Egypt press plans day without papers in rights protest:
CAIRO (AFP) – Egyptian independent and opposition newspapers will not publish on October 7 in protest at a government clampdown that has seen several journalists sentenced to prison terms in recent weeks.
Editors from 15 newspapers agreed to the protest “against the fierce campaign against the free press in Egypt” at a meeting late on Wednesday, according to a statement received by AFP on Thursday.
See recent entries in the media category for background.
There’s a protest on Midan Talaat Harb due to start in half an hour from now, to protest Eissa’s arrest and the attack on the press. There’s a loudspeaker blaring from the Hizb al-Ghad office telling people to be outraged that the regime and its baltageyya have gone from arresting Ayman Nour and Essam el-Erian to blocking the newspapers, the conscience of the nation, etc etc. There were an incredible number of baltageyya and state security trucks in that area, way before any actual protesters had arrived (even by Cairo standards). Which suggests they are expecting a crowd.
Yeah I saw the protest or the remains of it. They had a huge army, or state security I’m not sure, presence in the Midan and throughout the surrounding area – Tahrir and surroundings were lined with trucks as well.
I am new to Egypt, can you fill me in on the baltageyya (what/who are they and what does the term translate to?) and the state security force v. army?
Thanks.
Baltageyya = hired toughs brought in by state security to push people around as necessary with impunity at such events, and to back up state security numbers. Tend to be preferred for beating people up as harder to pin down and hold accountable since they are in plainclothes.
Thanks