April 6th movement main coordinator Ahmed Maher: No negotiations before until the resignation of Mubarek
Ahmed Maher was born in Alexandria in 1980 and is the main coordinator and founder of April 6th Youth Movement. He was abducted in May 2008 and arrested in July 2008 in Alexandria.
- In a wide- ranging interview with Echourouk’s correspondent in Cairo, the activist has indicated that the Egyptian revolution is not limited to Tahrir square as the militants are considering the move to march towards the main official buildings like the Egyptian Radio and Television headquarters, the parliament and at last the presidential palace.
- He has asserted that there is not any other legitimacy than that of the street so far, noting that his movement is not concerned by the ongoing negotiations with the regime declining to take part to them before the departure of the president Hosni Mubarek.
- The political activist has noted that like all the Egyptians, his movement refuses any foreign intervention in the Egyptian domestic affairs apart from the European Union and the UN Security Council
- Echourok: how do you evaluate the situation of the protesters after two weeks of turmoil especially that some regard it as a sit- in rather than a revolution?
- Maher: First of all, one has to single out the good spirit that’s prevailing now among the protesters inside Tahrir square and their resilience until the departure of Hosni Mubarek. The activists are aware that the regime is gaining time to drain away their patience but we are prepared for it.
- Echourok: Did you see the tears shed by Ouail Ghenim in memory of the martyrs.. do you think they are tears of regret?
- Maher: I don’t think so, because he was really affected to the loss of companions, he has expressed his regrets because he couldn’t expect his request would lead to a revolution but he declared that freedom’s price was inestimable.
- Echourok: what do you think about the negotiations between the different political forces, that pretend representing you, and the vice president Omar Suleiman?
- Maher: the protesters in Tahrir square will not accept to negotiate before the departure of the president and will not give up their ultimate goal which is the departure of the old regime and a peaceful transition for the time being. We awe due respect to the different political forces that started the negotiations but they cannot do it on our behalf, because the protesters have agreed upon a basic principle which the departure of Hosni Mubarek should be the starting point for any type of negotiations.
- Echourok: Why don’t call for the intervention of the international community to fulfil your requests?
- Maher: Alike all the Egyptians, we are against any foreign intervention in our internal affairs except the European Union and the UN Security Council because we consider that reforms should spring from inside; any western mix would benefit their own interests.
- Echourok: some observers have accused you of collecting money from the outside.. Any comment?
- Maher: Yes, but the foreigners we deal with are those benefactors who supply us with food, water and medicines to alleviate the suffering of the protesters after 14 days of revolt.
- Echourok: What about worries raised by some over the likely takeover of the Muslim Brotherhood on the protests ?
- Maher: Yes, there are many individuals from this group who give moral and material assistance to the protesters in Tahrir square but the Muslim brotherhood are aware now that Egypt is moving towards the building of a civil society and we’ll not accept to be ruled by the Islamists.