Socialist Alliance released the statement below on November 24.
* * *
"The Australian government should come out and support the Egyptian people in their demand that the Egyptian Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) return the government to the people who successfully ousted the former dictator Hosni Murbarak in February this year, " Socialist Alliance national convenor Peter Boyle said today.
"PM Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd should condemn the bloody crackdown by the Egyptian military regime, and support the protestors’ call for genuine democratic change, including the immediate resignation of Field Marshall Tantawi, the head of SCAF.
"Gillard and Rudd should also call on the United States government to immediately stop supplying arms and ammunition to the Egyptian military regime, terminate its US$1.3 billion a year funding of SCAF and end its close intelligence and tactical links with the Egyptian military," Boyle added.
The Socialist Alliance calls on all democratic and progressive people in Australia to support - in any way possible - the Egyptian solidarity rallies organised this weekend.
Sydney solidarity rally:
Saturday November 26, 1-4pm
Outside Egyptian Consulate
241 Commonwealth Street
Surry Hills
Melbourne solidarity march and rally:
Sunday November 27, 2pm
March from the Old GPO,
corner Bourke St Mall & Elizabeth St to the Egyptian consulate
Perth solidarity rally:
Saturday November 26, 5.30pm
Perth Esplanade, opposite Bell Tower
Called by Egyptian community