Freedom and Justice Party Awaits Release of Funds, Personal Property

December 18,2014
Source:Ikhwanweb

An Egyptian court stops implementation of 17 earlier court decisions to seize funds, property, schools, companies belonging to people said to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Mahmoud Abul-Enein, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) lawyer, said the FJP awaits enforcement of a Tuesday court ruling that overturns 17 earlier court orders to seize funds and property of people the coup government accused of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood in order to confiscate their property. The junta government may challenge the latest ruling.

"Even if challenged by the government, the court ruling is still enforceable. Any challenge will in fact be rejected, especially since the government's decision (expressed through 17 court orders) had no legal basis whatsoever."

According to a judicial source, the State Council's Administrative Court, presided over by Judge Yahya Dakroury, ruled in 17 lawsuits where earlier court orders had been issued to seize funds, schools, companies and personal property of people said to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Administrative court declared that those orders were in fact null and void.

"The court has established its ruling on the fact that the decisions to seize assets should have been issued via legitimate means and legal due process that do not ignore the provisions of the Constitution and the law, on the grounds that the Criminal Court is the competent authority to seize funds and property and to prevent the owners from the disposition of property. This cannot be achieved with an administrative decision.

"The same reasoning explained that 'terrorism poses a threat to society which competent authorities should handle... Dealing with terrorism and every departure from the law must be itself legitimate, through means and procedures that do not ignore the provisions of the Constitution and the law... The dangers of tyranny on the society are by no means less significant than the threat of terrorism."

 

 Link: http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=31940.

Egypt: Surge of Military Trials

DECEMBER 18, 2014
Source: Human Rights Watch

Curtailing the use of military courts to try civilians was one of the few tangible gains of the 2011 revolution, but that’s out the window now. Al-Sisi’s administration is methodically reversing the reforms achieved in 2011, while the United States and other governments resume arming the government as if none of it matters.

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director

(New York) – Egyptian authorities have referred hundreds of civilians to military courts based on an October 2014 decree by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. At least 820 civilians have been referred to military prosecutors in the past six weeks based on the unprecedented extension of military court authority, according to news reports compiled by Human Rights Watch.

Civil prosecutors have used the October decree retroactively, referring cases of civilians already under investigation or facing trial in civilian courts to military jurisdiction. Some had been released on bail by civilian courts.

“Curtailing the use of military courts to try civilians was one of the few tangible gains of the 2011 revolution, but that’s out the window now,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director. “Al-Sisi’s administration is methodically reversing the reforms achieved in 2011, while the United States and other governments resume arming the government as if none of it matters.”

Egypt’s military courts operate under the authority of the Defense Ministry, not the civilian judicial authorities. The judges are serving military officers. Military court proceedings typically do not protect basic due process rights or satisfy the requirements of independence and impartiality of courts of law. Children can fall under the jurisdiction of military courts, which Human Rights Watch opposes under any circumstances.

On December 15, 2014, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, and other top leaders of the group, including Mohamed el-Beltagy, Essam el-Erian, and Safwat Hegazy, were among 310 defendants whose cases were transferred by the general prosecutor in the city of Ismailia. They had been on trial for rioting and inciting violence leading to the torching of the Ismailia Courts Complex in August 2013. The Egyptian authorities labeled the opposition Brotherhood a terrorist group in December 2013.

On the same day, prosecutors referred another 40 alleged supporters of the Brotherhood, to the Ismailia military court. They face charges arising from their alleged role in protests, inciting violence, and blocking roads. Eight of nine women and girls among the defendants are secondary school or university students who have been free on bail for several months. They now face possible re-arrest. Human Rights Watch could not confirm the ages of all defendants, but military courts in Egypt, unlike civilian courts, do not differentiate in their treatment ofchildren and adults.

On December 13, 2014, Egypt’s prosecutor general referred 439 people for trial by a military court on charges linked to their alleged participation in deadly violence that broke out after the military’s removal of former president Mohamed Morsy in 2013. Of the 439, 139 had been facing trial before an ordinary criminal court in the Minya governorate, while the others were being tried by an ordinary court in Beheira governorate. On December 4, 2014, the chief prosecutor of Menoufia governorate referred 26 men, including six students, to military prosecutors. They face charges of rioting and belonging to a banned organization – the Muslim Brotherhood.

In November, a Cairo criminal court judge referred five al-Azhar University students for trial by a military court because, he said, President al-Sisi’s decree meant that his court “lacked jurisdiction” to try the students who were accused of torching the university's control room in January. Another 11 alleged Brotherhood supporters in the Kafr al-Sheikh governorate were referred to military court trials on charges that relate to events in August. Six of them were accused of disrupting railway tracks, and the other five were accused of planting a bomb in a court.

President al-Sisi issued the October decree, Law 136 of 2014, in the absence of an elected parliament. The decree places all “public and vital facilities” under military jurisdiction for the next two years. Article 2, which officials are using to give the law retroactive effect, requires state prosecutors to refer any crimes committed at those venues to their military counterparts.

