NSW:Egyptian Australians protest military rule

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2011
NSW:Egyptian Australians protest military rule

SYDNEY, Dec 24 AAP - Being an Egyptian Australian is not easy at the moment, with footage
of the uprising stirring up feelings of helplessness, guilt and anger, Mohamed Ghazal
says.

"You feel pretty helpless. You feel guilty ... You feel that I am here enjoying myself
while other people are fighting your battle for you," he said on Saturday.

In an effort to show solidarity for protesters in Tahrir Square, Mr Ghazal along with
20 others gathered outside the Egyptian Consulate General's office in Sydney on Saturday,
and called for an end to military rule in Egypt.

The small band of people passionately bellowed catchcries of the revolution, yelling
in Egyptian "The people want to overthrow the regime".

They then held a minute's silence for those who have died since the revolution started
on January 25 when millions of protesters took over Cairo's Tahrir Square and demanded
the overthrow of the Hosni Mubarak regime.

"We are hoping to raise awareness in the Australian public and also to talk to the
Egyptian Consulate and pass on the message that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces
must step down," Sam Mansour, Secretary of the Egyptian Association for Change, Australia
said.

"They have broken the trust the people have given them after the revolution."

Mr Mansour, whose brothers, sisters and parents remain in Egypt, said the hope that
overflowed when Mubarak was ousted has since been transformed into feelings of pessimism
and concern.

"The optimism was there back then but now the situation is completely different."

Fellow event organiser Farid Farid called on Federal Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and
Prime Minister Julia Gillard to intervene and place pressure on America.

"They should put pressure on the US to stop aiding the military, to stop giving them
bullets and tear gas," he said.

"If they don't have the weapons they wouldn't shoot."

For Mohamed Ghazal, he is looking forward to returning to Egypt next year and play
a part in the revolution.

"I will definitely go to Tahrir Square," he said.

"I know it sounds strange but a big chunk of me is wishing for a bullet."

AAP lcf/jnb

KEYWORD: EGYPT AUST (PICS TO COME)

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