked "black block" activists who threw one or two stones against a bank and the Danish foreign ministry. Stupid, but hardly "a riot", as Naomi Klein <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/dec/14/copenhagen-policing-climate-summit-protesters">points out.</a><br /><br />Tomorrow, <a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/2006/091215171047.jifk05ck.html">protesters plans to 'reclaim power</a>.' (Note that Tadzio Müller, one of the organizers of Wednesdays march, which have been authorized by Danish police, was <a href="http://www.huliq.com/1/89686/chaos-inside-un-summit-random-arrests-and-raids">arrested shortly after the press conference</a>.)Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-48080957998938486492009-12-14T23:53:00.004+02:002009-12-15T00:05:29.408+02:00Mahalla labour activist fired<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2ibamKEEmO04nbKhFVDoHuzht9YsPqtuKU58ddlYg_H6TzCeQHebxg7uBd8Lt3eN2r4-MzX_Qf6hC6_AgJFkFSe7vG7o8CUkRx2kNUorlEHauKVcHOAvNDF4Eg3QbaGhkp04y6OnyiI/s1600-h/DSC_0271_s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2ibamKEEmO04nbKhFVDoHuzht9YsPqtuKU58ddlYg_H6TzCeQHebxg7uBd8Lt3eN2r4-MzX_Qf6hC6_AgJFkFSe7vG7o8CUkRx2kNUorlEHauKVcHOAvNDF4Eg3QbaGhkp04y6OnyiI/s320/DSC_0271_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415215509644035026" /></a><br /><a href="http://tadamonmasr.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/mehalla/">Tadamon reports</a> that <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/search/label/Mahalla">Mahalla Spinning and Weaving</a> labour activist Mustapha Fouda has been fired following attempts by workers at the factory to organize a strike last Monday (January 6). Workers had presented five demands, including raising the minimum wage and improved housing and transports.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Pic above: Mustapha Fouda on someone's shoulders during an anti-privatization protest in Mahalla on October 30, 2008.</span></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-46114308430964053852009-12-04T22:47:00.005+02:002009-12-04T23:31:57.587+02:00Latvian students and unions protest budget cuts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXLaS00E6YvJYMxO0ydyQNQHJYt1b9_EiDf-RrtSp_Z2eUXkCWSw-ciGa1mzJ7M9CmjiBEJUHiPT_9T7yamASsbkvVmwKtv9MYudxcMUQTIC4wOU423vmEjZBM-aqm1FGQ-QokqJ2VNw/s1600-h/3s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXLaS00E6YvJYMxO0ydyQNQHJYt1b9_EiDf-RrtSp_Z2eUXkCWSw-ciGa1mzJ7M9CmjiBEJUHiPT_9T7yamASsbkvVmwKtv9MYudxcMUQTIC4wOU423vmEjZBM-aqm1FGQ-QokqJ2VNw/s320/3s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411490000219009458" /></a><br /><div>I haven't been blogging much lately, mostly because I've been traveling and didn't have time to follow events in Egypt as closely as I would have liked to. A couple of days ago I came back from Latvia, the one country in the European Union that have been hardest hit by the global economic crisis. In one year Latvia has lost a around 18 percent of it's GDP and unemployment has more than tripled to 20 percent. </div><div><br /></div><div>This week, hundreds of trade unionists (unions are very weak in Latvia and organize only around 15 percent of the workforce, mostly in the public sector) and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/perbjorklund/sets/72157622916340560/">thousands of students gathered outside Saeima,</a> the Latvian parliament, to protest the new state budget which contains huge cuts on higher education and other public spending and a raise of the personal income tax from 23% to 26%. (Needless to say, these actions will reinforce the economic downturn, and are motivated largely by the decision of the Latvian government, strongly backed by the European Union and the Swedish government, <a href="http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/economics-and-demography/why-the-imfs-decision-to-agree-a-lavian-bailout-programme-without-devaluation-is-a-mistake/">to avoid a devaluation the local currency - a huge mistake according to many economists</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Latvians students shouted slogans like "put parliament in school and students in parliament" and "no education means no future" and jeered the education minister as she appeared on the stairs of the parliament briefly. I have to say that after three years in Egypt this was quite a refreshing experience; in the beginning I half expected police officers to try and confiscate my camera or start beating up protesters, which never happened of course... (Actually I can't imagine a crowd of demonstrators getting this close to a government building even in Sweden...) </div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-22834485649386313952009-11-24T12:04:00.003+02:002009-11-24T12:12:25.271+02:00Blog break<div>The blog isn't dead, but I'm doing a lot of travelling these days so don't expect any updates for a few more weeks...