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Egyptians riot over poverty and rising prices

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Thousands of poverty stricken Egyptian workers rioted this week at Egypt's largest textile factory over rising prices and stagnant salaries.

The demonstrators torched buildings, looted shops and hurled bricks at police who retaliated with tear gas the rest of the country staged a nationwide strike. Around 150 people were arrested and 80 wounded.

Across the country thousands skipped work and school in protest over the rising cost of food and poor working conditions.

The prices of basics such as cooking oil and rice have nearly doubled in recent months, amid widespread shortages of government-subsidized bread. Nearly 40 percent of Egypt's 76 million people live below or near the poverty line of $2 a day.

The U.S. backed government in Egypt strongly warned citizens against participating in the strikes and demonstrations. Strikes and protests are illegal in Egypt, and protesters are often detained by Egyptian security forces.
ish757

12 responses // Egyptians riot over poverty and rising prices

  • Very important story, Egypt has long been an ally of the US (because we pay them) and one of the best hopes for future middle east stabilization. Democracy has always been initiated by rebels. When the people rise up, it’s a double edged sword. Hamas won, but found out it’s no picnic to be in charge.
    Pwdrskir
  • This is great. Unions might come next
    515dsm
  • Why is it that governments "farm" their people for labor and then take all the profit? We need to ensure that in the U.S. of A. we keep the right to bear arms.
    resolute
  • Wow, this is a huge step towards democracy in the east, but it never comes easy. I am Egyptian btw, and I support the protests.
    TheRemedy_181
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here and here
    Yes, that many people live in those conditions. but please remember that $2/day in comparison is quite doable if one is taught how to do it. I am not saying that workers do not deserve better wages, everyone does. Of course, these situations are all too common in society today.
    donny_dark_o
  • good story, it really sucks that people have to protest for fair wages.
    justinwillemsen
  • without a doubt do i support these protests. just another sign of the people not letting the mans heavy hand hold them down. i do hope these happenings bring about change.
    contingent_reality
  • The people are making an arguement for improved wages and working conditions. I fear the government's rebuttal will be made with machine guns and attack dogs.
    crob80227
  • "The people are making an arguement for improved wages and working conditions. I fear the government's rebuttal will be made with machine guns and attack dogs."

    in egypt? seriously? they are at least pseudo-democratic. i doubt that they would do anything that is outside the law that is in place there.
    donny_dark_o
  • http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/mena/egypt-bck-1001.htm
    Well, this link to Human Rights Watch suggests that Egypt is not quite as "enlightened" as we like to think.

    Excerpt:

    "Torture in Egypt is widespread and systematic. Security forces and the police routinely torture or ill-treat detainees, particularly during interrogation. In his January 2001 report to the Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture cited thirty-two cases of death in custody, apparently as a result of torture, occurring between 1997 and 1999. Confessions extracted under torture are commonly used as evidence in political trials and form the basis for convictions."

    "Emergency legislation prohibits strikes, public meetings, and election rallies. The government has taken arbitrary measures to stifle the voices of trade union activists who have been outspoken around issues such as worker safety in the state sector."
    crob80227
  • http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/09/news/egypt.php
    Another example of government in action:

    "If parliamentary elections were supposed to be an exercise in democracy, as President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt had promised, they instead served as a reminder to many here of the unyielding, unchecked power of the state."

    "After the banned Muslim Brotherhood began whittling away at the ruling party's monopoly on power, the riot police, plainclothes police officers and armed civilians working for the police began blocking voting stations, preventing supporters of the Brotherhood from casting their votes."

    ""There is nothing for us to do," said Hosni Abdel Salam, 55, who added that it did not even occur to him to ask the government to investigate the death of his brother, Moustafa.

    He said he was standing beside Moustafa on Wednesday evening when he saw police officers fire from a moving police car, killing his brother and wounding eight others."

    ----

    I wonder if Bush got the idea for his new war powers and "detention center" at GitMo from Egypt?
    crob80227
  • please keep in mind that human rights are violated all the time without question here in the United States. you never hear about it but we know it happens.
    donny_dark_o

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