Striking similarities between the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions!

by Bedlam Beggar (Tunisia)

As I am watching the Egyptian revolution unfold, I almost cannot believe how similar the two fights for freedom are. Obviously, Egypt and Tunisia have many common points, especially when it comes to culture. Both have serious grievances, and have been ruled by dictators for decades. It is no surprise that events in one country would have an effect on the one. However, history never repeats itself. I was expecting a different story with dfferent details but hopefully the same ending. Depsite the minor differences, the parallels are unsettling.

Population in Egypt: around 80 million people.
Population in Tunisia: around 10 million people.

Major similarities:

- A revolution made mostly by young people. No Political leaders.
- People chanting anti-government slogans.
- No religious slogans.
- Anonymous, a band of ‘hacktivists,’ launched a campaign of assistance to Tunisians whose Facebook accounts and e-mails were being hacked by the authorities, Facebook groups covering the current news blocked, several NGO, blogs and video-sharing websites censored. Sensitive state websites were hacked. Anonymous supported Egyptians as Mubarak Shut down the internet in an attempt to clamp down on ongoing protests.
- The police use tear gas to crush protests.
- Many people were detained.
- Firing live ammunition at the demonstrators (as well as rubber bullets at first in Egypt)
- Snipers killing demonstrators.
- Police stations, state security buildings, ruling party headquarters were torched.
- The army deploys and people welcome them. Scenes of fraternizations are seen. The army is seen as the saviour of the country as they have a very different reputation from the ministry of interior associated with oppression, abuse and torture.
- The situation is being dealt with as a security threat instead of a political crisis.
- Long queues for bread.
- Presidential speeches delivered during the protests are unconvincing. Both presidents lack credibility. The two peoples demanded the presidents resign but they clinged to power.
- Both presidents sacked their cabinets but refused to step down.
- After the usual scenes of repression, the police are suddenly conspicuous by their absence.
- Egyptian Museum in Cairo attacked / Bardo museum in Tunis attacked.
- Banks and shops are being looted.
- Buildings and factories are set on fire.
- Prisons are torched down (by the government).
- Convicts escaped.
- a hospital was stormed.
- Houses are being attacked. People are terrorized and are in real danger.
- Neighbourhood watch committees are created by residents who take security in their own hands in the absence of the police. Residents protect their properties, set up roadblocks, check cars and arrest suspicious people. The army guards key places like museums and banks.
- A number of the arrested looters admit they were sent by the authorities.
- State TV in both countries parading arrested “criminals” on the verge of tears. On the Egyptian TV, the men, mostly young, were heard crying and admitting they were caught looting shops. They said they were not encouraged to do it by anyone. Tunisian TV showed mute pictures and news presenter commented on them. However, Facebookers revealed later on that the arrest was all staged. I have strong doubts about arrests in Egypt as well. I think the real criminals are not exposed.
- State TV receives phone calls from terrorized citizens asking for help and reporting attacks all night. This amplifies terror and is meant to push people to sacrifice freedom for security.
- People shooting people from an ambulance in Tunisia / Policemen found in an ambulance in Egypt.
- Eyewitnesses accused policemen of supervising looters in Egypt / Eyewitnesses reported policemen looting (some blurry videos were taken).

Some differences:

- Obama gives a speech in the occasion of the growing protests in Egypt.
- State TV downplays the protests in Egypt but they are played out live on Al-Jazeera and followed very closely on probably all international TV channels. In Tunisia, Al-Jazeera is banned but reports on the events relying in Facebook videos shot by ordinary people. State TV is silent on the events. Almost no media coverage at all, until the last week when some foreign news agencies start reporting on the uprising.
- Facebook was used by young people used to organize Egypt’s “Day of Anger” which has extended to a week now. Because internet are shut down by the Egyptian authorities, pictures and videos by bloggers and netizens are hard to get but the protesters are more numerous. In Tunisia, Facebook was not used to organize the protests but rather to fill in the media vacuum. It was a vital tool to inform Tunisians about Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation, people’s reaction, and the killing of protesters. However, on the eve of January 14, the day when Ben Ali fled, Facebookers confirmed they would carry on the protests, despite the president’s concessions. Within a few hours, ten thousand people said they were attending the demonstration on the following day.
- Security forces in Egypt allowed demonstrations to grow without intervening until they lost patience and started dispersing people using water, then tear gas, then rubber bullets and then live ammunitions. Security forces in Tunisia did not allow demonstrations which were quickly and violently aborted. In the last two weeks, when people persisted in demonstrating and dissent spread to most towns up and down the country, security forces started shooting people in the head or the chest using live ammunitions.
- In Egypt, Bedouins used explosives against abusive security forces.
- In Egypt, political parties join in the revolt and present precise demands.
- In Egypt, the revolt which started with no political leader seems to have a face now: ElBaradei, a well-experienced diplomat who can smoothly lead Egypt’s transitional phase to democracy.