A Besieged People and Suppressed Anger

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

As if Egyptian citizens don’t already suffer from enough incidents of negligence, rising prices, the IMF’s conditions, and placing full responsibility on the average citizen, there’s also the political and societal blockage imposed by General Sisi.

This morning, Ramses Station saw a horrific accident that took the lives of dozens of citizens and injured many others, in a scene that reflects how this authority views its lower-income and less-privileged citizens.

This station, where millions of pounds were spent on installing surveillance cameras, witnessed the burning of dozens of citizens without any means for another citizen to extinguish the fire.
We recall the General’s statement in May 2017: “Instead of spending 10 billion dollars on developing the railways, we put them in the bank and get a billion pounds in interest.” This is how the General and his regime view the lives of their citizens, and this is how he conveys his vision to his subordinates.
The regime spends hundreds of billions on building a new capital, the largest mosque, the largest church, and the tallest tower. Still, it views the development of the country’s most important means of transportation with a broker’s logic.

Some may argue that the incident should not be politicized, but development is a political will, and so is neglecting it. Choosing to preserve citizens’ lives is a decision, and so is choosing to ignore them.
The citizen is no longer safe, even if he stays away from politics and becomes, under economic conditions, a prisoner to the struggle for daily bread. He is no longer safe even if he shows loyalty and obedience to the ruling authority.

The Revolutionary Socialists extend their sympathies to the Egyptians and affirm that they have not forgotten the Upper Egypt train disaster or the ferry tragedy, nor the negligence and authority’s indifference that caused both. Indeed, it will not forget today’s incident nor the authority that views them as just a number and a burden, asking, “Where am I supposed to get it from?”