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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=ES link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Karem and Philp,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I am Manuel. I wanted to answer to your letter from Cairo (I feel Egypt close, I lived there in 1992 and 1993). It seems that Mark puts us in contact, but he has not sent it to you. So, I am doing it now. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I know Carolina, Ternura and Mikifus have received it through the squares list, but I keep them posted. I noticed and appreciate Mikifus attention. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In this letter you will see what I am striving for already many years, travelling to many countries, always working on this, and any cooperation proposal in this regard will get my full support.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best wishes to all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Manuel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Some considerations about our movement Arab Spring, Occupy, 15M:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>1. We all are very concerned about what is going on in Syria. Ceasefire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>has ended, horrible crimes will go on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It seems that the opposition to Assad regime put together again the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>interests of Al Qaeda and the CIA because the regime there is a close ally<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>to Russia. Russia has there the only military base outside its territory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>2. We see also what is going on in Egypt as an outcome of the Arab<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Spring. Elections have taken place and the two candidates for presidency<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>are: one, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and the other one the heirs of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>the former president Mubarak and also a general. I remember you that the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Muslim Brotherhood were outlawed when they killed the previous President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Anwar El Sadat after he signed peace with Israel. Then they were supposed<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>the authors of a number of tourists and Christian Copts killings in the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>nineties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>3. We have seen what has happened in Libya as a result of the Arab<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Spring.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>4. We have seen also what has happened in Bahrain as a result of the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Arab Spring too. There the mostly Shia demonstrators claiming against the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Sunni power were quelled by Saudi troops trained by UK. In Bahrain, as<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>opposite to Syria, is the EEUU who docks its fleet for the Pacific there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Our movement, 15M, Occupy, Arab Spring, here and there, everywhere claims<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>for more democracy and against capitalism.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Democracy, first of all, is a system successfully created in Greece upon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>slavery. And the same goes for Rome. Modern democracy is stable only in<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>rich countries, where also immigrants without rights occupy the lowest part<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>of society.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In not so rich countries, democracy leads to religious parties taking power,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>as in the whole Arab world. In the nineties, when the FIS, Islamic Front of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Salvation, won in Algeria by more than 90%, the West supported a military<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>coup.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In other countries, not so rich countries, democracy leads to semi<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>dictatorial systems or populist regimes as in Latin America and maybe in<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Russia, Asia and Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Indeed, if democracy is “free” enough, poor people will use state power,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>through a party, to redistribute country wealth even if they need to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>expropriate from the rich people. This might be also our movement case<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>claiming against capitalism….(I know pretty well that succor those in need<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>is urgent....and I am for it too) but I do not think it is a way OUT.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This is life….No need to add that “democracy is the lesser evil, etc.” Or,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>what we have is not "real democracy". I am talking about facing our problem<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>(human related), not about making politics (state related). And in the same<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>way, am using intelligence here, not ideology..<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Therefore “more” democracy might have some sense, but it is not the way out,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>nor it is fighting against capitalism because this is also the way to see<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>things from inside of our state but disregarding the state context which has<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>to compete (As China's case, a communist country, show us).