The Egyptian Observatory for Rights and Freedoms, a local-based activist group, on December 16 made public photocopies of a November 11 decision allegedly by Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat requiring prosecutors throughout the country to “compile and send any cases related to aforementioned crimes, at any stage (of investigations), to military prosecutors whenever asked to do so.” Article 95 of the Egyptian Constitution stipulates that penalties may “only be imposed for acts committed after the effective date of the law imposing it.”

“Militarizing the trials of civilians, including children, is taking Egypt in the wrong direction, and doing so retroactively compounds the abuse,” Whitson said.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in interpreting the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (to which Egypt is a state party), has said that military courts “should not, in any circumstances whatsoever, have jurisdiction over civilians.”

According to article 93 of the Egyptian Constitution, the international human rights agreements, covenants, and conventions to which Egypt is a state party have the force of law.

Ahmed Helmy, a lawyer who has represented defendants before military courts in multiple cases, told Human Rights Watch that he believes that the authorities are acting unconstitutionally by retroactively applying the decree.

“President al-Sisi should repeal his October decree before more damage is done if he has any concern for preserving Egypt’s reputation and the new constitution he has sworn to protect,” Whitson said. “He should also annul all verdicts against civilians that military courts have handed down since his government took power and order their retrial before civil judges.”

Link: http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/18/egypt-surge-military-trials.

Pro-Democracy Alliance Calls 'Together, We Save Egypt' Peaceful Protest Week

December 18,2014
Source: Ikhwanweb

In a statement, Egypt's broad-based National Alliance urges unity and continued mobilization, and calls for a 'Together we save Egypt' week of protests, in preparation for a thundering wave of demonstrations in the memory of January 25 (2011) Revolution.

To the revolutionary men and women of Egypt...

Your resilience, awareness and steadfastness over the past months have proved that the coup commanders' schemes are worthless. Your thundering revolutionary rallies and continued resistance have trampled all the calculations of America's junta in Egypt, made them lose their minds, and led them to muddled confusion, random reactions and internal conflict.

The situation is bad, to levels unprecedented in the history of Egypt. Anguish, organized looting and official thuggery are widespread. Tourism is being completely destroyed with a climate of terror that is scaring off foreigners. Military trials for civilians are being used in an attempt to cover up the coup criminals' blood-stained hands. But that will not happen! Your revolutionary action will continue. There is no place in Egypt's Revolution for paid brokers or wave-riders.

The whole region is atop a raging volcano. The hegemony and tyranny project is digging its own grave. Meanwhile, Egypt's revolutionaries are determined to bring about victory for all the vulnerable in the whole world. Your revolutionary action here stops the axis of evil from reaching the very heart of the Arab world. You should realize how critical your position is in all this, know the importance of your revolutionary action in this decisive moment in the life of our nation, and move strongly forward to defeat the illegitimate coup.

The criminal leader of the military junta is bankrupt, after clear failure and rejection, both at home and abroad. He therefore is endeavoring to restore the state of corruption, with the same ugly faces that sell the homeland and impoverish the people and enriched themselves at the people's expense.

But failure will remain the coup commander's sole ally. The balance of power is already tipping in the Revolution's favor. The crucial moment is not here yet; but it is close now. The Revolution will succeed with this generation of free men and women who proudly raise the slogan: No Retreat, No Surrender, No Waiting-around.

Continue to unite and close ranks, continue the revolutionary mobilization. Let us launch a week of protests in preparation for a thundering wave of demonstrations in memory of the January 25 (2011) Revolution, under the slogan "Together, we save Egypt". Raise the flags of Egypt and signs of Rabaa, of defiance and steadfastness. In your chants, condemn the criminal Al-Sisi, Mubarak, the Zionist enemy, the American conspirator, and the Gulf sponsors.

The Revolution's clock is ticking. The time has come for all Egypt's revolutionaries to join the march onto the road to victory, and to prepare for the dawn of a new and decisive revolutionary year, in which the Egyptian Revolution will go into a vital and pivotal stage of the peaceful struggle for democratic transformation. The Revolution will prove to the whole world that the will of the Egyptian people will not be easily broken, and that no-one, whatever tools of oppression or persecution they have, will dare divert the Revolution, stop its determined march, or delay its inevitable victory.

Egypt's revolutionaries are capable of achieving the objectives of the January 25 Revolution and safeguarding its gains. Together, let us defeat the junta, reverse the coup, and prepare together for the post-coup stage. For, indeed, these are important stages of the Revolution that will not stop until all falsehood and illegitimacy is at an end. The people of Egypt will not abandon their freedoms and rights.

One revolution.. one blood.. one murderer

The Anti-Coup Pro-Legitimacy National Alliance

Link: http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=31941.

The Egyptian military empire

09 July 2014
Dr Walaa Ramadan 
Source:Middle East Monitor

The Egyptian Armed Forces are the largest in Africa and the Middle East. In 2014, they were ranked the 13th most powerful in the world, consisting of the army, navy, air force and the air defence command. Large paramilitary forces also exist, such as the Central Security Forces (under the control of the ministry of the interior); Border Guard Forces and the National Guard (under the control of the ministry of defence).

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) is the governing body, made up of 21 officers; it sits in times of war or insurgencies such as during the course of the January 25 Revolution, when the toppled President Mubarak reassigned power to SCAF, which then governed Egypt in the interim period until the 2012 elections.

