Despite being warned of the dangers, they sail in rickety boats across the Mediterranean, only to drown when these vessels sink several miles short of their long-cherished European destination.
Their tragic deaths do nothing to prevent their friends back home from doing the exact same thing and dying too. Hundreds of these obstinate young adventurers have been killed in the Med.
Many more have been arrested, just before setting sail, while others are pulled alive out of the sea by the Libyan coastguard, when their overloaded boats capsize.
The crestfallen survivors give graphic accounts of their disastrous adventures. But, realising that European governments are less merciful than the Egyptian Government, many desperate youngsters have now been seeking another way out of their economic and social problems in Tahrir Square.
They began demonstrating on January 25 for jobs, better living conditions and dramatic political reform. They have also been expressing their parents’ grievances, calling for better wages as prices of everything keep on rising.
They are also calling for more democracy and human rights – things their parents were promised several years ago.
Only men risk the Mediterranean adventure, but girls and women have been camping out with the male protesters in Tahrir Square.
Many have died in the chilly waters of the Mediterranean, while the young demonstrators in Tahrir Square have been no more fortunate, as the authorities have been using excessive violence to disperse them.
Several young people have been killed in their violent clashes with plainclothes and undercover police; hundreds more have been injured. Despite the casualties, they are refusing to disperse until the President appreciates their demands.
These young demonstrators in the square are philosophical. They reason that it’s better to die tragically at home than tragically in the Mediterranean. (But at least the fish are happy when they die at sea).
The rapidly growing number of aggrieved young Egyptians has attracted the attention of the middle-aged and the elderly, who have also been migrating en masse to the square, in order to loudly express their concerns.
Parents, who’ve been watching the developments in the confrontation on television, have been picking up their children and rushing to join the young campaigners in Tahrir Square.
The ranks of angry demonstrators keep on growing, encouraging Egypt’s feeble opposition parties, political movements and fundamentalists to ride the wave, after cautiously watching developments from a distance.
Heavy casualties have been reported since the ruling party recovered from its days-long slumber and decided to gain a foothold in Tahrir, already swarming with many thousands of demonstrators.
As usual, the ruling party’s officials have acted too late. As if defending the party’s dignity and honour, the NDP’s supporters have been brutally attacking the young protesters in the square. But the latter, though bloodied, are refusing to retreat.
Denied an honourable death in the Med, the frustrated demonstrators are ready to die in Tahrir.
The political leadership is now making concessions that it’s never made before, but the angry demonstrators want more.
This is only complicating the situation, leading to a suspension the proposed dialogue with the Vice-President and the new Prime Minister, Air Marshal Ahmed Shafiq.
Egypt really is in a mess. However, Shafiq has what it takes to sort the country out. He also has what it takes to run in the presidential elections later this year.
By Mohssen Arishie