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>We have to open our eyes as human, Egyptians, Germans, Americans, Syrians,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Chinese, Spanish, Brazilians…. we are all the same because what is important<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>is to be human, no nationals, as we can understand each other, work together<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>and we can put ourselves in other people shoes –this is the key to a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>solution, our common sense. Common sense valid not for the 99% (it actually<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>goes to 50% & 50%, especially if -state- violence is used) but for the 100%.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Let’s face reality now. I am not especially familiar with Syria domestic<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>problems, but I understand it that way: Every country has internal problems,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>divisions. That division might be a question of races, faiths, beliefs,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>clans, tribes, classes or just, what it is never missed rich and poor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>people. And of course, one of those parts (to be more stable the rich) is in<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>power, while the others are in the “opposition” (usually as a result of a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>previous war) and therefore submitted to state power (force) controlled by<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>the first one. I think in Syria a number of factors, I guess mainly the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>invasion to Iraq and other related developments, has facilitated border<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>leaking and illegal weapons have been successfully introduced in the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>country, because in every state only the state is allowed to have them. This<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>is all. There is not much to talk about who is right or who is wrong or to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>talk about justice (all that is ideology again). The thing is that there is<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>already a FRONT there, same as happened in Libya and this is also a safe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>haven for foreign intervention/help. (Not so safe as Russia is there to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>check maybe, or not as safe as it was in Libya´s case)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Now, what is the cause of human disaster? The cause of human disaster is<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>that we live grouped in armed units called states, and we have to be this<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>way to exist in front of the other states (there is not democracy there were<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>an army requires a hierarchy. This is what is going on in Egypt now) This<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>means that a part has to control on the army, other forces and is in power,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>while the other parts have to submit because for a country or armed unit to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>exist among the 200 armed units in the world it has do so, as other<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>countries are also organized this way to compete or exist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Only if we see it, we can look and find a way OUT of this misery. And this<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>way out is a call for the human community, which is achieved through global<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>common and total disarmament (process), as armies are against each other,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>together it will be easy to disarm. In this way, humans will live and to<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>work together as EQUALS because hierarchy is no longer needed. While we<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>still need each other as we cannot survive each one on our own.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This is: we are free, no violence nobody is enforcing nobody, but it does<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>not mean chaos, but on the contrary, unity, human community, because we all<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>actually live spiritually and materially together.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>(I have tried to tell you many times that if we are not living spiritually<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>and materially together already is because we are prevented by the simple<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>existence of the weapon in nature which has conditioned our agenda or<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>history generating the armed units as our way of organizing. I insist once<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>more; think about a weapon as experiencing its existence –not as an idea)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I hope our movement can play the role as cell and light of the human<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>community and I am calling for you to work on that purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best wishes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Manuel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Mark Barrett [mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> martes, 05 de junio de 2012 13:58<br><b>To:</b> Karem Irene Said<br><b>Cc:</b> rizkphilip@googlemail.com; mikifus kimifus; carolina; Ternura Rojas; Manuel<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: Cairo Open Letter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Philip and Karem<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks for putting us in touch Karem :)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I am ccing Mikifus, Manuel, Carolina and Ternura from Spain so you can all say hello and connect you to the global square. Also I know Manuel wanted to send a message to you so here is the link up. Also, Philip and Karem do consider blogging direct (anonyously if you prefer) to <a href="http://peoplesassemblies.org">peoplesassemblies.org</a> about the situation in Egypt. Happy to set you (and anyone else in the movements) with an account. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>In solidarity!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Mark<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 3 June 2012 00:21, Karem Irene Said <<a href="mailto:ksaid@stanford.edu" target="_blank">ksaid@stanford.edu</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Mark,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks so much for posting the letter! I have included Philip here, one of the Comrades from Cairo, so you two can be in touch. Hope it's alright that I didn't Reply All.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>All the best,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Karem<br><br><o:p></o:p></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>From: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>"Mark Barrett" <<a href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com" target="_blank">marknbarrett@googlemail.com</a>><br><b>To: </b>"occupyus" <<a href="mailto:occupyus@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">occupyus@googlegroups.com</a>>, <a href="mailto:917-arts-and-culture@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">917-arts-and-culture@googlegroups.com</a>, <a href="mailto:pan@lists.takethesquare.net" target="_blank">pan@lists.takethesquare.net</a><br><b>Cc: </b>"occupylondon" <<a href="mailto:occupylondon@groupspaces.com" target="_blank">occupylondon@groupspaces.com</a>>, <a href="mailto:democracyvillage@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">democracyvillage@googlegroups.com</a>, "<<a href="mailto:occupycomms@email-lists.org" target="_blank">occupycomms@email-lists.org</a>>" <<a href="mailto:occupycomms@email-lists.org" target="_blank">occupycomms@email-lists.org</a>><br><b>Sent: </b>Saturday, June 2, 2012 2:43:55 AM<br><b>Subject: </b>Cairo Open Letter<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'><br><br>Posted at <a href="http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2012/06/open-letter-from-cairo/" target="_blank">http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2012/06/open-letter-from-cairo/</a><br>and<br><a href="http://acampadabcninternacional.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/egypts-elections-under-military-rule-join-our-resistance-to-the-counter-revolution-by-comrades-from-cairo/" target="_blank">http://acampadabcninternacional.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/egypts-elections-under-military-rule-join-our-resistance-to-the-counter-revolution-by-comrades-from-cairo/</a><br>><br>> 2012/6/1 <<a href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com" target="_blank">marknbarrett@googlemail.com</a>><br>>><br>>> Received at PAN this evening, am in process of getting more info on it -<br>>><br>>> Hello,<br>>><br>>> I would like to pass along an open letter sent by Comrades from Cairo,<br>>> which explains the counter-revolutionary strategies at work in Egypt's<br>>> upcoming presidential runoff:<br>>><br>>> Egypt’s elections under military rule: Join our resistance to the<br>>> counter-revolution<br>>><br>>> To you at whose side we struggle,<br>>> From the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, the powers that be have<br>>> launched a vicious counter-revolution to contain our struggle and subsume it<br>>> by drowning the people’s voices in a process of meaningless, piecemeal<br>>> political reforms. This process aimed at deflecting the path of revolution<br>>> and the Egyptian people’s demands for "bread, freedom and social justice."<br>>><br>>> Only 18 days into our revolution, and since we forced Mubarak out of<br>>> power, the discourse of the political classes and the infrastructure of the<br>>> elites, including both state and private media, continues to privilege<br>>> discussions of rotating Ministers, cabinet reshuffles, referendums,<br>>> committees, constitutions and most glaringly, parliamentary and now<br>>> presidential elections.<br>>><br>>> Our choice from the very beginning was to reject in their entirety the<br>>> regime's attempts to drag the people’s revolution into a farcical dialogue<br>>> with the counter-revolution shrouded in the discourse of a "democratic<br>>> process" which neither promotes the demands of the revolution nor represents<br>>> any substantial, real democracy. Thus our revolution continues, and must<br>>> continue.<br>>><br>>> Egyptians now find themselves in a vulnerable moment. Official political<br>>> discourse would have the world believe that the technologies of democracy<br>>> presently spell a choice between ‘two evils’. These are: Ahmed Shafiq, who<br>>> guarantees the consolidation of the outgoing regime and its return with a<br>>> vengeance, openly promising a criminal assault on the revolution under the<br>>> fascist spectres of ‘security’ and ‘stability’, and the false promise of<br>>> protection for religious minorities (against whom the regime systematically<br>>> stages assault and isolation as part of its<br>>> fear-mongering campaigns); and Mohamed Morsi, the candidate of the Muslim<br>>> Brotherhood whom we are expected to imagine might ‘save’ us from the ‘old<br>>> regime’ through the myths of cultural renaissance - all while consolidating<br>>> its financial stronghold and the regional capitalist hegemony that fosters<br>>> and depends on it for a climate of rampant exploitation of Egypt’s people<br>>> and their resources. This consolidation, we are certain, will be accompanied<br>>> by the subsequent<br>>> marshalling of the military apparatus to protect the emboldened ruling<br>>> class of the Muslim Brotherhood from the wrath and revolt of its victims:<br>>> the multitude whom the leaders of the organization have historically fought<br>>> by condemning and outlawing our struggles for livelihood, dignity and<br>>> equality.