</div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-43312572495995960312009-11-13T08:49:00.004+02:002009-11-13T09:02:25.874+02:00Kamal abu Eita defends RETA union against campaign in state-controlled meidaAccording to a statement form the Center for Social and Economic Rights (<a href="http://www.e-socialists.net/node/4786">via the Center for Socialist Studies</a> and <a href="http://arabist.net/arabawy/2009/11/12/tax-3/">Hossam al-Hamalawy</a>) the independent Union of Real Estate Tax Authority Employees has been subject to a "smear campaign" by the state-owned papers al-Ahram and al-Gomhoriyya, claiming that there has been "mass resignations" from the free union. The head of the RETA union, Kamal abu Eita, has demanded the right to reply to these statements in a letter to the editors of both papers. In the letter, he states that in fact, the number of members of the free union continues to rise and has now reached 40.000, and that a new local union committee has just been formed in South Sinai. According to Kamal abu Eita, the free union now has a local presence in 29 governorates, whereas the state-controlled union only exists in 9.Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-34415750556910583952009-11-10T21:27:00.004+02:002009-11-10T21:32:15.551+02:00Work Camps in The Negev?<a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1126057.html">From Haaretz</a>: "The government is considering establishing work camps in the south of the country, where illegal migrant workers will receive shelter, food and medical care, Army Radio reported Wednesday. In exchange, illegal migrants would perform manual labor outside the camps, but would not earn a salary. They would stay at the camp until their asylum claims are decided, which could take months or years. The proposal, part of the effort to address the problems posed by illegal migrants, would place asylum seekers at jobs in communities in the Negev and Arava. Their salaries would go to the state, in order to fund the camps."<br /><br /><div>Work camps where the state takes the salary? Am I the only one thinking "slave labour" here?</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-77573597511934394532009-11-06T09:09:00.004+02:002009-11-06T09:34:51.170+02:00The PopulistHere's a few <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/11/videos-13-aban.html">videos of protestors getting beaten up in Teheran on November 4</a>, nicely followed up by this interesting quote from a story where Ahmadinejad offers his view on social justice (<a href="http://esbati.blogspot.com/2009/11/iran-idag-och-for-trettio-ar-sedan.html">via Ali Esbati</a>):<div><br /><blockquote>The three economists listened attentively to Ahmadinejad as he lectured on the waste caused by current subsidization policies and the fact that because of artificial prices any investment was hardly justifiable. He told his audience that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">a free market was the "best distribution system to guarantee social justice.</span>"</blockquote><br /><div>It does add some perspective to the argument that the current political confrontation in Iran somehow pits <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2009/06/political-liberties-vs-economic-justice.html">political liberties against economic justice</a> because Ahmadinejad promised to bring the oil wealth to the dinner tables in his election campaign. I'm not an expert on Iran in anyway, but perhaps this is a sign that Ahmadinejad, having failed to mobilize the poorer segments in support of his rule and realizing that the opposition has its strongest base among the urban middle class, decided to try and placate his opponents by posing as a neo-liberal?</div><div><br /></div></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-42176620736794261772009-11-05T18:15:00.005+02:002009-11-05T20:17:33.746+02:00Tanta Workers Continue Sit-In, Threaten Hunger Strike<a href="http://tadamonmasr.