‘No Baradei, No Muslim Brotherhood. We’re Just the Poor People of Egypt’

“Sandmonkey” is one of a number of bloggers and activists in Egypt getting the message out of the country through Twitter (he is sending his tweets via a friend in Jordan). RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service correspondent Nigar Fatali spoke with him about Internet activism in Egypt and its role in the country’s uprising.

RFE/RL: What does it feel like to live in a country where Internet and mobile phone connections can be shut down by the government at any time?

Sandmonkey: It is not fun [laughing]. It clearly affects you. People are being transported back to 1980; they have to go back from technological progress to using landlines. And most of them don’t even know the landline numbers of their friends to call and check on them. Having no access to the Internet and a curfew are driving people insane.

For activists it means the inability to upload pictures and videos of the horrors that are taking place here, while for many other people it basically means the inability to do their job. No one goes to work because there’s no Internet. The banks don’t work because of that; the country in general is in paralysis. The fact that the government can shut down the Internet and phone connection anytime they want is simply unnerving.

RFE/RL: Why do you blog under a nickname? Do you plan to reveal yourself?

Sandmonkey: I’ve always kept my identity anonymous and I’m not planning to reveal it because some members of my family are affiliated with the ruling NDP party and I don’t want to put them at risk.

RFE/RL: What is it like to be an activist in Egypt? Do you get oppressed or threatened?

Sandmonkey: These days it actually feels strange; scarier and more exciting. One day you’re breaking barricades, the next day you get tear gassed, and the day after that you try to escape the gunshots of street thugs. But it’s very rewarding because we see ourselves and our people being validated. We’re proud of them for taking responsibility for their destiny and saying “No” for the first time in their lives.

Everything about being an Egyptian got redefined in the last days. Before, many people would not agree with us. No one would believe that we could take action or do anything together, as a nation. Today, everybody is with us. Now people believe it’s possible. Five years ago I was a minority opposition. Today, I am the people. And this feeling is indescribable.

RFE/RL: In your opinion, as an insider, what are the chances for Egypt to repeat the Iranian destiny and cut off relations with the US and Israel in case a revolution is successful?

Sandmonkey: It is obvious that we’re alone in this and there’s no hidden agenda. The whole world wants stability in Egypt and Mubarak is a good choice for them. This protest was organized by the people, mostly from the poorest areas. It’s people of mixed religions and ethnicities; all they want is their freedom. [Mohamed] ElBaradei and the Muslim Brotherhood play a minimum role in this. One of the chants was “No Baradei, No Muslim Brotherhood. We’re just the poor people of Egypt.” We’re fighting because we want to bring a new meaning to the Arab world, to Egypt. We want democracy and equality. We are tired of corruption, injustice, and state control. We deserve better, we can do better.