Revolutionary goals

How can the youth movements that sparked the revolution consolidate their influence, asks Mohamed Abdel-Baky

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During the 18 days that youth groups occupied Tahrir Square they struggled to find one voice to speak on their behalf. Eventually seven coalitions and unions emerged, all vowing "to protect the revolution".

There have been repeated calls for the youth movements to form political parties. Those involved in the protests that led to the overthrow of president Hosni Mubarak, however, argue that the time is not yet ripe and that they will consider setting up parties only once the revolution's goals are achieved.

"It is too early to think about parties. We will continue with strikes, protests and sit-ins until we achieve all the demands of this great revolution," Ziad El-Olaimi, a member of the Youth Coalition of the Anger Revolution (YCR), told Al Ahram Weekly.

YCR is one of seven unions formed during the revolution. The coalition includes the 6 April Youth Movement, Youth for Freedom and Justice, the El-Baradei Campaign, the Muslim Brotherhood Youth Group, the Democratic Front's youth group and National Association of Change.

"Our mission in the coming months is to ensure Egypt is on the right track to establish a democratic state based on a new constitution and fair and transparent elections, and to hold officials of former president Mubarak's regime accountable for their crimes against the Egyptian people," says El-Olaimi.

Last week the YCR issued a "roadmap" outlining their vision of peaceful transition to a democratic state. The paper demanded a new constitution, an end to the emergency law, a transitional unity government formed of technocrats to remain until elections, and an end to restrictions on forming political parties, labour unions and publishing newspapers.x

"We demand the abolition of state security, the release of all political prisoners, the dissolving of the National Democratic Party and the removal of Ministry of Interior forces from university campuses," said the paper.

It defined the role of the coalition during the transition as "fomenting popular pressure to make sure that all the revolution's goals are achieved".

The paper was issued a day after YCR representatives met with members of the Higher Council of the Armed Forces.

YCR member Wael Ghoneim said on his Facebook page that the meeting went well.

"They wanted to listen to our demands and view what they are doing and to explain their point of view of the many issues involved in transition," wrote Ghoneim.

During the talks both sides agreed to hold further meetings. A few days later, however, and relations had chilled. On Monday the YCR announced that it was suspending further talks with the army until the current government led by Ahmed Shafik resigns, and political prisoners are released.

"We will suspend out talks with the military leaders until they announce a timetable to meet our demands," said YCR member Moez Abdel-Karim. He added that the military should negotiate with representatives from the protest movements to give the talks more substance.

Within hours the military announced that the Shafik government would not remain until the coming presidential and parliamentary elections and that political prisoners would be released "soon".

YCR responded by postponing the million strong protest they had threatened from Tuesday to Friday. On its Facebook page the coalition thanked the military "for taking our demands seriously".

A YCR member told the Weekly that the protest threat was made to show that the coalition was serious about its demands.

The YCR, says El-Olaimi, will continue to refuse compromise on any of the demands announced in the roadmap though the timetable was negotiable.

The YCR's emphasis on persisting in its original stance followed criticism from other youth movements that its meeting with military leaders was the first step towards abandoning protests.

"We are not seeking any political role. What we want now is to secure the transition and to act as a force pushing the revolution's demands. The only way we can do this is to retain our current form," says Ahmed Maher, executive coordinator of the 6 April Youth Movement.

YCR members belong to different political groups and adhere to different ideologies. It is not easy for them, says Maher, to agree on a single party political platform. What they all agree on is that Egypt must become a democratic country "so we decided to focus on this mission".

Amr El-Shobaki, of Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, argues that, for now at least any new political party will face the same problems that have stymied existing parties.

"When a democratic system is in place then energy can be spent on political parties. But for now it is better for the movements that sparked the revolution to remain as they are," he says.

But leaders like Mohamed El-Baradei, the former director of the UN nuclear watchdog, have urged the youth movements to organise themselves into political parties.

"To make your voice heard you have to form a political party promoting your vision of change," El-Baradei said in a statement on Sunday.

It is the first time El-Baradei has called on the youth movements to establish a political party, and may suggest he is planning his own.