<br>>><br>>> According to election officials, most voters themselves (75%) have chosen<br>>> neither Shafiq nor Morsi in the first round of elections. We refuse to<br>>> recognize the choice of “lesser of two evils” when these evils masquerade in<br>>> equal measure for the same regime. We believe there is another choice. And<br>>> in times where perceived common sense is as far from the truth as can be, we<br>>> find the need to speak out once again.<br>>><br>>> We perceive the affair of presidential elections in Egypt as an attempt by<br>>> the as yet prevailing military junta and its counter-revolutionary forces to<br>>> garner international legitimacy to cement the existing regime and deliver<br>>> more lethal blows to the Egyptian revolution. We ask you to join us in<br>>> resisting the logic of this process that seeks to further entrench the<br>>> counter-revolution.<br>>><br>>> Our struggle does not exist in isolation from yours. What is revolution,<br>>> but the immediate and uncompromising rejection of the status quo: of<br>>> militarized power, exploitation, class stratification, and relentless police<br>>> violence—just to name<br>>> a few of the most basic and cancerous features of society in the present<br>>> moment. These structural realities are not unique to Egypt or the Egyptian<br>>> revolution. In both the South and the North communities resist what we are<br>>> meant to accept without questioning, rising up against the narrow realist<br>>> perspective that tells us that democracy is merely choosing the lesser of<br>>> ‘two evils’, and that the election of either represents a choice in<br>>> government rather than what it is: an affirmation of the only government<br>>> that exists - that of unbridled, repressive and dehumanizing<br>>> capitalist relations. We stand in solidarity with the masses of precarious<br>>> and endangered people who have chosen to defend their being from an<br>>> aggressive global system that is in crisis; indeed, a sputtering system<br>>> that, in its twilight hours, reaches for unprecedented levels of<br>>> surveillance, militarization and violence to quell our insurrections.<br>>><br>>> We must make clear that despite the fact of the international political<br>>> establishment’s praise of the ‘democratic’ nature of the first round of the<br>>> Egyptian presidential elections, we strongly and categorically reject the<br>>> outcome of these elections for they do not represent the desires of the<br>>> Egyptian people that fought in the January 25th Revolution.<br>>><br>>> Furthermore, we categorically reject the elections themselves in<br>>> principle, for the following reasons:<br>>><br>>> 1- Even by the standards of the deceased and irrelevant systems of<br>>> representation that once<br>>> existed in the Global North, no ‘free and fair elections’ can take place<br>>> under the supervision<br>>> of a power-hungry military junta, vying relentlessly for continued<br>>> political domination and the protection of their vast economic empire, so<br>>> relentlessly, indeed, that no constitution exists to define the powers of<br>>> any presidency. How can we tolerate a military dictatorship’s supervision of<br>>> any political process when thousands of Egyptians continue to languish in<br>>> the dungeons of military prison after undergoing arbitrary arrest, campaigns<br>>> of systematic torture, and exceptional military tribunals.<br>>><br>>> 2- The abuse of law in favor of the power mongering of the ruling military<br>>> generals: in order to run the junta's preferred candidate, former Prime<br>>> Minister Ahmed Shafiq, the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission has<br>>> simply and blatantly disregarded the law of political exclusion recently<br>>> passed in order to ban the candidacy of any members of Mubarak’s regime from<br>>> running in the presidential elections.<br>>><br>>> 3- The absurdity of unlimited power concentrated in the hands of an<br>>> electoral commission made up of central figures from the Mubarak era who are<br>>> meant to supervise a ‘democratic’ process.<br>>><br>>> 4- The vague programs marketed by the most strongly backed candidates fly<br>>> in the face of the values and object of the revolution, the very reason why<br>>> we are even having these elections today and the cause for which over a<br>>> thousand martyrs gave their lives: "bread, freedom and social justice."<br>>> If these elections take place and are internationally recognized the<br>>> regime will have received the world’s stamp of approval to make void<br>>> everything the revolution stands for. If these elections are to pass while<br>>> we remain silent, we believe the coming regime will license itself to hunt<br>>> us down, lock us up and torture us in an attempt to quell all forms of<br>>> resistance to its very raison d'ętre.<br>>><br>>> We continue on our revolutionary path committed to resisting military rule<br>>> and putting an end to military tribunals for civilians and the release of<br>>> all detainees in military prisons. We continue to struggle in the workplace,<br>>> in schools and universities and with popular committees in our<br>>> neighborhoods. But our fight is as much against the governments and systems<br>>> supporting the regime that suppresses us. We are determined to audit loan<br>>> agreements that did and continue to occur between international financial<br>>> institutions or foreign governments with a regime that<br>>> claims to represent us while thriving from exploiting and repressing us.<br>>> We call on you to join us in our struggle against the reinforcements of the<br>>> counter-revolution. How will you stand in solidarity with us? If we are<br>>> under attack, you are also under attack for our battle is a global one<br>>> against the forces that seek our obedience and suppression.<br>>><br>>> We stand with the ongoing revolution, a revolution that will only be<br>>> realized by the strength, community and persistence of the people; not<br>>> through a poisonous referendum for military rule.<br>>><br>>> Comrades from Cairo<br>>><br>><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><br clear=all><br>-- <br>Apathy is Dead ! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarider/5254770064/#/photos/solarider/5254770064/lightbox/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarider/5254770064/#/photos/solarider/5254770064/lightbox/</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>