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LCHR calls all CSOs to form a national committee that can follow up the implementation of the President's electoral program
In the framework of president Mubarak's electoral campaign in 2005, he launched an ambitious for economic, social and political reform, which made us think that Egypt will witness a big change on all levels that will guarantee safety, freedom and dignity for all Egyptians. Events after the elections were totally the opposite of what has been promised.
President Mubarak has canceled one of the articles in the law of crimes of publishing, which is a good thing, but the LCHR asks him to cancel the whole law, to guarantee citizens right to freedom of opinion and expression.
LCHR has received more than 5000 complaints from farmers demanding to receive alternative lands, asking the LCHR to present their complaints to the officials based on the electoral promises made by the president last year. LCHR has presented their complaints to the Minister of Agriculture, presented applications a long with all the necessary documents for all these farmers to receive alternative lands in El Heseneya, Borg El Arab, Sina, El Nobareya or Toshka, but non of them have received alternative lands yet.
More than 114 thousand farmers have problems in paying back the debts of the Bank of Development and Agrarian Trust, which could lead to their imprisonment or eviction out of their lands. LCHR has received hundreds of complaints asking it to adjure the President to implement his electoral promises to tabulate farmers debts on 10 years without interest and reduce the interest value of the new loans to 5% instead of 7%. Unfortunately, the debts were tabulated, but with new interests, which made it more difficult for farmers to payback the debts. For example, a farmer called Ahmed Salem from Monofeya governorate, has taken a loan of 34000 pounds from the bank, he paid back 31280 pounds, but he still has to pay almost the same amount again because of the interests.
In Egypt there are 1105 random or unorganized areas where 16 million Egyptians live representing one forth of the population, these areas don't have any basic facilities, like electricity, water, drainage systems, paved roads, schools … etc. many people in these areas live in alleys and graveyards or cemeteries. In this context, the President has announced in his electoral program that he will establish 85 thousand residential units every year with low prices and yearly installments suitable to the people's incomes to guarantee citizens right to housing, but nothing has been done so far.
The President has also announced that he will establish 1000 factories, but reality shows that he is closing down existing factories that produce and provide employment for millions of people.
LCHR demands the President and all governmental officials to implement the presidential electoral program that he has promised.
LCHR also asks all Egyptian CSOs to form a national committee that demands the President and the government to implement the electoral program, define the implementation mechanisms and a clear timetable for the implementation process to guarantee citizens rights to freedom, safety and decent living.
For more information, please contact the Center.