The discussion yesterday afternoon ended with the injunction boss of the hotel who feared that the gathering of 40 people attract trouble in his establishment. The discussion continued in small groups to propose forms of collective action, memorable and meaningful.
We have to face facts: the march is stopped, the international split, the expression impossible and unattainable ... Gaza. Maybe we had dreamed? It did not happen a year ago, the bombing never took place, the city is cleared of the card and memory, that piece of territory is buried under the rubble ...
We propose illustrate the situation we gagging her mouth with packing tape on which are inscribed with the slogans: FREE GAZA CITY, GAZA SILENCE DIES, REMEMBER GAZA ... The idea pleases.
sooner said the streets in search of large scotches: the shop inventory of school accessories goes!
Back to our hotel to summarize the day and eat at the fish a bream neighbor. Invites us an SMS at 8.30 tomorrow for a meeting. There is talk of a gathering unit of all organizations for the next 31 December, the day originally scheduled international march in Gaza. The U.S. Code Pink is to maneuver and we'll know more tomorrow.
Patrice sets very late to the montage of images from the bus in the morning and send our message every day.
For the last day of the year, we get early and find members of our group at the second hotel. The news of the night are confused: the coordination would be made to 400 people and was limited to the U.S. proposal without discussion: convergence in small groups to the Egyptian Museum and rally outside the museum at 10am 30.
The meaning and symbol are obviously questionable. No specific slogan, no objective reminded, in these conditions many are reluctant to go there not to be dragged into initiatives or behind slogans they do not share. Others, eager to act for a week of waiting, wish to be present in solidarity. In the end everyone is left free to participate or not these initiatives, with all the recommendations carefully.
The fact that no organization does not support these Egyptian social gathering is not conducive to mobilize. If the act is understandable frustration as motivation, it is not sufficient, a minimum of direction is necessary.
In this complex situation, we return positive information: The Embassy of France has indicated that the clarity of our strategy should allow us to perform missions spread over the year. That is the meaning of our presence here beyond the sad anniversary, and communication opportunity it creates, it is good to build over time, to act more consistently and probably less visible.
Around 10 am those who want to head to the museum solo or by two or three. Along the way, a first mob cap is on an avenue converging the museum plaza, between two airlines. A group of ten people has deployed a pink banner that reads " WOMEN'S SAYS GAZA FOR FREEDOM. " We remain a moment on the sidewalk in front as the group was surrounded by police and demonstrators that mask their boards. Undercover police are to leave onlookers who linger and ask us not to stay there. We continue to the museum and Tahrir Square, where the large avenue along the museum is closed to traffic. The usual chaos of cars up a notch, the few taxis that run between the traffic police (many) are forced to backtrack. Along the Avenue by foot, we hit a roadblock, must wait. A little further on a tight cordon of uniformed policemen contains a group of protesters that we see Palestinian flags over their heads. A banner is hoisted into a tree. Impossible to approach.
We go around the block and come back on a street riot police premises, helmets and boots that push the protesters on the sidewalk level with the street and vehicles running on it. The police presence is impressive including the number of civilians that are identified quite well and circulate the passersby. They come in small packages in covered blue pickup. We jump in a taxi to take pictures as discreetly and then we try to move the museum grounds. From outside a fake taxi dissuade us from going to the museum at this time and we moved to a city tour ... Big String! Unlike yesterday bags are searched at the entrance and my rolls of tape are obviously suspect. Patrice him pencils tangle between two nationalities, so we are firmly and quickly extended to the exit. Enough for the morning and hunt images. We return.
In the afternoon running SMS: Go you to 17 hours for a video project for TV stations and the two bus yesterday are finally left with volunteers and representatives of non-bearers of their own messages rather than international solidarity blocked in Cairo.
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