#0
I was arrested Monday morning (21st) near the AUC building and held for 35 hrs before being released to Dubai, where I was detained again for 6 hours before finally being allowed to fly on. The police I spoke to told me in no uncertain terms that they don't like Americans "for what they've done." They view all foreigners as conspirators against the state. There is a whole new generation of Mubarak type leaders already holding power in the police forces, and the older guys only care about retirement, while the younger up and comers in the government want their big cars and overseas trips.
I personally witnessed the tactics police are using. I saw plainclothes officers walk from Tahrir, speak with another uniformed officer, get handed a pistol and shotgun and walk to the front of the scrimmage line and fire shots. I watched riot police get hit by their own shotgun blasts, and be carried away unconscious and bleeding from head wounds. The internal security forces intel capability is very impressive, and any foreigner is in danger of being used as a propaganda tool. Police officers also monitor the media stations and ID protestors. From what I could understand, I had been under surveillance for an hour already before being approached by a police officer who asked my name, and where I was from and then summarily hit me across the forehead with his shotgun. I had gained permission from security police to enter the area just minutes before, by walking up to a barricade, holding my 5D up and asking "Misura / photo?" while pointing at the crowd of officers and asking "Tammaam / okay?" I received verbal and body language permission.
I was then detained for 3 hrs in the police staging area, at one point having to move, as police were pushed back so far as having to flea behind armored personnel carriers in front of the ministry of interior buildings.
While detained and being escorted from the area adjacent to the American University of Cairo buildings to the internal security police building, I observed multiple high end vehicles holding VIPS with sub machine gun armed security details in suits enter different compounds. At the same time clouds of tear gas were drifting over the area, forcing uniformed men into tears, and clutching their chests, as they moved about. Witnessing the police commander order riot police into position, while overcome with tears from the gas was one of the most poetic moments I've experienced in my life. As a photographer, it was a poignant moment. Sadly I'm unable to share it after my images were confiscated and used as evidence to ID protestors and accuse them of crimes.
This is the reality in Cairo.
Sean Tucker
seannomadic@gmail.com
www.seannomadic.com
Wow!
Nir Alon
Jerusalem
http://ImagesOfMyThoughts.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Images-Of-My-Thoughts-com/141523159234806
Stunning history... The point is that you are ok.
One week ago a spanish photojournalist, Guillem Valle, was assaulted by egypt police and he finished in hospital and lost his cameras and lens (about 8000€).
Marc Sardon
www.marcsardon.com
Valencia/Spain
I'm sorry to hear about Guillem. The level of violence can escalate so quickly in the midst of chaos. One wrong move during an assault by police or military officers can set off an irreversible chain reaction. I find the limp body technique works best. You get hit, you yield, but retain possession if you can. 35 hrs after my assault I was escorted to my Emirates flight and sent to Dubai, and was assured by the airport police that I would not be met by Police in Dubai. Upon arriving at Dubai airport, passing immigration and then asked to the customs x-ray, I was met with the same questioning I had received in Cairo. After 40 hrs with minimal sleep and constant stress positioning, I couldn't think of a ruder entry to Dubai, a place where I used to reside during 2008. So 7 hrs later I was escorted by 8 police officers to the next available flight to my final destination. During this time I wasn't allowed to drink water or eat food, and when requested, airport security officers told me "I'm not a waiter." When I asked if I could go myself I was told that I couldn't, until I went to the office "to discuss things you said." I asked "am I arrested?" The answer was no, then may I go to my hotel? "No," may I go back into the airport then? The answer was no. The attitude was hostile, rude, and intimidating. Finally the US embassy guys got into the embassy, and told the Dubai police to let me go. Thank God for that. So I got onto the 2nd plane 48hrs after being arrested having not drank water or eaten since my last flight from Cairo.
Obviously to me there is some sort of cooperation going on between the GCC and the current government forces of Cairo.
So you're right, the point is I'm okay, the black eye is healing well, and I still have cameras to bring to the repair center, only paying a fraction of what a new body and lens would cost, I lost my privacy (all memory cards & sim cards were confiscated, including from my bag recovered from my hotel, including years of emails). I think this is a bigger price to have to pay.
I think there's another point as well, authoritarian / police states are blurring the line between repressing their citizens, and using blackmail and physical violence against international observers and members of the local media services. including bloggers. When I was asked my name I answered, when I was asked where I was from, I answered, I wasn't being sneaky, or provocative, but I was still met with physical violence and a mob of armed policemen fresh from their assault on civilians.
Media should be protected much as medics and doctors are protected, but there are important ramifications of the violence against media in Tahrir, because the tactics and tear gas being used come from the American playbook on how to deal with social insurrection.
Sean Tucker
seannomadic@gmail.com
www.seannomadic.com
Welcome to the world of photo journalism Yours is sadly an everyday story. See
http://en.rsf.org/
The bad guys don't like reporters. They shine a light on what they are doing
Unfortunately some of them are in government and the police and military. Reporters are being arrested all over the place from China to California, Oakland and in New York.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDk9WsRpTIQ
Compared to many you are lucky to still have camera kit to repair.... and hands to use it with. Many just disappear.
Chris Hills
Jagraphics
www.jagraphics.co.uk/photo
