EGYPT: Egyptian activists launch online campaign calling for a boycott of the upcoming presidential run-off

Record ID: 346591

  • Title: EGYPT: Egyptian activists launch online campaign calling for a boycott of the upcoming presidential run-off
  • Date: 15th June 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) TAREK SHALABY, ELECTION BOYCOTT CAMPAIGNER, SAYING: "So they do that, and therefore, what they are trying to do is they're trying to show us that there's no other way for the revolution to continue expect for collaborating with SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) in this elections that have been made for us. And obviously they make these elections customised specifically for them, so that the result that comes out, whatever it is and whoever it is, works perfectly for them. And that's why what we need to do is we need to reject these elections, refuse to collaborate with them, and make sure that we organise ourselves and do go for labour strikes and for demonstrations and sit-ins, because that's how we use popular masses and the workforce to cripple the regime and to bring it down and make it lose its power and that's how there could be a balance of power and then we can bring change that way." SHALABY TALKING TO ANOTHER CAMPAIGNER POSTER OF SOMEONE HOLDING A MICROPHONE WITH TEXT READING, "KHALED YOUSSEF, 25TH OF JANUARY REVOLUTION" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHALED YOUSSEF, EGYPTIAN FILM DIRECTOR AND ONE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY FIGURES, SAYING: "What is being done is a form of futility which reminds me of some comic plays because it cannot be that after a great revolution like that of January 25, which gave an outstanding example to other revolutions and humanity, that after such a revolution the Egyptian people face a choice of death by drowning or death by burning. Either they have the choice of a despotic state in the name of religion or to reproduce a despotic regime. Therefore, the choice is very hard. I'm one among many people who will put two x marks on my ballot and write 'the revolution continues' because the revolution should continue until it fulfils its goals. I believe that the revolution will achieve its goals because it is the will of the people and the nation at a historic time." YOUSSEF SMOKING A CIGARETTE
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADR8JV8C7IZ7MIUMY64TKLDDVZ
  • Story Text: Egyptian activists have launched an online campaign calling for a boycott of the presidential run-off this weekend.
    The June 16-17 run-off, seen as the last stage in a chaotic transition from military to civilian rule, will pit Mubarak's last prime minister Ahmed Shafik against Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi .Campaigners have created a Facebook page entitled "No to any election under military rule, we are boycotting", calling on the Egyptian people to refrain from going to the polls on Saturday and Sunday.
    The online campaign reflects the voters disdain at both contenders who they consider a poor choice for Egyptian leftists.
    "If the law is not implemented we will boycott (the elections) because we will be faced with two choices: a choice to follow racism or a choice to follow colonialism which will keep Egypt poor and under a new form of colonialism," said Amr, one of the campaigners.
    Many of the campaigners blame the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) for the first-round election results which they believe were rigged.
    "Obviously they make these elections customised specifically for them, so that the result that comes out, whatever it is and whoever it is, works perfectly for them," Tarek Shalaby said.
    "And that's why what we need to do is we need to reject these elections, refuse to collaborate with them, and make sure that we organise ourselves and do go for labour strikes and for demonstrations and sit-ins," he added.
    Egyptian director Khaled Youssef said he himself would boycott the upcoming elections.
    "The Egyptian people face a choice of death by drowning or death by burning. Either they have the choice of a despotic state in the name of religion or to reproduce a despotic regime. Therefore, the choice is very hard. I'm one among many people who will put two x marks on my ballot and write 'the revolution continues' because the revolution should continue until it fulfils its goals," he said.
    Egypt's already bumpy political transition could be stopped in its tracks on Thursday when a court considers a law that could disqualify Shafik from this weekend's presidential election.
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