The Egyptian Armed Forces receive military assistance from the US; most of the $1.5 billion given to Egypt every year is military aid. These funds were frozen following the military coup against the first democratically-elected civilian president in July 2013 and its violent aftermath; they were resumed by the US Congress following the recent Egyptian elections, which saw the coup leader, Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi, gain a landslide victory in what elections deemed widely to be farcical and illegitimate, reminiscent of Mubarak decades. Much of the military aid Egypt receives is in the form of equipment, such as tanks and jet fighters, which are surplus to Egyptian needs and are kept in storage.

The military's power

The armed forces enjoy considerable power, prestige and independence within the Egyptian State. They form the single most powerful institution in the autocratic state that has been the entire history of the Republic of Egypt. From the military coup by the Free Officers' Movement (a group of army officers led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser) that toppled King Farouk in 1952, to the 2011 revolution, all of the presidents of Egypt (Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak) were military officers. This succession was interrupted by the revolution which led to the election of the first democratically-elected civilian President of Egypt, Dr Mohamed Morsi, in an interruption to autocratic rule.

President Morsi did not have full constitutional powers and did not have full authority over state institutions such as the armed forces. The military were protected from legal and parliamentary oversight, even under a civilian president.

The armed forces have their own hospitals, villages, complexes, social clubs, education institutions, petrol stations, factories and companies. They own restaurants and football grounds. They also have a stronghold in business, engaging in road and housing construction, consumer goods, resort management and extensive tracts of real estate. They have a vast economic stronghold in Egypt, but the precise amount is not known; the military's budget is secret and its industries are unaudited and untaxed. The names of the general officers and even the military's exact size (ranks are estimated at 300,000 to 400,000) are all considered to be a state secret.

The military's "grey economy"

Khaled Fahmy, head of history at the American University in Cairo, calls this a "grey economy, in the sense that we know very little of them, they are not subject to any parliamentary scrutiny, the Egyptian government auditing office has no control or knowledge of them."

According to journalist Joshua Hammer, the Egyptian military controls "as much as 40 per cent of the Egyptian economy"; since the revolution of 2011, claims German newspaper Die Welt, this proportion has increased to 45 per cent. Some economic experts put the estimate of the military's holdings at up to 60 per cent.

With the harsh political crackdown following the July 2013 coup, the military is positioning itself to become Egypt's uncontested economic power, ensuring its allies have key economic posts; it has expanded its authority over government development deals, including the lucrative Suez Canal Project, a key component of the economic "renaissance project" championed by deposed President Mohamed Morsi, which stands to bring Egypt billions of dollars in annual revenue. The massive project presents a strategic shipping link through which 8 per cent of world trade passes. It will include port and terminal expansion, the construction of a new airport and a new industrial zone, at an estimated cost of $8.6 billion over the next two decades.

Since President Morsi's ouster, the military-led government has assumed complete control of the project. The military is acting as the primary contractor for economic development in the project, as it is in numerous other projects across the nation. Whilst the Egyptian armed forces claim to have no financial stake in the canal's development, many of the 14 Egyptian-foreign joint ventures bidding on the master plan of the project have very close connections with the military. For example, one of the companies on this venture is the state-owned Arab Contractors, which is headed by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab from the former National Democratic Party. Mahlab was appointed by the military following the coup, and was reappointed in June 2014 following Al-Sisi's presidential "victory".
Another company bidding on the Suez Canal project, the Maritime Research and Consultation Centre, has a board of directors consisting almost entirely of military officers and is chaired by the minister of transportation. Almost all of the other companies on the venture have previous contracts with the military's Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have pumped billions of dollars into post-coup Egypt.

Between September and December of last year, shortly after the coup, at least six major infrastructure contracts for roads, bridges, tunnels and apartment blocks, worth more than $1.5 billion, went to the military.

Egyptian state is a "Military Inc."

Following the July 2013 coup, it has become the norm to find a military officer in charge of each government authority. The Egyptian economy is becoming increasingly shaped by the ruling generals, and military businesses and control appear to be expanding, permeating every aspect of the bureaucracy. A report in Haaretz on the economic advantages enjoyed by the Egyptian military went as far as to state that Al-Sisi's phrase about his "desire to serve the people", which supposedly drove him to stand for president, was the flipside to his desire for the army not to lose its economic hold on the country. The reporter went on to say that Al-Sisi must demonstrate his economic leadership, particularly given that the military accounts for the largest share of the economy.

"We're dealing with a brand-new economy that's now run by 'Military Inc.', " claims Joshua Stacher, an Egypt expert at Kent State University, who has studied the military economy.

According to Middle East expert Stephan Roll, writing in a policy paper for the German Institute for International and Security Affairs last September, "Egypt cannot achieve social peace if the one-sided growth policy of the late Mubarak era is simply continued."

Economists say the military's expanding businesses and industries create unfair competition for their non-military rivals. The military uses poorly-paid conscript labour (who make $17-28 a month) and do not pay taxes, thus allowing it to price projects far below the prices of private-sector firms, and even state-run enterprises.

