MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ANNOUNCES BOYCOTT OF LOCAL

UNCLAS CAIRO 000693 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR PASCUAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KISL EG SUBJECT: MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ANNOUNCES BOYCOTT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS REF: A. CAIRO 389 ¶B. CAIRO 448 ¶C. CAIRO 495 ¶D. CAIRO 677 Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) On April 7, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB),which up until now had urged Egyptians to participate in the April 8 local council elections, called on voters to boycott. The full text of the MB's statement is posted on the organization's website (translated text at para 3). The MB's Deputy Supreme Guide, Mohamed Habib, separately announced that the organization is withdrawing its 20 candidates from the election. According to leading MB member Essam El Erian, out of 10,000 MB candidates that originally planned to contest the elections, only 498 were able to register, and only 20 of those actually appeared on the official candidate lists, issued following a lengthy government review (ref D). The MB reportedly filed 3,192 lawsuits demanding that its candidates be reinstated on the ballots, and has thus far won 2,664 of the cases, but the government has ignored the court orders. ¶2. (SBU) The MB's boycott is likely to further decrease the already low voter turnout anticipated for April 8. Many Egyptians we have spoken to are still unaware, only one day before the elections, that balloting is due to take place. Even ruling party contacts have told us that, at this point, the elections are largely "for show." ¶3. (U) Full text of MB statement: In the name of God A Statement by the Muslim Brotherhood Regarding Its Final Position on the Local Elections The Egyptian regime has dealt with the local council elections in a manner that alienated all effective and active forces in Egyptian society, with the MB at the heart of them. The regime engaged in a variety of obstructionist methods, from barring the nominations of candidates and arresting over 900 members of the MB, to ignoring court decisions that ordered the names of excluded candidates to be put on the ballot and the elections in several governorates halted. Based on the above, we would like to reiterate the following: Firstly, we will continue to struggle politically and legally until we annul the results of the local elections, if indeed they are held. Secondly, we call on the Egyptian people to boycott the elections tomorrow, out of respect for the legitimate judicial rulings that have been flagrantly ignored and disrespected by the government. Thirdly, we will continue to stand up to totalitarianism and corruption, and peacefully pursue reform and change through constitutional and legal channels, in a way that achieves the renaissance of our homeland, and the advancement of our nation. We are deeply grateful to the MB members who have sacrificed and remained persistent, as they are fulfilling God's will, and achieving the interests of the Egyptian people and our homeland. We also thank the masses of our beloved supporters who have buoyed us through all of these ordeals and crises. End statement. RICCIARDONE