Perhaps it’s a coincidence that popular uprisings take
place in winter while military ones happen in summer, as the massive popular
revolution of 1919 took place in March, later the big popular uprising in
January 1977 took place, and then came the massive revolution of January 2011. On
the other side, all military units centralized in Cairo led by Ahmed Orabi
moved towards Abdeen Palace in September 9, 1881, and then we had the army
movement in July 1952, and later what our armed forces did in July 2013.
January has a significant standing in the collective conscience
and to some people including me, as it’s the month when Jesus was born and
baptized; Epiphany. Also, it’s the month when the Egyptian police forces stood
against the British occupation forces in Ismailia when the British army supported
by an armed force of seven thousand soldiers backed by heavy tanks, armored
vehicles and field guns besieged the police station and municipality buildings
in Ismailia while the Egyptian police force, not exceeding eight hundreds in
the barracks and eighty in the municipality building, was armed with the low-efficiency
“Lee-Enfield” rifles.
The Egyptians fought for two hours until they ran out
of bullets. Sixty five men martyred and eighty wounded in that battle from the
Egyptian police, and when there was no other way before the Egyptian heroes but
to negotiate, police officer Mustafa Ref’at, may he rest in peace, set
conditions and directed them to general Matius; chief of occupation forces. In
those conditions, Mustafa Ref’at asked for Egypt’s flag not to be lowered and
for the Egyptian soldiers not to raise their hands up when they go out, and to
come out in a dignified military form, and for the wounded to be transported to
hospitals, and that the soldiers leave their arms inside the building and not
surrender them to the occupation forces…
Higher in rank than general Exham; the British
military leader besieging the police and municipality buildings, Matius agreed
to the conditions. Along with Mustafa Ref’at was his colleague captain
Abdel-Massieh who read Al-Fatiha chapter with everyone else in an
expression of making their pledge to continue resisting and fighting until
death!
Also, January was the month when the legendary leader
Gamal Abdel-Nasser was born as we celebrated his birth centenary few days ago.
Further, it’s the month when building the High Dam; the greatest engineering
project in the world in the twentieth century, began. Moreover, it’s the month
that witnessed the massive popular uprising in 1977 called the Bread revolution
and which Sadat called uprising of the thieves.
Here, I have to say that this public event has a
personal significance to me, as I was one of those accused of inciting those
events, calling for toppling the regime and disrespecting then-president Sadat.
The referral order in case no. 100 inventoried under supreme state security
included my name in addition to others. Despite forty years have passed since
that time, a final verdict was not issued in that case as the sessions were adjourned
indefinitely.
In January 17, 1977, the late hero, fighter and honest
opposer Kamal ed-Din Ref’at; member of the first group of the Free Officers’
movement, leader of resistance in Suez canal area during negotiations for
evacuating the British troops from Egypt, later in charge of many ministries,
and then Egypt’s ambassador in London, and I were invited to a lecture in
Mansoura University talking about democracy. I came back to Cairo at the evening. That was when people started to protest in the streets, as there were groups throwing stones
at the trains in the area from Shubra el-Khaima to Cairo train station. Also in
Ramses Square, masses of people were gathering. I knew that my
home was searched and that I’m wanted. From Jan. 18 until I surrendered myself
in Jan. 28, I spent that time moving between several places. I recall the very
noble role of my friend engineer Ref’at Bayoumi who was keen to accompany me
during my undercover transfers not caring about any dangers!
In the time from January to September 1977, I was detained
in the preventive custody pending further investigation in that case. Despite
cruel living conditions, the prison cells were residence to tens of thinkers,
intellectuals, young men and other professionals and laborers burdened with
their country’s problems. They established a decent common life in those
prisons and later those people were never hesitant to continue struggling in a different
way for what they believe is for the good of Egypt!
I wish I can finish writing my memories about that
long life journey, including my imprisonment time in January 1977, before I die.
And since one cannot change his habits in this old age,
when the popular uprising that turned into a massive revolution in January 25,
2011 took place, I found myself among the huge masses and my office, only 200
meters away from Tahrir Square, was residence for many people including those I
don’t know and who used to come to rest for a little time. This time I was not
alone; however, my three children were also participating in all that including
their eldest who was born five days after I was detained in the appeal prison. In
a fine and elegant style, the big writer Mr. Muhammed Salmawi narrated this in
his memoires, as we were mates in cell no. 27 in the second floor of the appeal
prison.
I wonder what is the connection between January 1952,
January 1977 and that of 2011 and what lies in the conscience of the broad
masses and keeps accumulating until it turns into a great power that if not
well employed and properly guided, will turn into a destructive one. I believe
an academic effort is needed from scholars of sociology, socio-psychology,
history and politics in order to study the connection between those phases of
the Egyptian patriotic struggle no matter who is in the front; Egypt’s army,
police or people since they are all one here.
Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar
This article was published in
Al Ahram newspaper on January 25, 2018.
To see the original article,
go to:
#alahram #ahmed_elgammal
#25_January_2011_revolution
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