Moreover, the armed forces have de facto control over all undeveloped non-agricultural land in Egypt, or about 87 per cent of the country. This transforms into massive plots of land, some in lucrative locations, monitored by watchtowers, with signs forbidding photography identifying them as military zones. On one of these massive tracts of land in Cairo, a 4.5 million square metre, UAE-based, residential and commercial project overlooking the Greater Cairo area – Emaar's exclusive 18 billion pound Uptown Cairo complex – has started construction following an agreement during an economic ministerial committee meeting in February this year.

This project is the latest and biggest of the military-secured developments, and will have a private road linking it with Cairo's public network. A private road to a private city, owned by the country's army. The chants of Tahrir square in 2011 for "bread, freedom, social justice" will not be heard in this luxurious, exclusive, gated community in the heart of the capital, nor will it be heard in any other military-owned development.

The very same institutions and people which dealt with the Uptown Cairo project, including the governor of the Central Bank of Egypt and the Ministers of Finance, Investment, Planning, Supply, Electricity, Petroleum, Housing and Agriculture, are the same that are failing to solve Egypt's mounting urban problems. Many of these are caused directly by the lack of accountability and the incompetence of these very institutions.

The ministry of defence receives billions of dollars in economic projects which come nowhere near the state treasury; instead, the state budget pours into the armed forces 70 billion Egyptian pounds a year at the expense of the poor, long-suffering citizens.

Austerity for the people

One of the motivations for the outbreak of the 2011 revolution was the growing unhappiness among Egyptians of the widespread deep-rooted corruption and gross inequality in their society. Many analysts say that the stronger military stronghold on the Egyptian economy is deepening the corruption and may push the tide to another upsurge of popular anger.

The lavishness of the military stands in stark contrast to Al-Sisi telling Egyptians that they have to sacrifice from their health and wealth for the sake of Egypt. Al-Sisi's famous speech in which he told the people that "there isn't anything, there isn't anything!" regarding the financial situation of the country, and that a generation or two may have to suffer in order that future generations can prosper, still rings in the ears of his people.

This week alone saw the announcement of an increase in the price of petrol by 78 per cent, and along with the increase in the price of electricity, food prices are expected to increase by 200 per cent. This comes at a time when Egyptians, 40 per cent of whom live below the poverty line, are already suffering the challenges of feeding their families with the existing price increases following the coup last summer.

Salaries

With the increased pressure on the Egyptian people to endure a harsh life of austerity and rationalised personal spending, it would be interesting to know how much the military coup leader, now president, pays himself and his military staff. The military budget remains secret under the pretence of being a national security threat, but with the military demanding from the people a life of austerity, it's only fair that its officers are transparent about their own finances.

The military has seen three salary rises since the January 25 Revolution, including a 50 per cent pay rise last August for all staff and ranks. There are no confirmed figures for the salaries of senior military leaders, but a source claimed that the Manager of Security receives EGP 900,000 ($150,000) monthly, so it is mind-boggling what senior officers may receive. Some officers within the security or administrative establishments have spoken of a range between 100,000 and 500,000 EGP monthly ($16,700 – $83,000) as being common. The highest wage annually is thought to be between 12 and 100 million pounds ($1m and $16.67m). In Egypt, the poor sacrifice in order that those who made them poor are able to live lavishly.

The republic of retired generals

Egypt has become a republic of retired generals with the military having a policy whereby every senior officer is given a high-rank civilian position upon retirement. Such generals are found in two types of employment: upper bureaucratic positions and economic enterprises owned by the military. In Egypt, 18 out of the 27 provincial governors are retired army generals. The state-owned oil sector is also highly militarised with oil and gas companies run by retired generals.

The head of the Suez Canal is a former military chief of staff and the heads of the Red Sea ports are retired generals, as is the manager of the maritime and land transport company. The health minister's assistant for financial and administrative affairs is a retired general, and so are many others in the bureaucratic offices of the ministry. Many retired generals are also in the ministry of environment. The current head of the Supreme Constitutional Court was originally an army officer who served previously as a judge in military courts.

The Egyptian military has sucked the wealth out of the country like a dangerous parasite. With its deep permeation in every aspect of Egyptian society, and a stranglehold on the Egyptian economy, indeed most of what constitutes the Republic of Egypt, the questions is: will the Egyptian State ever be demilitarised?

Link:  https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/americas/12672-egypt-opens-rafah-border-crossing-after-un-request.

Anti-coup protests continue in Egypt

28 June 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor

Dozens of anti-coup protests were held across Egypt on Friday to voice opposition to the continuation of the military coup and the repression that followed the July 3 ouster of freely elected president Mohamed Morsi.

In southern Cairo, a protest was held in Maadi district, calling for the departure of Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and the restoration of democracy.

In Al-Waraq neighbourhood in Giza governorate, residents held an anti-coup demonstration in which they condemned the brutal practices of the security apparatus against coup opponents.

In Sharqeya, protests were held in several neighbourhoods, calling for "the prosecution of coup leaders" and "retribution for all the victims" of Rabaa and other massacres.

In Port Said, protesters called for the release of all political prisoners, and condemned the "unfair trials" of coup opponents.

Link:  /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/12413-anti-coup-protests-continue-in-egypt.

Ethiopian diplomat: Renaissance Dam will be built 'with its full capacity'

23 June 2014
Source:Middle East Monitor

 Ethiopia is moving forward with the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam with its full capacity and according to the original plans despite Egyptian reservations, an Ethiopian diplomat told Arabi 21 website Sunday.

The suspension of an Egyptian anchorwoman from Tahrir TV channel has reopened discussions on the crisis of the dam's capacity, amid reports of a UAE-Israeli mediated initiative in the horizon.
Tahrir anchorwoman Rania Badawy has been suspended after a complaint from the Ethiopian ambassador in Cairo following an argument she had with him during a live call-in with her show. Badawy has hung up on ambassador Mahmoud Dardir after he accused her of arrogance due to her question whether Ethiopia will carry on with the construction of the dam based on the original plan.
Responding to a question by Badawy regarding the dam's current capacity and its impacts on Egyptian water security, the ambassador stressed that this is a sovereign matter, and that Ethiopia has "moved beyond Egyptian dictations and conditions in this regard."

Arabi 21 website asked an Ethiopian diplomat regarding the implications of the ambassador's remarks. The diplomat confirmed that his country had not changed its initial construction plans and would not accept any discussions with Egypt on them.

The diplomat confirmed reports of an Emirati-Israeli initiative that calls for the continuation of the construction according to initial plans, with an Ethiopian pledge not to use the full capacity of the dam in a way that impacts Egyptian and Sudanese share of the water.

The diplomat pointed out that the initiative, if approved, would not resolve the crisis because Addis Ababa would still be able to use the full capacity of the dam whenever it sees fit.

Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/12290-ethiopian-diplomat-renaissance-dam-will-be-built-with-its-full-capacity.

Corrupt Egypt gas deals revealed

09 June 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor



In Egypt's Lost Power, Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit reveals the hidden story of Egypt's oil and gas industry. It describes how tycoons cashed in as a nation lost out - and provides compelling new evidence that the Arab world's most populated country may soon become energy dependent on Israel.

The documentary describes how Egypt - once a major natural gas exporter - made a series of deals from so corrupt that it has devastated the nation's energy sector. What's more, the country that it sold gas to from 2008 to 2012 at below market prices - Israel - is now in possession of massive gas reserves that it intends to sell to Egypt.

Sources in Tel Aviv describe how, after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi, Egypt made clandestine approaches to the Israeli government in order to "ensure the flow of gas" to Egypt.
Former Israeli Energy Minister Yosef Paritzky told the program: "Egypt needs gas. We can sell it. What else can be better?"

More than a dozen industry specialists, including former and current officials, were interviewed over the course of this five-month investigation.

Investigative reporter Clayton Swisher tracked down and located fugitive billionaire Hussein Salem in Madrid as well as his former business partner (and former Mossad officer) Yossi Maiman outside his offices north of the Israeli capital, Tel Aviv.

The program examines Egyptian government records, court filings, and corporate records and discovered that powerful energy companies are now suing Egypt in numerous international arbitration courts.

The investigation also addresses how deliberately generated gas shortages played a role in the toppling of Egypt's first democratically elected President, Mohammed Morsi.

Edward Walker, a former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and Israel, tells the show that many in Washington welcomed last year's coup. "He's attractive because he's not Morsi. And the concern has always been to maintain and sustain the relationship between Egypt and Israel. So it was not really in our interest to see them (the Muslim Brotherhood) succeed."

 Admiral William Fallon, a former head of U.S. Central Command rejected the policy of promoting democracy in the Middle East. "It isn't just about having elections. That's wonderful," he told Egypt's Lost Power. "But what comes after the election? If there's not a framework for making government work to accomplish things, then it's very hollow".

Former Israeli Ambassador Oded Eran, an advisor to the Knesset, welcomed a new energy relationship with Cairo. "If we can get into an agreement...supplying gas to Egypt, this will also cement the relations, political and economic, between Israel and Egypt."

Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit's previous scoops include the Palestine Papers, The Bin Laden Files, What Killed Arafat?, and Killing Arafat.

Egypt's Lost Power broadcasts on Al Jazeera English on Monday, June 9th at 2000 GMT, and 1900 GMT on Al Jazeera Arabic.

Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/11971-corrupt-egypt-gas-deals-revealed.

The EU's willingness to work with Egypt undermines its condemnation of human rights abuses

06 June 2014
 Samira Shackle
Source: Middle East Monitor

When Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's democratically elected president, was ousted in July 2013, the European Union – along with other western powers – was unsure how best to respond. During the months that have passed, it has retained a cautious tone: condemning human rights abuses, while also tentatively praising aspects of the new government's policy programme.

Following the announcement that General Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi had won last month's presidential election with a huge landslide, the EU released a statement saying that the group "expresses its willingness to work closely with the new authorities in Egypt in constructive partnership with a view to strengthening our bilateral relations." It also reiterates concerns about the repressive context in Egypt, saying that the "respect for rights falls short of constitutional principles". In their respective statements, the White House and Downing Street were similarly cautious in the language they used, alluding to the repression of civil society and the opposition, while also congratulating Al-Sisi and expressing their willingness to work with him.

Of course, this is largely due to Egypt's position as a vital regional ally to the west. The country – and, specifically, its military – is seen as a key part of western counter-terrorism work in the Middle East.

