Egypt: from bad to worse!

General strike, tax boycott would damage Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood leader Muslim Brotherhood secretary-general condemns calls for an 11 February general strike by workers and students to end military rule calling it a threat to nation's future

From Ahram Online - Sherif Tarek,

Tuesday 7 Feb 2012

OUR REMARKS ARE WRITTEN RED AND IN CAPITAL LETTERS

Muslim Brotherhood Secretary-General Mahmoud Hussein has condemned calls for a general strike and campaign of civil disobedience beginning on 11 February, the first anniversary of the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak.

A host of political, workers and student groups have called for acts of civil disobedience (WHY, IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH CAN BE CALLED OBEDIENCE IN THIS COUNTRY? WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE VERY HARD TO PERCEIVE THE DIFFERENCE)– including the non-payment of taxes and utility bills – and a general strike, to force the immediate handover of power from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to a civilian administration.

Hussein rejected the call, urging the population to double their work rate in order to "rebuild the country and not bring it down."

"These calls are extremely dangerous and threaten the nation and its future," he added. "A general strike would see train traffic halted, no transportation, and no work in factories, institutes or universities.

"It also means no one would pay taxes to the government, or fees for public utilities, which would damage the already crippled economy and lead to the country's decline."

On Monday, the Egypt Revolutionaries' Alliance – an umbrella organisation of over 50 political groups, including the country’s six most prominent revolutionary movements – endorsed the campaign AND CONSIDERING THEMSELVES THE ENTIRE EGYPTIAN population (INDEED THEY ARE THE NEW EGYPTIAN DICTATORSHIP) they ask:

immediate handover of power from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to a civilian administration in the People's Assembly (the lower house of Egypt’s parliament )BUT WHAT A GREAT IDEA? AND WILL YOU ASK TO THEM TO HAVE A SECULARIST CONSTITUTION? YOU ARE … YOU ARE … YOU ARE … BETTER DON’T SAY!

 . The six additional demands are:

1- The immediate dismantlement of the incumbent interim government, led by SCAF-appointed premier Kamal El-Ganzouri, and the appointment of a bona fide government of national salvation members of which shall be selected by the People's Assembly.

2- The immediate holding of presidential elections.

3- The formation of an investigative committee mandated with the judicial and executive authority to investigate all crimes and massacres committed by the ruling authorities since 25 January 2011.

4- The establishment of "revolutionary tribunals" to try all former regime figures found guilty of involvement in crimes committed after the January uprising.

5- The immediate dismissal of Egypt’s prosecutor general.

6- The purge and overhaul of Egypt’s Ministry of Interior, especially the National Security apparatus, which continues to be seen largely as a continuation of the notorious, now-defunct State Security apparatus.

The alliance was formed during November's Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes between protesters and the police.

The April 6 Youth Movement is among the groups supporting the call for a general strike.

MEANWHILE THESE DIRTY POWER-GAMES ARE PERPETRATED BY THE CIA PAID PEOPLE AND BY THE PARTIES WHICH DIDN’T GET ANYTHING FROM THE ELECTION …

Egypt's net foreign reserves fell to $16.35 billion by the end of January 2012, down some $1.77 billion on the previous month, a statement on the Central Bank of Egypt's website said on Tuesday.

MEANWHILE from the other side of the barricade:

Tantawi supporters call 11 February strike illegitimate!

Calls by political forces for a general strike on 11 February are “blatantly illegitimate,” supporters of Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, have claimed. They accuse participating groups of fomenting chaos.

They called for a million-strong demonstration on that day in Abbasseya Square to demand free presidential elections and be titled “Legitimacy First.”

The supporters, who are launching a campaign entitled “Tantawi for President,” issued a statement saying: “We want to apply the rule of law, and we will not allow the country to fall into disaster as a result of irresponsible acts in this delicate situation.”

The statement appealed to Tantawi and Parliament speaker Saad al-Katatny to take into account the fact that the majority of the public supports legitimate elections, a fact that was demonstrated by high-participation in parliamentary elections.

MPs criticize protesters, blame US and ElBaradei for violence.