The concerted campaign against the 6 April Movement may yet backfire , writes Mohamed Abdel-Baky The 6 April Youth Movement has invited the prosecutor-general to investigate its activities and sources of funding. The move follows allegations made by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that the group is in receipt of foreign funds and seeks to drive a wedge between the army and the public. "We are calling on the prosecutor-general to use the evidence the army claims it has and hold us accountable," said 6 April spokesman Mohamed Adel. "The public has the right to see the documents the army says it holds." Relations between the group's political activists and the ruling generals descended into public acrimony when the SCAF issued a statement on 23 July accusing the 6 April Movement of attempting to undermine public confidence in the army. It is the first time Egypt's military rulers have singled out one of the revolutionary youth movements in such a way. The SCAF also accused the group of being behind last week's violent clashes in Abbasiya. At least 400 demonstrators were injured during a peaceful march that the group had called to the SCAF's headquarters in Abbasiya. They were prevented by the army from reaching the seat of the military council, and subsequently attacked by a stone throwing mob. In a TV interview SCAF member Major General Hassan El-Ruweini accused the movement of receiving foreign funding indirectly since 2009 through local NGOs. He also said members of the group had received training in Eastern Europe on "non-violent resistance". "Our information shows that 6 April Movement has been involved in incitement against national unity that has led to sectarian tensions in Imbaba, in Helwan, and in Suez," said El-Ruweini. Adel denied the accusations of sedition, saying the movement had played a reconciliatory role following the Two Saints Church bombing in Alexandria in January and the Imbaba clashes last May. "The only entity driving a wedge between the people and the Armed Forces is the SCAF," said Adel. "You have to ask why it is issuing hostile statements, questioning the loyalty of those who played a major role in the revolution." A senior member of the 6 April Movement said the group had limited resources and depended mainly on donations from members. "There is less than LE10,000 in the movement's bank account," he added. In what appeared to be part of a concerted campaign against the group Egyptian state TV broadcast a photograph two weeks ago showing Adel holding a rifle. Egypt's state-funded broadcaster claimed it was taken in Serbia while Adel was receiving military training. Adel responded in a TV interview saying that the photo had been taken in Gaza in January 2008. At the time it was taken he was visiting an elderly Palestinian woman whose son had been killed by the Israeli army. The figure of the veiled woman had been removed in the photograph shown on state TV. An undoctored version of the picture was subsequently posted on the web. On his return from Gaza Adel was jailed for four months for entering the Strip without the permission of Egyptian security. Attempts to undermine the 6 April Movement have been widely criticised by a majority of activists and presidential candidates. During his visit to Al-Masryin Al-Ahrar (Free Egyptians) Party headquarters, Mohamed El-Baradei said that in making baseless accusations against the SCAF had committed an enormous error. Possible presidential contender Magdi Hatata rejected treason charges against any political group that had participated in the revolution and challenged the SCAF to disclose its evidence to the public. Bothaina Kamel announced on her official Twitter account that she would be joining the 6 April Movement. Adel, along with other members of the group, does not deny that he travelled to Serbia, where he received training on promoting human rights. "I went to Serbia as a blogger, on a study tour to learn more about the peaceful movements that had helped their country build a democratic system," says Adel.