While the EU and the US are evidently keen to keep this alliance strong, their protestations about the repressive policies of the government have continually fallen on deaf ears. The EU statement on the election contained several specific criticisms:

"Building a deep and sustainable democracy will only succeed with the establishment of democratic, transparent and accountable institutions that protect all citizens and their fundamental rights. In this context the EU reiterates its deep concern with the continued detention of members of peaceful civil society, political opposition and activists. The EU also reiterates its call on the Egyptian authorities to allow journalists to operate freely; to ensure peaceful protest notably by amending the protest law, to launch independent and credible investigations into the violent events since 30 June 2013; to ensure the defendant's rights to a fair and timely trial based on clear charges; to ensure humane prison conditions in line with international law and standards; to review the numerous death sentences imposed on political opponents in mass trials and to respect due process."

The same day that the statement was issued, Egypt announced that the prosecution in the case of the Al Jazeera journalists would be seeking the maximum penalty: that's 15 years imprisonment for the foreigners, and 25 years for the Egyptians. The case – in which more than 20 Al Jazeera journalists are being tried on charges including terrorism and damaging the reputation of Egypt – has attracted enormous international attention. The UK, US, and EU have all called for the release of the journalists, but Egypt's authorities have held steady.

The timing of the announcement – just as international bodies congratulate Al-Sisi on his win and urge respect for rights – throws into stark relief the limited influence that western powers have in Egypt. This is partly because there is no real incentive for the Egyptian authorities to listen to western allies; military aid, for the most part, continues. Moreover, the government is receiving significant financial support from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. If, in a worst case scenario, the US or the EU cut off all their support, there would be a clear replacement. Yet, of course, it is highly unlikely that this support would ever be cut off in its entirety: Egypt is simply considered too important strategically. When condemnations are accompanied by statements of willingness to continue to work together, it somewhat undermines the message.

Of course, the decision to pursue the Al Jazeera journalists, Muslim Brotherhood supporters, and secular human rights activists – despite international criticism – is mostly the result of the country's intensely polarized internal politics. The interim government and, presumably, Al-Sisi's new administration, want to suppress dissent. The authorities do crave legitimacy, taking extraordinary measures to ensure a large turn out in the elections, including extending voting to a third day and threatening fines for those who did not vote. Yet despite these efforts, the EU election observer mission found that the election was "free but not always fair" (in the words of Robert Goebbels, Luxembourg member of the European Parliament) given the winner's overwhelming advantage in media attention and finances. The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made personal entreaties on behalf of Peter Greste, the Australian Al Jazeera journalist on trial, while Barack Obama and William Hague have also intervened. Yet these, as other criticisms, have fallen on deaf ears. One must question the usefulness of condemnatory statements when they are not followed up by action.

 Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/africa/11923-the-eus-willingness-to-work-with-egypt-undermines-its-condemnation-of-human-rights-abuses.

Muslim Brotherhood to Al-Sisi: Election Wholly Null and Void

June 5,2014
Source: Ikhwanweb

The Muslim Brotherhood issued the following statement regarding the recent illegitimate presidential elections:

On the anniversary of the 1967 (war with Israel) setback, which was the natural result of the army 's preoccupation with politics at the time, the presidential elections committee announced the result of the recent blood ballot farce – which was ridiculed all over the world, as all nations watched Egyptians' persistent boycott of the cheap soap opera in its entirety.


In this regard, the Muslim Brotherhood affirms the following:


First: This result will not change any coup realities on the ground. Needless to say, what is built on falsehood is false itself.


Second: Our great people, along with the whole world, know that the real ruler of Egypt since the coup is that same murderer, and that he is responsible for all the tragic events that hit the country, including political, economic and social destruction. He is also primarily responsible for the genocide executed ruthlessly by his security forces, the army, the police and the judiciary. All these are crimes with no statute of limitations. Very soon, the people of this homeland will hold fair and prompt trials for these crimes, for the murderous mastermind and all his political, military and judicial henchmen.


Third: The end of the presidential blood ballot is the beginning of the last round of the conflict between our great people – of whom more than 90% boycotted that farce – and the coup. The result of the conflict is well known beforehand. The people shall not be defeated.


The Muslim Brotherhood is confident that this round will not take long, God willing, with the patriotic revolutionaries' steadfastness, selfless devotion and ingenuity in their peaceful revolt as all Egyptians rally around them in every inch of this country.


Very soon, the people will celebrate the end to the coup and reclaim their freedom and independence of will.


"They say: ‘When will that be?’ Say: ‘Sooner than you think’!" (Quran 17:51)


The Muslim Brotherhood

Link:  http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=31667.

Africa Muslim youths mutilated in CAR

27 May 2014 
Source: aljazeera

At least three Muslim youths have been killed and mutilated by a Christian militia in the Central African Republic while on their way to play in a reconciliation football game between the two faiths, according to organisers and a spokesman for the country's Muslim community.

The match between Muslim and Christian youths was set up as part of efforts to forge peace between the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels who seized power last year and the rival anti-Bakala Christian militia.

"Their sex organs and hearts have been removed," Ousmane Abakar, the Muslim community spokesman, told Reuters news agency on Sunday.

