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

Sherif Tarek, Tuesday 7 Feb 2012

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Poster calling for a general strike on 11 February 2012 - A worker faces off with Field Marshal Tantawi (Photo: Internet)

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 – 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.

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.

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Karim Hari

07-02-2012 08:37pm

Well exactly Mahmoud Hussain

"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." Well this is exactly what the "revolutionaries" a.k.a former Mubarak Junior Partners want. They want to challenge the democratic elected government and punish the public that voted for you. The same revolutionaries that pleaded the military back last Year to stay in power for two years so they can collect money from foreign NGO`s are now up in arms to bring the military down immediately instead o waiting a few months.

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Zaki

08-02-2012 08:40am

General Strike will fail Egyptions dont want to do it

very well said Mr. karim Hari. I agree 200% with you. These so called revolutionaries the modern day egyptian thugs dont want Egypt to prosper. These bunch of so called Revolutionaries' Alliance – an umbrella organisation of over 50 political groups that amounts some 100 persons, including the country’s six most prominent revolutionary movements which are in bed with American and Eurpoeans NGOs are trying to fail the democratic process. It will not happen, they will miserably fail in thier efforts. The sincere efforts of MB and of other good orgnizations will bear the fruit of success for Egypt and its people.

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