3 activists summoned by the SCAF

It's been a few days since I've updated my blog, and I do have quite a few postings ready! (including some deliciously bad for you Ramadan treats). For now, I wanted to re-post this story from Bikya Masr. The article discusses the case of three activists who are being summoned into a hearing by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I do not agree with a military trial for any civilian personnel.

The article states that the SCAF alleges one of the activists being summoned, a young woman, “went over the limits of criticism to slander and incitement” and alleged that she called for the assassination of a SCAF member in comments she published on her personal Twitter and Facebook accounts."

Again, I do not support military trials of civilians, but I do support people being made face the consequences of their actions. If in the US for example you were to post on your Twitter or Facebook pages that you wished any high ranking political officer were to be assassinated, particularly in light of the political atmosphere in Egypt as of late, what do you think would happen? Would you be left alone? Of course not.

I'd love to hear your comments on this article, posted below for you to read. Personally I have issues with many of the articles published in Bikya Masr, either due to ridiculous English editing, outrageous claims, or just downright slanderous writing, however this article bears mentioning as military trials should be restricted to military personnel only!

CAIRO: Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has summoned three more human rights activists for investigation on Tuesday. Bassem Samir, Hossam Ali and Ahmed Ghoneim, who work for the Egyptian Democratic Academy, will be investigated on Thursday.

The reason behind the summoning is not yet clear, however the SCAF has already summoned two other rights activists this week for investigation, in an apparent crackdown.

The SCAF is now Egypt’s ruling authority during the transitional period that began with the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak on February 11 after 18 days of protests in the country.

Asmaa Mahfouz, who was released on a 20,000 Egyptian pound bail and accused of “incitement against the SCAF” is now to face a military trial, according to the state-run MENA news agency.

Military court rulings are final and cannot be appealed.

Many activists have expressed their anger and condemnation at trying civilians in front of military courts. Tens of Mahfouz’s supporters protested outside the military prosecutor’s office holding signs that read “no for military trials” and chanted anti-SCAF slogans.

The SCAF said the young woman “went over the limits of criticism to slander and incitement” and alleged that she called for the assassination of a SCAF member in comments she published on her personal Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Mahfouz and her lawyer strongly denied the accusations and said that the criticism was directed at the SCAF as a “presidential ruling authority and not for its role as a military.”

The second activist summoned this week was Maha Abou Bakr, a leading member of the Kefaya (Enough) movement. She was released shortly after due to a “mistaken identity.”

SCAF thought Abou Bakr was someone else from a video from the Abassya march that saw one person die and dozens injured when pro-change demonstrations marched on the military’s headquarters and were attacked by local residents in July.

Abou Bakr was released, but the move drew criticism and sarcasm from many activists who called for protests denouncing the SCAF decision to go after activists.

BM

Egypt to fire 700 cops

This story ran today in the BBC. Having spoken to a friend of mine who has been in Tahrir this past week of new protests, the fact that the police would be fired had already circulated. Accordingly, they are not satisfied with this, and protesters still wish to see the police who were accused of killing protesters tried in a court of law. Recent rumours from Tahrir also indicate that pamphlets are being handed out by an unknown group, pushing for the formation of a presidential council in Egypt to include al-Baradei and leading Muslim Brotherhood members. I cannot imagine that the SCAF will welcome such news, as they have already made it very clear that they have no intentions of relinquishing power.

May it also be noted that critics and analysts have noted that the Egyptian elections may not even occur until 2013. With the SCAF's recent announcement that September would not actually see a vote, this date may not be far off.

Here's the story from the BBC:

Almost 700 senior police officers in Egypt are being removed from their jobs over the killing of protesters during the revolution earlier this year.

Interior Minister Mansour Essawy said 505 generals and 164 officers would end their service on 1 August.

The move comes as protests continue in Cairo's Tahrir Square, calling for the speedy trials of police officers and corrupt Mubarak-era officials.

The military also confirmed that polls set for September would be delayed.

"It has been decided to hold [parliamentary elections] in October or November," an official from Egypt's interim ruling military council told the Mena state news agency on Wednesday.

Many of Egypt's new political parties have called for the vote to be delayed so that they can compete against better organised and more powerful opposition groups, notably the Muslim Brotherhood.

On Tuesday, the military said it would draft guidelines for selecting the 100-member assembly that will write a new Egyptian constitution. That could make it more difficult for any Islamist-led legislature to choose the body and thereby give the charter an Islamist slant, analysts say.

'Biggest shakeup'

As protests in Tahrir Square entered a sixth straight day, the interior ministry - which oversees the much detested security services, known for their brutality under the Mubarak regime - unveiled what it termed the "biggest shakeup in the police force's history".

Among those dismissed were 505 major-generals, including 10 of the interior minister's top assistants, 82 colonels, and 82 brigadiers, the report said.

Egyptian state TV said that 37 of the dismissed officers face charges of killing protesters.

More than 800 protesters were killed during the 18-day revolt that led to the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February.

The move seems to be a victory for Egypt's embattled Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo. An earlier announcement by him to take similar action was blocked by the interior minister.

Protesters have vowed to keep up pressure on Egypt's military rulers. They are calling for a new government, limited power for the military council, the release of civilians being tried in military tribunals, and speedy public trials for former regime officials.

2nd Friday of Rage

What has now become a familiar scene for many in Cairo, protesters again took to the streets and have flooded Tahrir, with an entirely new set of demands to be met.

Tens of thousands have thronged into the square, with protests also breaking out in Alexandria and the Suez (which is presently witnessing the largest protest in the area since the violent protests demanding the removal of former president Mubarak).

While I'm sat in Cairo, there are a few things that cross my mind. Firstly, the raging sandstorm outside must make conditions in Tahrir miserable; combined with the heat I am surprised people are still out in the numbers that they are. Second, one of the primary demands that protesters are urging is for a new presidential council to be enacted, to take over from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) until the parliamentary elections in September.

Doesn't that sound lovely, remove the power from the Army, and give it to the people. It's what democracies are built upon, right?

Well, technically, yes. Were it not for the fact that the Egyptian people have already voted on the option for a presidential council, and the majority voted AGAINST implementing a presidential council. Egypt, you wanted democracy. You got it, now deal with the consequences. It's what democratic countries have been doing for years; you don't like the result of the popular vote, so what do you do? Take to the streets to protest to try and overturn a democratic majority vote? No. You deal with it, and focus on your next goals. Some people will just never be happy. 

Then there are those demanding that Mubarak's trial be held faster. He's been caught, detained, and is going on trial. It takes time to present a legal case, any lawyer will tell you that. But in Cairo now, those who are continuing protesting expect instant gratification; they are entirely unwilling to patiently wait for progress to take its path. It is this inability to ignore instant gratification that continues to weaken the society and economy in Egypt. But what do I know; I'm merely a "foreigner" in a "foreign land," what right do I have to comment on the intricacies of Egyptian politics.

For those who are unfamiliar with the demands of this "Second Friday of Rage," below is an article that summarizes the basic ideologies behind groups who called for these demonstrations today.

Everything seems possible in the Second Day of Rage.