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/">Tadamon reports:</a> 9 workers at <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/search/label/Tanta%20Linen">Tanta Flax & Oils,</a> who were fired after a strike last year, moved their sit-in from the headquarters of the General Union of Textile Workers to the factory grounds in Tanta, where around 1000 workers has been on strike since May. Earlier this week, an agreement was reached between the union and the company management, giving the workers a raise in meal allowances and retroactive payment of a yearly raise since 2007 on condition that they resume work on November 10. <div><br /></div><div>Workers fired during the strike has been offered early retirement with financial compensation of around 35,000 egyptian pounds. According to Tadamon, many workers are still refusing the terms of the agreement - the main reason being that it does not include re-hiring the 9 workers who were fired last year, despite previous court verdicts ordering the company to re-hire them.</div><div><br /></div><div>The union initially supported the strike, but a majority of the workers refused to accept a previous agreement between the union and the management, and instead voted to continue their strike even as they were denied access to strike funds. The 9 workers are now threatening to start a hunger strike until their demands are met.</div><div><br /></div><div>Update: As pointed out in the comments below, 50 workers who were fired during the strike had initially been promised 45,000 pounds each as compensation, but was suddenly told they would only get 35,000. Today, the two groups of workers (those fired during the previous strike and those during the last one) decided to join forces and occupied the factory, forcing security men and members of the management out while doing so, <a href="http://www.e-socialists.net/node/4740">according to the center for socialist studies</a>. </div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-92138360067724599192009-11-04T09:31:00.003+02:002009-11-04T09:42:05.158+02:00Swedes against IslamophobiaAs many Egyptians are becoming more cynical about facebook-activism, more than 200.000 Swedes (in a country of 9 million) has <a href="http://www.fria.nu/artikel/81176">joined a facebook group</a> protesting the right-wing party Sverigedemokraterna ("Swedish Democrats"), whose leader recently published an article describing islam and muslims as the gravest foreign threat against democracy in Sweden since the second world war. I don't think this is going to end islamophobia and racism in Sweden or prevent SD from reaching the parliament in the elections next year (polls show them hovering around the necessary 4 percent of the votes), but at least it's a way of giving inspiration and courage to all those who are prepared to take the fight.<div><br /></div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-56362054282481574402009-10-28T14:00:00.003+02:002009-10-28T14:12:25.338+02:00Victory for AishaThe center for socialist studies <a href="http://www.e-socialists.net/node/4700">reports</a> that labour organizer Aisha abu Samada or "Hagga Aisha" has been returned to her work at Hennawy Tobaco in Damanhour today, after more than a year of struggle against the employer. Aisha was subject to <a href="http://arabist.net/arabawy/2007/09/01/crackdown-on-indepndent-trade-unionist-solidarity-needed/">a hostile campaign from the state-backed union</a> and eventually fired after she led her mostly female colleagues in a campaign for better work conditions and salaries. I met Aisha in Damanhour last December - on the same day Israel launched the war on Gaza - and was deeply impressed with her strong personality and her courage to challenge the all-male union committee who refused to back the workers in their struggle.Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-51663311233194224072009-10-27T15:39:00.004+02:002009-10-27T15:52:20.210+02:00Blog news - Egypt commentary in SwedishFor all Swedish readers out there: Since I've been involuntarily reassigned to Sweden by Egyptian state security I've decided to start <a href="http://www.kairotillvarlden.blogspot.com/">a new blog for news and commentary on Egypt in Swedish</a>. I'll still keep updating this blog with mostly labour-related news in English as often as I can, and keep the new blog for occasional commentary, links to published articles, and so on - hopefully making a small contribution to the ongoing discussion of Middle East-related issues in Sweden and not least the growing (I hope) interest in the social movements of Egypt.Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-54416057409622434622009-10-26T18:53:00.003+02:002009-10-26T19:30:47.799+02:00Egypt Labour Updates - October 26, 2009More links from the <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/egyptianworkers">Egyptian Workers diigo group</a>:<div><br /></div><div>* Al-Youm Al-Sab'e <a href="http://www.