CAIRO: Former leader of Al-Ghad party Ayman Nour announced a reform initiative under the title "Cairo's Announcement for Democracy and Reform, in a bid to continue efforts that were stalled during his more than four years in prison. Nour called upon parties and political bodies to discuss 10 articles to be included in the announcement ahead of its release on April 6. On the same date last year, young activists called for a nationwide strike. Nour says he wants to honor these youth by launching the initiative on the strike's anniversary. Nour added that the launch will be announced on his recently formed Facebook page, the medium through which the April 6 movement was organized. "The purity and heroism of what happened on April 6 is a victory of a generation that broke the barrier of fear and disappointment, [a group of people] that were able to say what many Egyptians couldn't, Nour said. "And on the occasion of celebrating one year since their victory, we ought to translate Egypt's misery into specific requests that will refuel everyone's energy into working for a better future. The "Cairo Announcement will include 10 articles drafted to grant citizens greater freedom, politically and socially. The main article demands the formation of a founding organization - two-thirds of which is elected and one-third appointed - of experts and judges in constitutional law tasked to draft a new constitution based on international standards of rights and freedom, within a year. Other articles include putting an end to the emergency law and restating the independence of the judiciary and the general prosecution office from the governing regime. In addition, the constitution should clearly state the roles and responsibilities of the regime, where criticism should be permitted and the right to hold the government accountable for its own actions is reinstated, which in turn would eliminate features of dictatorship. The "Cairo Announcement stressed on eradicating the idea of inheritance of power, and encourages independent candidates to run by providing an equal chance in democratic elections. According to the articles outlined in the "Cairo Announcement, new laws should allow for fair local elections for governors and mayors. Nour's announcement also calls for opening the door for private ownership of media to all political parties, without intervention from the government. Moreover, the articles include a call for the formation of political groups on the internet and the necessity of releasing all political prisoners and detainees and offering them compensation for the years they spent in prison. On the social front, Nour is calling for a series of policies designed to fight political and economic corruption, protect public funding and resources, fight unemployment levels and ensure a rise in standards of living, health and education. Egypt has been sitting on top of a volcano witnessing the whole world move forward while it is moving backwards, said Nour.
