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The people’s assembly’s elections and the political participation in Egypt “workshop” 21st of October 2005

The LCHR has held a training workshop in Hor Moheb Hotel entitled "Elections of the People's Council and Political Participation in Egypt" on Friday the 21st of October 2005. 99 participants attended the workshop from national foundations especially that work in the countryside along with some journalists and lawyers. There were 22 women and 77 men from 13 governorates, 23 from Cairo, 11 from Fayoum, 30 from Giza, 7 from Qena, 2 from Menya, 4 from Sohag, 3 from Luxor, 3 from Daqahleya, 6 from Bany Swief, 2 from Port Said, one from Monofeya, 5 from Behira and 2 from Kafr El Sheikh.
The workshop went through several sessions, the opening session started with a word from Mr. Karam Saber "executive director of the LCHR" talking about the LCHR activities and its' support to farmers civil, economic and social rights, he stated that this workshop aims to raising farmers awareness about the importance of political participation and the role of the parliament in activating this right.
Then spoke Dr. Dina Shehata "center for political studies" about the present political atmosphere in Egypt, political reform and movement in Egypt, stating the following
: - On the international level: the claims of democracy and freedom have spread after the events of the 11th of September especially in the American government by pressuring other governments toward change. She wondered about this change, how will it happen if there were free and impartial elections and the Islamic groups have joined it? Will the US accept the matter when Islamic groups rule the region? Especially that the US is opposing (against) the Islamic system.
- On the internal level: she spoke about the development of political parties and forces, like the apposing parties and "Kefaya" movement who drive people into demonstrating and pressuring the government to cancel the emergency law and demand for change. She has confirmed the role of CSOs who have succeeded in monitoring the presidential elections. She also spoke about the political party formation in Egypt and showed their inability to communicate with the people because of the imposed conditions and stipulation on thier activities. She has also showed the problems and conflicts that the national party faces, stating that there many views about the current conditions in Egypt, as some people say that what is happening is just a preliminary step toward bequeathing the authority, while others confirm that this is real reform. Then she referred to the deteriorated political and economic conditions in Egypt ...
Then started the first session, this session was managed by Dr. Ahmed Thabet "manager of Ibn Rushd center for development" he spoke about the importance of laws in raising the awareness of the societies, stating that the law of practicing political rights and the Egytian constitution need amendment to follow freedom, democracy and independency of judiciary worldwide.
Then spoke Mr. Abdallah Khalil "lawyer" confirmed that international laws for human rights that include all agreements are considered a part of the internal legislation because Egypt has signed most of these agreements and there is a set of international rules issued to protect human rights, the impartiality of elections and guarantee economic and social rights. He said that monitoring the voting process must be impartial, and there must be an impartial committee that organizes the whole electoral process, as 85% of the Egyptian people are not politically organized especially with the existence of the emergency law that people fear ...
Then spoke Mr. Rabie Rashed "lawyer" answering the question whether participation is a duty or a right? He spoke about the importance of political participation confirming the necessity of removing all obstacles to activate the right in participation, like the political retardation that people have by raising their awareness about this right. He confirmed that the Egyptian law has many guarantees, but in reality this law is not implemented, and if we wanted citizens to participate, we must provide them with a very basic and important element, which is freedom, there is a set of laws that must be reconsidered and the necessity of amending clause no. 76 of the constitution so that all citizens and political parties have the right in political participation and managing the state's affairs.
Participants interpositions confirmed the necessity of amending many clauses in the Egyptian constitution and laws to guarantee the right in participation and impartial elections, the authorities of the President must be reduced, the necessity of separating between authorities and stop the interference of the executive authority in the job of the judiciary and legislative authorities.
Then started the second session, this session was managed by Mr. Naser Amin "manager of the judicial independency center", he confirmed that human rights organizations gained great expertise in the presidential elections, as Egypt has witnessed for the first time elections for the presidency position through free voting between more than one candidate, and the monitoring process was an enriching experience for these organizations, as more than 35 organizations took par in this process, and that this experience has included many positive and negative matters.
The spoke Dr. Magdy Abdel Hamid "manager of the social participation association" confirming that the electoral monitoring process is a social process where many of the social forces can help, and that we must be aware of several issues:
- The monitoring process is a type of transparency that helps widening the practical implementation of participation, it supports the principles of justice and equality and it helps in fighting corruption in the electoral process
. - The role of the security body and the media and how they could influence voters, the electoral monitoring process and the democratic development. For the success of any monitoring process, we must carefully choose the observers, there must be a good and accurate following up process, and that international monitoring and supervision is process practiced worldwide, as Egypt has monitored in many countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.
Then spoke Mr. Ehab Sallam "the prisoners aid center" about the legitimacy of national and international supervision, he said that we represent a part of the civil society, and that we are not against the state nor with it, but we are impartial people who aim for impartial elections. Supervision is a monitoring and evaluating process to guarantee the impartiality of the elections. The previous elections were a monitoring experience and an encouragement to the participation process.
The attendances confirmed all organizations have played a role during the presidential elections, and that there were some exaggerations in the work of NGOs and that there must be some coordination between many organizations and alliances. Others confirmed that international monioring and funding made some national organizations loose their impartiality.
Then started the last session, this session was managed by Mr. Mahmoud Mortada "manager of the alternative development association" he spoke about the aim of this session, which is coming out with a working plan between the participating organizations at the workshop to support the right in participation. During this session, working groups were formed of farmers and activists from CSOs to cooperate with the LCHR in holding workshops, symposia and monitoring violations and violence practices, in addition to monitoring the upcoming parliamentary elections, offering legal aid and presenting complaints and challenges for those who have been violated (citizens and candidates). The attendances have been divided into 6 groups: The first group in Cairo and Giza, the second group in Qena and Sohag, the third group in Behira, monofeya and Daqahleya, the fourth group in Bany Swief, the fifth group in Fayoum and the sixth group in Port Said.
Each group will make a working table (plan) in collaboration with the LCHR before the parliamentary elections. The outcomes of the sessions included puttng a program to define the dates and places of the workshops to raise the awareness of the voters about their political rights, how to choose between the candidates, how to monitor and document violations that happen during the electoral process.
The implementation of this program will start on the 27th of October and end on the 15 of December 2005. the attendances have agreed to implement this program and the LCHR to coordinate the implementation of the workshop recommendations to reinforce the right in political participation and evaluate the experience of the parliamentary elections in a report that expresses the views of the participating organization from the 13 governorates where the LCHR will work for a free and democratic country where all citizens participate in making a better, more just and humane future.