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=148903">reports</a> that security forces laid siege to the HQ of the General Union of Textil Workers as workers from <a href="http://arabist.net/arabawy/2009/08/29/we-don’t-need-no-liquidation/">a self-managed factory</a> in 10th of Ramadan City gathered there on Saturday morning to demand a meeting with the labour minister and the head of the union. Workers at the factory have been campaigning for the ministry of labour to pay their wages and help finance a restructuring of the company whose owner fled the country to escape a prison sentecne. (<a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2009/10/egypt-labour-updates-october-19-2009.html">See earlier update</a>.)</div><div><br /></div><div>* Tadamon <a href="http://tadamonmasr.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/tanta/">reports</a> that security forces surrounded <a href="http://delicious.com/elhamalawy/Tanta+flax">Tanta Flax and Oils</a> on Sunday, to prevent the workers - who are on strike since the end of May - from leaving to stage a demonstration in front of the Cabinet in Cairo.</div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474828473967643753.post-9266765568498850382009-10-22T17:26:00.003+02:002009-10-22T18:15:34.310+02:00Egypt Labour Updates - October 22, 2009More links from <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/egyptianworkers">Diigo</a> and <a href="http://www.arabawy.org/">Hossam al-Hamalawy</a>: <div><br /></div><div>* Al-Masry Al-Youm reports (in English) that <a href="http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article2.aspx?ArticleID=230448">South Cairo Electrical Company workers threaten to strike</a> over incentives and equal pay with workers that were recently transfered from the Rural Electricity company.</div><div><br /></div><div>* Mohammed Maree posted <a href="http://egytimes.org/2009/10/egypt-fgazl-mahall-sit-in/">pics and a report</a> (in Arabic) as well as a <a href="http://egytimes.org/2009/10/ghazlmahalla-sit-in-workers/">short video</a> from the fourth day of the sit-in of the Ghazl al-Mahalla cooperatives (see <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2009/10/egypt-labour-updates-october-19-2009.html">previous post</a>). The Center for Socialist Studies <a href="http://www.e-socialists.net/node/4631">reports</a> that the sit-in was suspended as workers met with the head of general union of commercial workers on Tuesday. According to one local unionist, the general manager of Misr Spinning and Weaving in Mahalla first offered them a compromise deal of a 10 day bonus (instead of the one month bonus given to all workers within state-owned enterprises), then retracted this offer and accused the local union committee of slandering him in interviews with the press.</div><div><br /></div><div>* Al-Youm Al-Sab'e <a href="http://www.youm7.com//News.asp?NewsID=147871">reports</a> that security forces intervened to abort a demonstration by workers at Nasr Glass and Crystal Company in Shubra on Wednesday morning. The workers protested mass layoffs before an expected privatization of the company. </div><div><br /></div><div>* Al-Youm Al-Sab'e <a href="http://www.youm7.com//News.asp?NewsID=148266">also reports</a> that 300 teachers in Shuhadaa in Monofeyya went on strike today, protesting a decision to transfer them to other schools far from where they live.</div><div><br /></div><div>* The Center for Socialist Studies <a href="http://www.e-socialists.net/node/4639">reports</a> that the General Union for Textile Workers is refusing to use strike funds to pay the salaries of workers at <a href="http://delicious.com/elhamalawy/Tanta+flax">Tanta Flax and Oils</a>, who have been <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/search/label/Tanta%20Linen">on strike for close to five months</a>. The union stopped supporting the strike two months ago, changed its mind only after workers demonstrated outside the Cabinet in downtown Cairo, and now abandoned the workers completely again. Negotiations between the Saudi owner of the factory and the workers are stuck in part because the owner refuses to re-employ strike leaders who were fired after a previous strike - despite <a href="http://scandegypt.blogspot.com/2009/09/historic-verdict-in-favour-of-tanta.html">a court verdict</a> ordering him to do so.</div>Per Björklundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05996385469301623310noreply@blogger.com0