There in the center, workmen rushed to put the finishing touches
on the base of what the government says will be a memorial dedicated
to the protesters killed in Egypt's political turmoil, which has
seen two presidents ousted from power in 2011 and 2013.
But the turmoil is not over. Even now, soldiers routinely block off
the often-deserted square with armored personnel carriers and barbed
wire on days authorities fear protests and clashes could reach the
central Cairo plaza. Tuesday marks the anniversary of some of the
fiercest confrontations between protesters and security forces near
the square — and some say the memorial doesn't honor the dead as
much as it tries to paper over the turmoil still gripping the Arab
world's most populous country.
"No transitional justice starts by building a memorial in Tahrir,"
said political activist Rasha Azab, who took part in the 2011 and
2012 clashes. "I have no doubt that this memorial will be destroyed
soon. It doesn't represent anything."
The memorial construction is part of a government plan to show that
the country has regained stability since its 2011 Arab Spring
uprising that saw longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak step down and the
July 3 popularly-backed military coup that ousted Islamist President
Mohammed Morsi. A short walk away, authorities plan major
renovations at the famed Egyptian Museum as well.
The yellow-stone memorial at Tahrir will be dedicated to the
"martyrs of the two revolutions," Cairo Gov. Galal Said has said.
Authorities will hold a competition to choose a sculpture to be
hoisted on the memorial, Egypt's state news agency MENA quoted Said
as saying.
On Monday, Interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi inaugurated the
monument's foundation amid tight security at Tahrir, with all
entrances to the square sealed off by police.
Watching workers lay stones at the memorial Saturday evening, Amr
Suleiman, a bank worker, praised the government's efforts to claim
the square from what he described as incessant dissent.
"This is perfect," Suleiman said. "It's better than the sit-ins and
all the thugs, thieves and beggars who were hanging out here."
Mahmoud Osman, who came to the square with his wife and two children
waving Egyptian flags, said he was happy the government finally is
honoring those who died demanding change.
"This step should have come long ago," Osman said.
[to top of second column] |
But similar refurbishing efforts by successive governments since the
2011 uprising ended up derailed by new protests, though this latest
attempt is the largest structure built by authorities there since
the revolution. Some view the official efforts to beautify the
square as an attempt to deny them access to an area that has become
a symbol of opposition to authoritarian rule. Disputes also erupted
when workers tried to start painting over spray-paint graffiti
nearby honoring fallen protesters or those with strong political
messages.
The new memorial also comes as Tuesday marks the bloody
confrontations between protesters and the police during Egypt's past
two years that erupted in Mohammed Mahmoud Street. The street begins
at Tahrir and leads to the country's Interior Ministry, which is in
charge of the police.
At least 45 protesters died in the 2011 clashes there that began on
Nov. 19 and went on for days. Another three died in clashes that
erupted there during a commemoration last year, which included
protests against the police and Morsi's government.
Many fear the second anniversary of the clash will be no less
violent. Supporters of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group plan
protests Tuesday, as do revolutionary groups. A planned World Cup
qualifier between Ghana and Egypt will be played in Cairo the same
day.
In a televised statement Sunday, Interior Ministry spokesman Hani
Abdel Latif said police will protect the planned rallies Tuesday,
though it warned that authorities would deal harshly with anyone who
turned to violence.
"The Interior Ministry offers its condolences to all the martyrs of
the revolution whose pure blood was shed to water the tree of
national struggle," Latif said.
But those words came as no comfort to those killed by police.
Mohammed Abdel-Moneim, who lost his young son Mustafa in the 2011
clashes, dismissed the government plans for beautifying Tahrir
Square.
"This memorial will not benefit me. My first and last objective is
retribution," he said. "That's what will cure my sadness and my pain
— and his mother's, who is still crying every day."
[Associated
Press; TONY G. GABRIEL]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|