CAIRO: The Egyptian Movement for Change (Kefaya) called on citizens Tuesday to pursue a policy of civil disobedience as a means of resistance. Kefaya also urged Egyptians to boycott all elections, starting with the Shoura Council election due to be held in June to elect members of the Upper House of Parliament. In a press conference held at the Kefaya premises in Downtown Cairo, a number of Kefaya leaders announced a new strategy of resistance. “We advise our fellow [activists] to stop writing and releasing statements and to join our strikes and protests,” Kefaya's General Coordinator Abdel-Halim Qandil said. “Let's go down to the streets together.” Conference speakers urged citizens to stop informing the interior ministry of future demonstrations and to practice their constitutional right to protest. Named “30-year-old Funeral,” the Kefaya press conference was held intentionally to coincide with President Hosni Mubarak's 82nd birthday. “The date was deliberately selected. In such occasions, we are supposed to wish a person happy birthday,” Qandil said. “Unfortunately, Egyptians cannot do that because it is a day of sadness for the state of our homeland,” he added. The event was scantily attended on both the level of citizens and media. “The recent intensive presence of Kefaya on the street probably caused a state of saturation,” justified Kefaya assistant coordinator for media Abdel-Aziz Al-Husseini. Kefaya will hold a protest on June 1, concurrent with the first day of Shoura Council elections, under the slogan “No to Rigging Egypt.”
