The Army seems now very serious about ending the sit-in, as al-Ahram "الجيش يبدأ العمل في كنيسة صول"reports today: http://www.ahram.org.eg/The-First/News/67326.aspx.
According to al-Masri al-Youm http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/351588, it already ended on Sunday night, when the authorities made some more promises regarding other cases:
According to al-Masri al-Youm http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/351588, it already ended on Sunday night, when the authorities made some more promises regarding other cases:
The al-Ahram article expresses growing annoyance on the side of the Army. Apparently, the people of Sol and the local Bishop Bisanti were recruited or put under pressure to help the effort. The wording insinuates that the sit-in is considered misguided, and its demands exaggerated:“The prime minister promised to rebuild the Maghagha and Al-Adawy Dioceses,” said Rami Kamel, one of the protesters. “He also promised to begin the rebuilding of the Virgin Mary and Bishop Ibram churches in Ezbet al-Nakhl and re-open all churches that were closed for security reasons.”
وشكل مسيحيو القرية وفدا انضم إليه عدد كبير من شيوخ العائلات المسلمة للتحاور مع معتصمي ماسبيرو, وإيضاح الحقائق لهم بعيدا عن الصخب الإعلامي ودعاة التعصب.
وعبر الأنبا بسنتي أسقف المعصرة وحلوان عن دعمه لهذه المبادرة, وأي خطوة من شأنها توصيل الحقيقة الفعلية إلي المعتصمين
Although the reaction to the Sol incident has been unprecedented and the Prime Minster and Army moved quickly and decisively, much of the rhetoric has remained the same. Those who led the protests are now called "preachers of fanaticism". The description may not be entirely wrong in all cases, if you listen to this Bishop (General Bishop Theodosius of Giza), who claims that the Army let the Muslims destroy the church. (I have no means to verify or falsify what he says, but he was not on the scene and is only reporting from hearsay.)
On the other hand, were there serious attempts to confront the fanatics of the other side, who started the whole problem by burning down the church? (There is an interesting interview of Salafi Sheikh Muhammad Hassan, in which he describes how he talked to the Muslim youth and managed to calm them. He wants to convince them that violence is not a solution and help them negotiate a solution with the Christians: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1uUOXmVdsA)
As the Army is generally getting tired of demonstrations, their attitude is not a surprise. They have been quite indulgent with the Copts, considering that the Tahrir sit-in was removed brutally on 7 March with the help of thugs! Nevertheless, there is a report that some people who were still left on Monday morning were mistreated by the Army: http://www.copts-united.com/Arabic2011/Article.php?I=742&A=32807.
On the other hand, were there serious attempts to confront the fanatics of the other side, who started the whole problem by burning down the church? (There is an interesting interview of Salafi Sheikh Muhammad Hassan, in which he describes how he talked to the Muslim youth and managed to calm them. He wants to convince them that violence is not a solution and help them negotiate a solution with the Christians: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1uUOXmVdsA)
As the Army is generally getting tired of demonstrations, their attitude is not a surprise. They have been quite indulgent with the Copts, considering that the Tahrir sit-in was removed brutally on 7 March with the help of thugs! Nevertheless, there is a report that some people who were still left on Monday morning were mistreated by the Army: http://www.copts-united.com/Arabic2011/Article.php?I=742&A=32807.
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