He said the bodies of the boys, from Bangui's mostly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood, had been taken to a mosque in the capital by the community after the attack. Their ages were not known.
Youths in PK5 barricaded the main road in protest, residents said.


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Sebastien Wenezoui, a coordinator of the anti-Balaka, condemned the attacks and said 10 youths had been abducted in the incident by a faction of the group from the Boy-Rabe neighbourhood.

"We do not know where the others are," Wenezoui said. "We strongly condemn these acts. While we are currently working towards peace, others continue to kill."

Lazare Djader, president of Collectif Urgence 236, the association working to reconcile the communities, said months of work to bring the youths together had been dealt a heavy blow.
"Because of these deaths, I have zero morale. Several months of efforts are lost. I'm trying to calm everyone down but they are all very angry right now," Djader said, adding that a non-Muslim youth had also been found killed.

Seleka was forced to relinquish power under international pressure in January and since then, Christian militias known as anti-Balaka have mounted widespread attacks on Muslims.
More than 2,000 people have been killed in the violence in Central African Republic and a million of the country's 4.5m people have been forced from their homes despite the presence of several thousand African peacekeepers and European Union and French troops.

The UN has warned that the conflict could descend nto genocide.

Link:  .aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/05/muslim-youths-mutilated-car-2014525221820168743.html.

Child of a Muslim Brotherhood leader jailed after authorities fail to arrest his father

22 May 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor

 The Egyptian Prosecutor General referred a child of a Muslim Brotherhood leader to a children's court on Wednesday after failing to arrest his father, a London-based newspaper reported.

According to Al-Araby Al-Yawm newspaper, Egyptian security forces broke into the house of MB leader Rafaat Hamed last April to arrest him, but they arrested his 17-years-old son instead after failing to find him.

The prosecutor general referred Hamed's son to a children's court on charges of arming youth protests, which his lawyer dismisses as entirely trumped-up and aimed at pressuring his father, currently at large.

Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11643-child-of-a-muslim-brotherhood-leader-jailed-as-authorities-fail-to-arrest-his-father.

Libyan exile exposes reality of Egyptian support for 'Libya's coup'

21 May 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor

Comments: This article is quoting an individual who is a relative of Ghadafi's and a former member of his (Ghadafi's) regime. It is insightful in that it shows that the pro Ghadafi group is an ally of the Al-Sisi regime. It also shows, indirectly, of the NWO's/ global oligarchy's involvement in the attempts at a coup in Libya. Here is the article:

A Libyan exile has claimed that Khalifah Haftar is making history and restoring dignity to the Libyan Army, even though the government in Tripoli accuses the retired brigadier general of leading a coup attempt. Ahmad Qadhaf Al-Dam , the former coordinator of Egypt-Libya relations under the regime of the late Colonel Mu'ammar Gaddafi, told Libya First TV that Haftar is "resuming" the heroes' jihad. "He is leading the battle with great support from all Libyans and from the children of the Eastern Region, from the displaced in the diaspora, from the supporting sister state Egypt and from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia," he claimed from his home in Egypt.

Gaddafi's cousin said that he expects that "Libya will return to the bosom of its sons and we shall see the second republic, God willing", in light of the "Battle of Dignity" that is led by Haftar. "Thanks to these heroes, we shall soon crush the NATO revolution and all those claiming to be Islamists."

Haftar's forces, which call themselves the "National Libyan Army", are fighting Islamic battalions loyal to the Libyan Army's joint staff. The Libyan authorities describe this fighting as "a coup attempt" whereas Haftar calls it "a response to a call from the Libyan people and the battle of defending the people and protecting the souls of the officers and soldiers of the Libyan Army who have been killed on a daily basis".

Libyan press reports have linked Haftar's moves against the armed Islamists in Libya to what happened in Egypt when the leaders of the army there, supported by popular, political and religious powers, toppled elected President Muhammad Morsi last year.

However, the Foreign Ministry in Cairo has denied that the Egyptian army supported Haftar's forces in the fighting that took place in the city of Benghazi last Friday and Saturday which left 75 dead and 136 wounded. The ministry denounced what it called "attempts inside and outside Libya to embroil Egypt in the current developments there."

It is worth noting that Haftar, together with Al-Dam, led the Libyan battalion which supported Egypt during the 1973 war against Israel and he led most of the major military exercises that took place in the country. He was also awarded the Golden Star, led the Libyan forces in the war with Chad in 1980 and was promoted to the rank of Colonel that same year despite the fact that Libya lost that war under the leadership of Haftar and suffered many losses. It was during that war that Haftar was accused of perpetrating "war crimes" against the people of Chad.

Link:  /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11622-libyan-exile-exposes-reality-of-egyptian-support-for-libyas-coup.

Newspaper: Egypt establishing training camps for Libyan rebels

21 May 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor

A source told the Arabi21 newspaper that the Egyptian army has established a training camp to host Libyan rebels affiliated with the leader of the attempted coup, General Khalifa Haftar, and the leader of the National Forces Alliance, former Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, who is currently living in the United Arab Emirates.

