Ola Kamel is originally from Egypt and migrated to New Zealand 16 years ago with her family. After leaving behind a career in banking, Kamel began volunteer work in her local community. Following the events of 9/11 she heightened her efforts and became an activist for greater peace and human rights, planning countless protests and marches. Very interested in politics, Kamel was list candidate for the Labour party twice, once for local government and has worked as treasurer. Kamel's vast community work earned her certification as an International Ambassador for Peace and Inter-faith dialogue. Kamel was the first ever women to represent the Muslim Association of Canterbury and is founder of the only official Egyptian Association in New Zealand. You said you felt scared for family back at home when the revolution began earlier this year, now that it has all erupted again, how are you feeling? I feel very bad, very depressed, very anxious and not only me of course, every Egyptian because I consider every Egyptian back home is one of my family. So I am not only worried about my close family, my relatives, no. I am worried about every Egyptian. I am very very upset about this situation because after 10 months there is nothing good happening- you know what I mean. That's why the uprising has come back again, a second revolution, as they say. But I believe it is a continuation of the first one. People are very frustrated of what's been happening in the 10 months- nothing is happening. They are calling for an end to military rule, what are your views on this? Look we all respect the military in Egypt, they have a great history, they protected the revolution and we appreciate that. But I have reservation on the Military Council, not the military themselves. They run the country but they don't have this- what do you call it, political common sense. They don't have it, they don't have it. And if you look at what's happening and every time it's the same scenario- they never learn what they should do. They don't do an action they always wait for reaction and that's why people are frustrated and upset. There are a lot of parties that have been formed, who has your support? Who will you be voting for? No no no no none. So far none- for a very central reason. If you counted how many parties- I mean you can't track all of them. There are many many parties and I can't belong to any of them yet because they are riding over the wave. They don't care about Egypt. It's not about how many parties you have in the country. It's what each party will deliver. And I can't see anyone has anything particularly amazing that I can't belong to. So what do you think is the future for Egypt if you don't see any hope in these parties? I have trust in the Egyptian people. I trust their intelligence and I believe one day they will find a good party they can belong to- a political system and ideology. I believe one day it will happen but not this time and not soon. I mean the election today is a funny thing- it's not election. What do you mean it's not an election? It's not a democratic election. First of all if you want election after oppression of 30 years and people have never experienced election or democracy, how to vote whatever, you name it. And suddenly you say “We will have an election”- too many too many parties, many many candidates and with the situation in Egypt, with everyday there is a protest, there is a march it's not a good environment for election. People should be educated about it, should be aware of what election means and how you will vote and if you have 2 choices- you have a party vote, you have a candidate vote. I mean explanation in detail about what people should do. On top of that not everyone knows enough about what each party candidate; to ask them “what will you do to the suburb” or to the country or whatever and this has never happened. People thought the election would be cancelled so they were not interested in learning about candidates or parties. My biggest biggest reservation is the Islamists. So with what's happening now unfortunately the military council open the chest to them. And there's no politics in religion by the way and there shouldn't be. Politics is something and religion is something else. And politics is a very dirty business. So I can't see that any one religious spiritual person can be in politics. Anyway, they let them have too many new parties, the Islamists, ok? And we all know they didn't tell us but we all know what is in their head. And so far it's not good. My biggest reservation as well is those people were giving money to people, were giving them food, giving them free medical check ups, giving them the chance to go during Ramadan to do the spiritual visit to the Ka'ba. I mean this is corruption. I can't say except its corruption, period. That's it. They are doing the same thing as the National Party with Mubarak regime were doing. They were buying votes prior to any election – it's the same thing they are doing it right now under a different name and that's why I'm saying it's a mockery it's not an election. It has nothing to do with democracy or freedom. It's corruption. They rely on poor people, ignorant people, kind people who need money or need assistance or they give them money or any kind of assistance saying “please vote for me” and they will vote for them. With the history Islamists have in Egypt, their influence etc. Do you think Muslim Brotherhood could gain power? I'm very afraid that they might and we don't want them. But if you run the country well after the revolution you can educate people about the election. If you told them “You shouldn't be accepting any bribe, its corruption, we want to be clean we want to be a democracy we want to participate well in election” one two three- this is how to do it, then this (MB gaining power) will never happen. But now I see the country in a worse situation and it's similar to the Mubarak election. I never went to election in Egypt and many many other people as well because he was only one candidate so why do you bother to go- over 30 years. But we all knew that in order to get people to vote- they will give money to the uneducated, ignorant or poor people, saying “please go and vote” and so the Islamists are doing the same. So that's not good. Do you think other Egyptians in New Zealand share similar feelings or will they be voting? I think some. 196 Egyptians in New Zealand have registered to vote, according to the election website in Cairo. But this is a very big big story. I am writing a report on it at the moment. They don't want the Egyptians overseas to vote. We asked the court to look at this issue, the court in Cairo of course. The court says Egyptians overseas have the right to vote according to the constitution. And then the Military Council and the government said “No we don't want them to vote because the Egyptians overseas will be easily bribed and give votes to someone”. They are worried about us – it is very funny. Then they came back and said “Ok ok we'll let you vote”. Then the Interior Minister said to a newspaper “No no no how will be able to secure votes overseas”. So I've sent him an email saying don't worry about securing our vote, just try and secure your country. Don't worry about us, we know what to do. And then they came back saying “Yes you can, yes you can”. That's why the number of Egyptians registered overseas is very low because of the wrong signals coming out, back in and then out. Then we had to vote with the Egyptian National ID and many Egyptians overseas don't have the Egyptian ID but we have an Egyptian passport. There were delegates from overseas who met with the Military Council and government representatives saying “Let the Egyptians overseas vote with Egyptian passport”- it was almost a yes that it will happen then all of a sudden they said “No it must be done with ID”- so the number of people registered is very low because of that as well. So I mean they were playing cat and mouse with us. The site was terrible to register, always freezing. Many people tried to register their name, number and many many steps- when it comes to your mother name, they say it's a wrong mother name, and then you have to go back. Yes I know because we don't know our mother's name so they have the right to do so! So, many many issues. Some managed to register and some vote. There's no trust, you know what I mean. It's a very bad movie. Having the right to vote it's like a horror movie. It is our right and we will not let go. I will not. And finally do you have any message to fellow Egyptian readers? My message to them is stay strong Egyptians, love each other, don't give a chance to anyone to divide and conquer. Beware that many many people and many countries want Egypt to fall and you have to be strong and God bless you all. BM
