( CNN ) -- The first anniversary of the Egyptian revolution is today . Egyptian society and the forces in Egypt are in a state of anticipation . World media has its cameras and correspondents in Cairo and major cities around the country . But many Egyptians wonder if the revolution amounted to nothing more than a military coup . It has been a year since the eruption of the first Egyptian revolution that stunned the world and ended 30 years of authoritarian , oppressive and corrupt rule by Hosni Mubarak , Egypt 's last pharaoh . Mubarak ended up in jail along with his sons and his regime 's major figures , with stories of their unimaginable corruption , brutality and looting surfacing ever since . But since then , most Egyptians have become angry and frustrated with the performance of the Military Council -- comprising more than a dozen elderly generals -- that has taken control . Egyptians , political forces and revolutionaries accuse the Military Council of being accomplices with the remnants of the Mubarak regime and of refusing to enact real reform , to the point of actually waging a counter-revolution . Egyptians have been enraged by the brutal suppression of peaceful demonstrations that followed the revolution , and in the arrests , humiliations and even killings of protesters . The Military Council is still controlling the state media and the political scene . Western governments and human rights organizations are expressing their dismay , with Human Rights Watch reporting killings and brutal attacks , some of them sexual , on protesters . The council is the Old Guard , desperately trying to preserve the military 's long-standing privileges and special status . The military has been running Egypt since 1952 -- with rulers such as Gen. Mohammed Naguib , Gamal Abdel Nasser , Anwar Sadat , Mubarak and Marshal Tantawy coming from its ranks . The military has dominated Egypt 's modern political scene , with members serving as presidents , prime ministers , Cabinet ministers , governors , party elites , heads of the security services , ambassadors , heads of many companies , and even ministers of culture and the media -- in a true Orwellian fashion . The military institution in Egypt consumes more than 25 % of the government expenditure and owns about 30 % of the national economy . The United States has given Egypt a hefty military aid package of billions of dollars for nearly three decades . Egyptians respect their armed forces , but are desperate for a civil state where human rights , rights of minorities , and accountability and transparency are guaranteed . They do not want another pharaoh-like president coming from that institution . Egyptians have been asked to commemorate the special occasion of the revolution 's first anniversary by taking to the streets Wednesday , wearing black in mourning of the deaths of hundreds of the revolution 's martyrs . But some political forces refuse to call it a celebration -- they say the revolution is not finished and their demands have not been met . Demonstrators have already started to pour into Tahrir Square . Activists are calling for the immediate transition of power from the Military Council to a civilian council , or even an interim caretaker . Now , after bringing down the Mubarak regime and his notorious State Security apparatus , Egyptians have broken the fear barrier and believe there is no turning back . Will they stun the world again , with Egyptian Revolution , Part II ? Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter . Join the conversation on Facebook . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Aladdin Elaasar .
one year marks one year since Wednesday of Marshal Tantawy regime . Aladdin Elaasar : Egyptian are bitter about Human Rights Watch own oppressive rule since then . Military has brutally repressed demonstrations , he writes ; arrested , even killed protesters . Elaasar : Activists now want the immediate transfer of power to a civilian council .