27 January, 2011The IMF condemns police repression against peaceful demonstrators in Egypt, after tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators protest.
EGYPT: On January 25, tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators protest in Cairo, as in many other Egyptian cities including Alexandria, Aswan, Mahallah, Ismailiya. The International Metalworkers' Federation condemns police repression against peaceful demonstrators.
Unauthorized by the Egyptian authorities, these protests, joined by many independent trade unionists, face massive police presence and in some cases are heavily repressed. As in Tunisia, protesters demand social and political reforms, blaming corruption, poverty, high prices and police brutality.
The IMF condemns the use of tear gas and violence against demonstrators and calls for the immediate release of the people arrested. The IMF also condemns the censorship of some means of communication in Egypt.
"The Egyptian people who were peacefully expressing their legitimate rights to social justice and freedom of expression have to be listened to and their concerns taken into account," said IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina.