Soapbox:

Let the people speak

By Amr Elshoubaki

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This week's bloody clashes in Mahala were virtual as well as actual. The virtual protests took place earlier, through electronic websites and text messages. The actual ones featured thousands of workers and activists clashing with police in scenes that left at least two dead and dozens injured. The incident was but one of many social protests seen in this country over the past two years. A total of 222 picketing events and strikes were staged in 2006. The number grew to 1,000 in 2007. It is believed that as many have been held since the beginning of this year.

The virtual call for a general strike on 6 April sent the Ministry of Interior into a rage. Its strongly worded statement, full of threats and intimidation, persuaded many citizens to play it safe and stay home. So the streets of Cairo were deserted on the very day of the strike that never was.

People who go on strike do so for good reasons. People who picket the streets have concerns that must be addressed. What is at stake is much larger than economic or professional demands. Parties, syndicates and political groups must be allowed to operate in freedom. We cannot deprive the people from politics and then get mad when they turn their hand to sabotage.

After the charade of the recent municipal elections, one cannot blame people who give up on politics. One cannot blame people for thinking that the right way to express one's opinion is to take to the streets. We need to have our politics back. We have to give our parties and unions the chance to speak on behalf of the nation. We need real politicians to liaise between the workers and the government. We need legitimate political institutions that we can trust.

This week's Soapbox speaker is an analyst at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.