FED:Australian Egyptians celebrate

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2011
FED:Australian Egyptians celebrate

By Vincent Morello and Matthew Sadler

SYDNEY, Feb 12 AAP - Australia's Egyptian community is jubilant over President Hosni
Mubarak's resignation after almost three straight weeks of mass demonstrations in Cairo.

Immigrant Egyptians living in state capitals across the country have rallied to celebrate
the triumph of "people power" in their former homeland.

Pro-democracy demonstrators had risked all in order to undermine the 30-year Mubarak
regime overwhelmingly condemned as oppressive and totalitarian.

And on Saturday, hundreds of Australian Egyptians gathered in Sydney, Melbourne and
Brisbane to celebrate the news overnight that Mubarak was finally stepping down.

Nour Eldin Tarraf, from the Sydney Egyptian Revolution Solidarity Committee, fought
back tears as he praised Egypt's young professionals who sparked the protest movement,.

"On the 25th of January, the internet generation, our generation, said 'enough'," Mr
Tarraf told supporters at a Sydney Town Hall rally.

"Egyptians took to the streets from all walks of life - men, women, Muslims and Christians,
old and young, rich and poor.

"All of them hand in hand, wanting their freedom. They wanted their dignity back. The
Egyptian people led by the youth."

Perihan Salam said Egyptians had been "unfree" only a day ago.

"But today, I am more than honoured across seas and oceans, across lands and skies,
to reach out my hand and ask you to hold mine," Ms Salam told the crowd.

"I shake hands with you as free and full of hope in the name of God."

Clair Mallinson, Amnesty International Australia's national director, called on Egypt's
interim leaders to end torture and discrimination and support the basic rights of all
citizens.

Around 500 people attended a similar rally in Melbourne.

One tweeter on the social networking website Twitter said: "Lizzy said fantastic turnout
in Melbourne for standing in solidarity with Egypt."

Another tweeter wrote: "In solidarity, Melbourne stands with the people of Egypt."

A joint statement on Saturday by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister
Kevin Rudd said fundamental reform was needed to "ensure the opportunity and freedoms
that ordinary Egyptians have been calling for".

"Australia calls for constitutional reform and a clear timetable towards free and fair
elections and a representative civilian government that ordinary Egyptians have been calling
for," the statement said.

But Mr Rudd told ABC Radio many questions confront the Egyptian people and also the

international community.

"The first of those questions is the precise role of the military council now in paving
the way towards democratic elections," he said.

"Furthermore, what is the continuing role of the interim cabinet appointed by then-president
Mubarak and vice-president Suleiman?

"Thirdly, will there be a new interim government appointed for the purposes of making
revisions to the Egyptian constitution to hold the elections?

"And fourthly, what would be the timetable for such elections?"

Mr Rudd said the process towards democracy and the holding of free and fair elections
"must be made clear as soon as possible".

"The process must be agreed upon peacefully and the preparations must be in accordance
with the proper process."

Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop echoed Labor's sentiments in a statement on Saturday.

"It is important that steps are taken quickly to ensure free and fair elections are
held as soon as possible," the statement said.

AAP vpm/it/

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