In an exclusive report, the newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the training camp is located near the Libyan and Egyptian border and hosts more than 5,000 young Libyan fighters who are supporters of General Haftar and opposition leader Mahmoud Jibril.

According to the source, the youth are being trained to move under General Haftar's leadership "to destabilise Libya and use chaos to justify turning against legitimacy and hindering the democratic process".

 Clashes erupted in the city of Benghazi on Friday between armed rebels affiliated with General Haftar and militants and Islamists affiliated with the Libyan army in a struggle over control of the city, leaving many dead and wounded, according to the Libyan Ministry of Health. On Sunday, Haftar's militia attempted to seize the national parliament in Tripoli.

Link: //www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11617-newspaper-egypt-establishing-training-camps-for-libyan-rebels.

How US, France, Israel Stopped Jonathan

May 19, 2014
 Donald Ojogo
Source: Leadership

Last-minute advice from some foreign intelligence services, who are currently part of the efforts to free the over 200 abducted schoolgirls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, stopped President Jonathan from embarking on the trip to Chibok on Friday. They termed the trip “ill-advised and contemptuous”. LEADERSHIP gathered that the initial plan of the president was to visit Chibok early on Friday before heading for Paris, France, where he is currently attending a security summit.

A Presidency source hinted that the president’s planned trip to the troubled town was against the initial advice of Nigeria’s security and intelligence community.

For More Info:  http://leadership.ng/news/371468/us-france-israel-stopped-jonathan.

234 girls are 'missing' from Nigerian school attacked last week by Islamic extremists - significantly more than the 85 initially reported by education officials

29 April 2014
By Kieran Corcoran 
Source: Daily Mail

 
Almost three times as many schoolgirls as previously thought were seized from an exam hall by violent Islamist extremists, it has been claimed.

A statement by officials had said that 85 girls aged 16-18, who were sitting a physics exam, were kidnapped from the school in Chibok, Nigeria last week.

But today the governor of the region, who visited the town today, said that grief-stricken parents told him officials had ignored them when drawing up the list of 85, and that in fact 234 girls had been taken.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2609709/234-girls-missing-Nigerian-school-attacked-week-Islamic-extremists-significantly-85-initially-reported-education-officials.html#ixzz32FG73Q3V
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Curbing Violence in Nigeria (II): The Boko Haram Insurgency

April 3,2014
International Crisis Group Africa report #216
www.crisisgroup.org.

Table of Contents 

 

 

Executive

Summary .............................................................................................................

...... i

Recommenda

tions................................................................................................................

..... iii

I.

Introduction ..................................................................................................................

... 1

II.

Corruption, Political Violence

and the Weak State .......................................................... 2

A.

Politics, Political Vi

olence, Bad Governance

and Poverty ......................................... 2

B.

Declining Human

Development Resources ............................................................... 4

C.

Growing Alienation and

Radicalisation ..................................................................... 5

III.

The Rise of Bo

ko Haram .................................................................................................. 7

A.

The Muslim Battle of Id

eas in the North ................................................................... 8

B.

The Emergence and Evolutio

n of Boko

Haram ......................................................... 9

1.

Internal disagr

eements ........................................................................................ 9

2.

A dangerous politi

cal tool ..................................................................................... 11

3.

The uprisi

ng .......................................................................................................... 13

IV.

A Rapidly Evolving

Threat ............................................................................................... 14

A.

Revenge, Changing Tactics an

d Terrorist Vi

olence ................................................... 14

B.

Diffuse Organisation

and Leadersh

ip ........................................................................ 18

C.

External Links an

d Networks .................................................................................... 23

D.

From Boko Haram to

Ansaru

.................................................................................... 26

V.

A Complex Co

nflict ...........................................................................................................

30

A.

The Government’s

Response ..................................................................................... 30

1.

Strengthening anti-terro

rism legislation ............................................................. 30

2.

Boosting the capacities of

the military and other

security agencies. ................... 31

3.

Exploring dialogue with

the insurg

ents ............................................................... 33

4.

Military operations and ci

vilian vigila

ntes ........................................................... 34

5.

Contradictory strategi

es and fr

aud ...................................................................... 36

B.

Boko Haram’s Suspicio

n and Divisio

ns ..................................................................... 37

C.

The Civilian Joint

Task Force .................................................................................... 38

D.

The 2015 Elec

tions ..................................................................................................... 39

E.

Impact on the North and Impl

ications for

Nigeria

................................................... 40

VI.

A Way Forward .................................................................................................................

42

A.

Federal Govern

ment .................................................................................................. 42

1.

A far north developm

ent commiss

ion .................................................................. 42

2.

Improved governance and

service deli

very .......................................................... 43

3.

An end to im

punity ............................................................................................... 43

4.

Win hearts an

d minds .......................................................................................... 43

B.

Nigeria’s Part

ners ...................................................................................................... 45

1.

Regional part

ners ................................................................................................. 45

2.

Other partners an

d donors ................................................................................... 46

C.

Addressing Extr

emism .............................................................................................. 47

D.

Local and National

Dialogue ..................................................................................... 47

VII.

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................

.... 49

For more info:  http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/west-africa/nigeria/216-curbing-violence-in-nigeria-ii-the-boko-haram-insurgency.pdf.