Wednesday’s papers: Secular and Islamist groups seek unity to keep sit-in going

According to most newspapers, the two blocs agreed to put aside their differences and take to the streets to voice common grievances. More than 15 parties and groups have signed onto a statement of demands, including ending military trials for civilians, retrying civilians who were convicted by military tribunals, expediting trials for those accused of killing revolution martyrs, holding quick and fair trials for ex-officials, offering appropriate compensation to martyrs’ families, raising the living standard and instating minimum and maximum wages, and reactivating the treason law to try ex-officials for political corruption crimes.

 

The signatories listed in Al-Shorouk’s report are mostly non-Islamist groups, with the exception of Jama'a al-Islamiya. Meanwhile, Al-Ahram newspaper reports that the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis said they would engage in the “Friday of Popular Will” protest if secular demonstrators agree not to issue contentious demands, including their call for guidelines for drafting the constitution. In the meantime, they opposed any criticism of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) or the cabinet.

 

Instead of leading with the debate on Friday protests, Al-Akhbar leads with: “A sweeping purge expected today.” The state-owned daily says that leaders of the disbanded National Democratic Party will be sacked from their senior positions in the bureaucracy. It also says that the Treason Law – which some hope will be used for prosecuting regime officials – will be amended and applied and that the new governors will be announced next week. These moves come in compliance with demands echoed earlier this month by hundreds of thousands who took to the streets nationwide, demanding that all state institutions be purged of Mubarak’s men.

 

 

On another front, controversial writer Belal Fadl dedicated his column today in Al-Tahrir newspaper to commenting on the sacking of TV host Dina Abdel Rahman from the privately-owned Dream TV channel. Abdel Rahman was fired earlier this week after arguing with a SCAF consultant who called in to criticize her show for reviewing a column critical of the military.

 

“When we have a civil, elected rule that derives its legitimacy from the people and fears people’s anger, no former or incumbent general will be able to insult any Egyptian citizen because he would be held accountable, and no channel owner will be afraid to upset the military establishment and hence won't decide to pay it a compliment,” wrote Fadl.

 

In his conclusion, Fadl announced that he decided to stop hosting his famous show, “Book summaries,” on Dream TV, “not only to show solidarity with Dina … but because I believe  it would be inappropriate to host a cultural show on channel run in this way."