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LCHR's report about the restitution of the third phase The national party prepares the committees for forgery ... the Muslim Brothers use thugs and buy voices ... opposition voices go to the Muslim Brothers as a vexation to the national party
In the frame of the restitution of the third phase before the sorting process in some constituencies of Daqahleya, Sharqeya, Sohag and Aswan, initial notes of LCHR observers reveal the intend of violation for the benefit of th national party in certain constituencies, and the adoption of the national party mechanisms in mobilizing votes by the Muslim brothers.
In Daqahleya, the situation is heated up between the national party candidates and the candidates of the Muslim Brothers, as each one of them accuses the other of buying votes (bribery). Supporters of the Muslim Brothers have made violence events at the beginning of the electoral day which made central security forces use tear bombs. Executive employees mobilize votes for the benefit of national party candidates, as they were threatened that if they didn't cooperate and the national party has lost, then they will have to resign. Village chiefs and sheikhs have received emphatic instructions to stand inside the voting committees in order to influence citizens to vote for the national party or they will lose their positions. In addition to that, representatives of national party candidates stood inside the voting committees encouraging citizens o vote for the national party. Citizens who have voted for the opposition parties "El Nasery and El Tagamo'a" in the first phase, now they vote for the Muslim Brothers as a vexation to the national party and not as support to the Muslim Brothers, as they don't want the national party to win and they don't have any alternative but the Muslim Brothers to vote for. The night before the elections, supporters of the Muslim Brothers have roamed the villages asking the people for their votes and support especially big families, in addition to buying votes and transporting voters collectively to the voting committees. Some violence evens have happened between supporters of the national party and the Muslim Brothers, as there were some exchanges of throwing stones and firing shots in the air which made security forces use tear bombs. On the other hand, elections in other constituencies are moving peacefully and quietly because of the organizational capabilities of the Muslim Brothers.
In Sohag, the situation was the same as in Daqahleya, as there were many violence events between supporters of the national party and the Muslim Brothers which made security forces use tear bombs which have led to the injury of 13 citizens, one of them is a ten years old girl. Some committee that contained the majority of votes for the Muslim Brothers were closed. Most national party candidates face the hatred of citizens who are uniting to fail them because of the forgery actions that happened in the first phase. The night before the elections, national party candidates have started buying voices with a sum of 200 pounds, in addition to renting vehicles to transport citizens collectively to the voting committees. Some national party supporters prevent citizens from entering the voting committees to vote using sticks and canes. LCHR observers have suffered of mistreatment by some judges and consultants in order to facilitate forgery for the benefit of the national party and because of the objection of the LCHR observers on many violations, such as: leaving the curtains around the boxes open when citizens vote, allowing national party representatives to influence citizens to vote for their candidates, leaving national party supporters bribe citizens and buy their voices and allowing security forces inside the committees, in addition to that, some consultants were absent for long periods in some constituencies.
In Sharqeya, there is a competition between a candidate of El Wafd party who depends on the support of his family, and a candidate of the national party who depends on security forces and the intent for forgery. There is also competition between candidates of the national party and the Muslim Brothers in other constituencies. LCHR observers have noted that there were mobilization actions for votes inside and outside the committees for the benefit of the national party, they have also notd that several voters came out of the committees without phosphoric ink on their fingers which mean that they can enter the committee and vote one more time. Security forces have prevented citizens from voting for the candidate of El Wafd party and they have assaulted some observers of Hewar Center. In addition to that, one of the national party supporters have assaulted a female reporter and journalist. In another constituency, security forces have caused the death of a man and a small child because of using plastic fire shots after the violence events that happened between supporters of the national party and the Muslim Brothers. In other constituencies, candidates of the Muslim Brothers have bribed citizens and bought their voices, they have also distributed blankets, flour and ducks in some villages. In addition to that, some candidates of the Muslim Brothers use thugs to start brawls with supporters of independent candidates which have led to the injury of many innocent citizens.
In Aswan, the situation was more peaceful and quiet, as there was a competition between national party candidates and independent candidates who will join the national party in case they win.
The LCHR will follow up in later reports the results of the sorting process in these constituencies.