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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'The Egyptian army took their orders from us' | 'The Egyptian army took their orders from us' |
| (2 months later) | |
| Sunday 30 June | Sunday 30 June |
| Today we had two demonstrations in Cairo – one in Tahrir Square, and one outside Ittihadiya, the presidential palace. I was in our operation centre near Tahrir, working out the routes of the marches, making sure there were medical supplies and food for everyone, and keeping an eye on security. We weren't expecting as many people as there were – we were worried they'd be at work. When we chose 30 June as the date, we forgot it was a Sunday [the first day of the Egyptian working week]. | Today we had two demonstrations in Cairo – one in Tahrir Square, and one outside Ittihadiya, the presidential palace. I was in our operation centre near Tahrir, working out the routes of the marches, making sure there were medical supplies and food for everyone, and keeping an eye on security. We weren't expecting as many people as there were – we were worried they'd be at work. When we chose 30 June as the date, we forgot it was a Sunday [the first day of the Egyptian working week]. |
| So we were surprised when so many people turned out across the country – millions of people. In our calculations, we figured that out of all the people who signed the petition calling for Morsi to go, only 20%-25% of them would turn out. | So we were surprised when so many people turned out across the country – millions of people. In our calculations, we figured that out of all the people who signed the petition calling for Morsi to go, only 20%-25% of them would turn out. |
| I always believed that Morsi was going to go. And on the 30th, when I saw so many people in the streets, I was certain about it. | I always believed that Morsi was going to go. And on the 30th, when I saw so many people in the streets, I was certain about it. |
| Monday 1 July | Monday 1 July |
| After [General Abdel Fatah al-] Sisi made his 48-hour ultimatum, we had a meeting straight afterwards. I was worried because I thought it might be an attempt by the army to ride the wave, and to take an advantage from the situation – and to take power for themselves. But I also thought that if there was a coup, then Sisi would himself face a backlash within the military itself. I've studied in military college, and a lot of my former colleagues assured me in recent weeks that they would support us. | After [General Abdel Fatah al-] Sisi made his 48-hour ultimatum, we had a meeting straight afterwards. I was worried because I thought it might be an attempt by the army to ride the wave, and to take an advantage from the situation – and to take power for themselves. But I also thought that if there was a coup, then Sisi would himself face a backlash within the military itself. I've studied in military college, and a lot of my former colleagues assured me in recent weeks that they would support us. |
| In the end, we decided to make a moderate statement about Sisi's intervention, because it seemed like he was playing the role of an older man, trying to resolve an argument between two brothers in a household, and it would have been insulting to dismiss it. So we went for a moderate statement, that did not dismiss nor give in to the army. | In the end, we decided to make a moderate statement about Sisi's intervention, because it seemed like he was playing the role of an older man, trying to resolve an argument between two brothers in a household, and it would have been insulting to dismiss it. So we went for a moderate statement, that did not dismiss nor give in to the army. |
| On the same day, there was a statement from the presidency, saying that they hadn't been informed about Sisi's statement – so it felt then that the army was on our side. | On the same day, there was a statement from the presidency, saying that they hadn't been informed about Sisi's statement – so it felt then that the army was on our side. |
| Tuesday 2 July | Tuesday 2 July |
| Morsi's speech that night was very beautiful for us. We were sitting in our offices watching it on television – and we said it felt like he was working for us. He didn't say anything. People outside in the streets were calling for him to go, and he came out and made that speech. | Morsi's speech that night was very beautiful for us. We were sitting in our offices watching it on television – and we said it felt like he was working for us. He didn't say anything. People outside in the streets were calling for him to go, and he came out and made that speech. |
| But nothing he could have offered by that point would have mattered. | But nothing he could have offered by that point would have mattered. |
| Wednesday 3 July | Wednesday 3 July |
| At around five or six, we weren't sure if Morsi had gone yet or not, so we went out on the balcony to see what was going on. By 7pm, it was official, so we went down to Tahrir with Egyptian hats and flags, and started celebrating. It was one of the most beautiful days I've ever seen. Some people were celebrating until 5am – but I was so tired I went back to the office at midnight, and went to sleep. | At around five or six, we weren't sure if Morsi had gone yet or not, so we went out on the balcony to see what was going on. By 7pm, it was official, so we went down to Tahrir with Egyptian hats and flags, and started celebrating. It was one of the most beautiful days I've ever seen. Some people were celebrating until 5am – but I was so tired I went back to the office at midnight, and went to sleep. |
| It felt like we had finally got back to the original goals of the 2011 revolution – bread, freedom, and social justice. I don't call what happened that day a coup. Sisi and the army took their cue from the people. They had many previous chances to do what they did but they didn't take them. But once millions of people went out and started chanting for the army to step in, they took their orders from us. The army did not take over power. They were merely a partner in the democratic change we were seeking. | It felt like we had finally got back to the original goals of the 2011 revolution – bread, freedom, and social justice. I don't call what happened that day a coup. Sisi and the army took their cue from the people. They had many previous chances to do what they did but they didn't take them. But once millions of people went out and started chanting for the army to step in, they took their orders from us. The army did not take over power. They were merely a partner in the democratic change we were seeking. |
| Thursday 4 July | Thursday 4 July |
| We had discussions about whether to leave Tahrir or not. We were sure that the [Muslim] Brotherhood would try to occupy the squares if we left, so we decided to stay. We knew this wouldn't be finished in just one night – and we didn't want to make the same mistake we made after the 2011 revolution. | We had discussions about whether to leave Tahrir or not. We were sure that the [Muslim] Brotherhood would try to occupy the squares if we left, so we decided to stay. We knew this wouldn't be finished in just one night – and we didn't want to make the same mistake we made after the 2011 revolution. |
| Friday 5 July | Friday 5 July |
| We knew that the Brotherhood might escalate the situation, so we stayed on standby. We have a network of activists on the ground, telling us about what is going. Yesterday, there was an attack by thousands of Muslim Brothers outside Maspero [the state media centre, near Tahrir]. I got a call, and we were able to get down there and fight back. We are still ready in case they attack Tahrir or the presidential palace. | We knew that the Brotherhood might escalate the situation, so we stayed on standby. We have a network of activists on the ground, telling us about what is going. Yesterday, there was an attack by thousands of Muslim Brothers outside Maspero [the state media centre, near Tahrir]. I got a call, and we were able to get down there and fight back. We are still ready in case they attack Tahrir or the presidential palace. |
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