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20 Feb 2012 - NPWJ News Digest on Middle East and North Africa Democracy
NPWJ press release
NPWJ and other INGOs express their deep concern about violent crackdown on civil society in Egypt
Bruxelles-Rome-New York, 13 Feb 2012
The Egyptian revolution was hailed internationally as an admirable and justifiable act by the Egyptian people to demand social justice and freedoms that they have been denied for decades. It was therefore anticipated that, following this revolution, the interim Egyptian political authorities would prioritize urgently needed legal and procedural reforms to enhance and protect the Egyptian people’s newly won rights. However, the Egyptian government has taken no steps to lift undue restrictions on the operations of civil society organizations, despite the fact that a vibrant civil society is an essential component of a democratic state that respects human rights and the rule of law.
Therefore, we are concerned that the current campaign against CSOs in Egypt, which includes the manner in which ongoing investigations are being carried out, negative official statements in the media, and the restrictive draft Associations Law, will undoubtedly hamper the ability of local and international NGOs to work alongside the Egyptian government in the provision of vital assistance in various developmental and human rights fields.
Articles
Blast rocks Yemeni polling station ahead of vote
By REUTERS, 20 Feb 2012
The soldier was killed and another injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on an army patrol in the same neighborhood shortly after the blast, an official said. No one was hurt in the blast, he said.
The official could not confirm whether the two incidents were related.
Millions of Yemenis vote on Tuesday in an election in which Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, representing Saleh's supporters and opponents, is the only candidate. A year of protests and unrest have forced Saleh to end his 33-year rule.
Southern secessionists and Houthi Shi'ite rebels in the north are boycotting the vote but analysts say they are unlikely to be involved in violence to disrupt it. In the south a powerful branch of al Qaeda is active and has controlled a number of cities there for nearly a year.
Yemen's Saleh faces music after 33 years in power
By REUTERS, 20 Feb 2012
Ali Abdullah Saleh, who once compared his 33-year rule of Yemen to "dancing on the heads of snakes," formally steps down this week after Yemenis anoint a new president in an election many hope will give Yemen a chance for democracy.
No ceremonies are expected to mark the end for Saleh, who is out of the country being treated in the United States for injuries he sustained in an assassination attempt last June.
But the election, in which Saleh's deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is the only candidate, is expected to pave the way for Yemen to introduce political and economic reforms and give it a chance to restructure security forces currently run by the outgoing president's relatives.
Morocco: Drop Prosecutions Over Vote Boycott - Government Denies Arrests Took Place, but Two Groups On Trial
By AllAfrica.com, 19 Feb 2012
Morocco is prosecuting activists who campaigned peacefully for a boycott of elections held three months ago, Human Rights Watch said today. These prosecutions contradict statements by Moroccan officials that authorities arrested no one for advocating a boycott.
One of several such trials resumes on February 22, 2012, before the Marrakesh First Degree Court. Charged with distributing fliers in violation of the law, the defendants were arrested in Marrakesh on November 16 and 17, 2011, as they began handing out fliers urging Moroccans to boycott the legislative elections on November 25. Another group of pro-boycott leafletters are on trial already in the city of Benguerir.
"The prosecution of pro-boycott campaigners underscores the gap that Morocco needs to close between its new, rights-embracing constitution and continuing repressive practices," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
Egypt presidential election: Decision on date delayed
By BBC News, 19 Feb 2012
Egyptian election officials have failed to confirm the date of the first presidential election since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
An election commission briefing only expressed hope the process could be over by the end of May.
The commission chairman told local TV the problem lay in organising the expatriate vote.
The military took over but has faced continuing unrest from protesters demanding an earlier transfer of power.
Parliamentary elections have already been held and a new assembly dominated by Islamist parties held its first session earlier this month.
Bahrain struggles to police the protests
By BBC News, 18 Feb 2012
Bahraini police were out in force on Tuesday to prevent large numbers of people marking the first anniversary of pro-democracy protests.
The tactics employed against demonstrators have been heavily criticised, but commanders have promised reforms will safeguard human rights, reports the BBC's Bill Law.
The city centre was under a massive police presence and remained calm throughout the day.
The government had, it seemed, achieved a significant result without reports of serious injury to police or protesters.
But in Shia villages outside Manama another narrative was unfolding.
Egypt sets trial date for accused NGO workers
From Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, for CNN, 18 Feb 2012
The trial of 43 people in Egypt accused in a case involving foreign funding will take place in a criminal court February 26, the spokesman for the general prosecutor's office said.
19 Americans are among other Westerners and Egyptians who work for civil society groups who face prosecution on charges of illegal foreign funding as part of an ongoing crackdown on nongovernmental organizations.
The employees of the American and European NGOs have been charged with operating in Egypt without licenses. An investigation by authorities revealed that the organizations received millions of pounds from abroad under the names of NGO employees and not through their official bank accounts.
McCain said that while he will address the situation of the detained Americans, he will not attempt to negotiate their release.
"That is the job of the administration, but we will have conversations with military leaders and others who I have known for many, many years on a personal basis," he said Tuesday.
Libya: Exiles Return Contentiously
BY MIKE ELKIN, AllAfrica.com, 17 Feb 2012
Benghazi — With the June deadline for congressional elections approaching, Libyans previously in exile are returning home to take part in the construction of a new political landscape. Political churning is well under way as Libya marks the first anniversary of the ouster of the Muammar Gaddafi regime Friday.
Since the early 1980s, opposition figures and groups, based largely in the United States and Europe, launched both military and media campaigns against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Now with the dictator dead and an opportunity to create a new country from scratch, they are transforming into political entities to complement and sometimes contest the actions of the National Transitional Council (NTC) that is leading the transition to a democratic system.
"Now that Gaddafi is gone, we are not an opposition party any more," said Ibrahim Sahad, secretary general of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL), one of the largest anti-Gaddafi groups. "Now we are trying to support the NTC, but of course, if we see something that we don't like, we are going to say so."
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General Assembly demands Syria halt violence without delay
From UN News Center, 16 Feb 2012
The General Assembly today strongly condemned the continued “widespread and systematic” human rights violations by the Syrian authorities and demanded that the Government immediately cease all violence and protect its people.The 193-member body adopted a resolution backing Arab League efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria, where UN officials estimate that security forces have killed well over 5,400 people since the popular uprising began last March.
The resolution strongly condemned the continued “widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities,” such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, the killing and persecution of protesters, human rights defenders and journalists, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, interference with access to medical treatment, torture, sexual violence and ill-treatment, including against children.
