EGYPT/FILE: Egyptian opposition forces gear up for revolution anniversary

Record ID: 836785

  • Title: EGYPT/FILE: Egyptian opposition forces gear up for revolution anniversary
  • Date: 24th January 2013
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE - 2012) (REUTERS) SCENE OF THE NILE EXTERIOR OF THE EGYPTIAN STOCK MARKET "THE EGYPTIAN STOCK MARKET" WRITTEN IN ARABIC ON THE BUILDING VARIOUS OF TRADING HALL
  • Embargoed: 8th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
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  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8UKXQURBFYOJBT5Q3F2U300PO
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  • Story Text: Egypt's political forces geared up for anti-government mass demonstrations across the country that will take place on Friday (January 25), marking the second anniversary of the public uprising which ousted autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak almost two years ago, amid deep concern and fears that the economic crisis that the country is currently undergoing could have dire consequences.
    The demonstrations were set to express the public growing frustration at the failure of President Mohamed Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood (MB) allies to steady an economy hammered by two years of turmoil that have shaken the North African country.
    After he took oath last June, Mursi made pledges to solve five critical problems during his first 100 days in office: the security vacuum, traffic congestion, fuel shortages, bread scarcities and poor public sanitation, but his opponents claim nothing has yet been achieved.
    The 100-day plan was the first step of the 'Renaissance' project adopted by the MB's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), where Mursi hailed from, as an electoral platform to promote its candidate Mursi during the 2012 presidential race.
    Violent clashes broke out between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and anti-Mursi demonstrators opposing the policies of the Islamist leader over his first 200 days in power, which have been described by many as a copy of Mubarak's rule.
    Opposition forces will extend a call next Friday upon President Mursi to achieve the targets of the January 25th uprising: bread, freedom and social justice.
    "My expectation is that there will be a clash between an Islamic force and a civil force, it will happen and this clash will be stronger than the previous ones, because they have their own thoughts and ours are different, it is normal that two opposing forces clash and this time will be the strongest," demonstrator Ayman Mahmoud said on Wednesday.
    The April 6 opposition movement is planning three marches was for the uprising anniversary to demand better life standards.
    "Of course any expected violent clashes by security to oppress the demonstrators or to disperse the demonstrations will lead to unwished consequences that would drive us to increase our demands to bring down the regime, the regime which oppresses its opposition is not a legitimate regime, it is illegitimate, therefore, the legitimacy is being acquired from the support of people, so the security measures should been taken carefully while facing the demonstrators, we assure that our demonstrations are peaceful, we are rejecting any kind of violence, but we will escalate our demands if the Interior Ministry's measures are violent," the spokesperson for the April 6 movement Mahmoud Afiffi said.
    Following the political turmoil over Mursi's new constitution, the Egyptian pound hit a record low on December 30, 2012 after the central bank imposed a new currency regime to try and stem a deepening economic crisis that presents a further challenge for President Mohamed Mursi.
    "Of course the constitution has been approved, the legislative authorities moved to the Upper House until electing a parliament within four month, but people remain worried about weather we have reached a stage of stability or not, people are concerned, especially over the last three weeks, briefly, the political situation will determine the economic progress," economist Mohamed Abu Basha said.
    The National Salvation Front was formed as an expression of broad indignation at Mursi's bid to expand his powers late last year. It opposed his decision to hurry through a new constitution drawn up by an Islamist-led assembly.
    Amr Moussa, a prominent figure of the National Salvation Front who finished fifth in last year's presidential election, expressed his deep concerns about Egypt's current ailing economy.
    "The crisis is not a conventional crisis, it is not a normal setback, this is a... something that very structural and would affect the population in their life, in their services, in their way of living, this is not a usual thing that is happening, that is why one should call on all the Egyptian political forces to come together and deal with it in a collective way," he told Reuters.
    Moussa offered a crisis management plan of four key issues to Egypt's Presidency office which he says would help to avoid blundering into the current economic and political minefield, but he has not yet received any feedback. Egypt needs $12 billion to avoid bankruptcy within a few months.
    Hamdeen Sabahy, a firebrand politician who ran for Egyptian presidency last year, told Reuters the opposition National Salvation Front coalition will take a part in the mass rallies, demonstrations and marches on next Friday to protest against Mursi's leadership he says lacks efficiency, honesty and democracy.
    "The January 25th which comes this week is a chance for the Egyptian people to express its willingness to complete the revolution and it is also a chance to reject the autocratic policies that the president and his group are practising against the rest of the Egyptian people, it is a chance for us to say that poverty is not a written destiny for the Egyptian people and deaths due to negligence in trains and collapsing buildings are not destiny. They are the outcome of management that lacks efficiency, honesty and democracy, Egypt strongly needs now a newer movement to say 'No' to this autocracy and to say 'yes' to the completion of the revolutionary targets and to build a democratic regime and start a promising national project for development and justice," he said.
    Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the 2011 public uprising, received dozens of demonstrators during the last few days and many new tents were pitched at the roundabout of the square that might witness another uprising triggered by an economic failure and injustice.
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