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Is this the way of developing the country side?
Villagers were intimidated to abandon their agricultural lands
power
Land center had received many complaints from farmers of many different governorates. Those complaints assert that some businessmen, who claim ownership, with the help of some governmental organs, attempted to expel the villagers from their agricultural lands and homes. Farmers of Tatwan village in Fayyoum assert, in their complaints to the centre, that they filed report to the office of public prosecutor and the minister of interior, urging for help against businessmen attempts to expel them from their homes and agricultural lands. Farmers affirmed that businessmen used cars full of thugs, heavily armed with knives and firearms, to assault the farmers and expel them from their homes and agricultural lands that were inherited to them, from their fathers and grandfathers, fifty years ago. Farmers accused governmental organs of southern Fayyoum district for helping businessmen to seize the agricultural lands.
Farmers said that the agricultural lands and the homes are parts of the property of Mohammed Ma'gon pasha, where these lands were distributed among farmers since 1960. Consequently, a judiciary receiver was appointed to guard the land, and lease contracts were edited for the farmers. Farmers added, also, that they have started paying royalties and due rents since that day, and till today. But they were shocked when a person, called Mamdouh Abo El-Kheir, and his two brothers, Antar and Azzam, with the help of a broker, called Abdul Mawla, alleged, few days ago, that they possess contracts testify their ownership of the land. They used tens of thugs, who threatened farmers with weapons, in order to expel farmers. Those who allege ownership of the land were supported by many officials to enable them of possessing the land. The center has filed farmers' complaints to the officials, in order to stop farmer displacement, and to guarantee their economic and social rights.
On the same aspect land center has filed the case no. 10612, the judicial year 16, before court of administrative judiciary in Tanta. This case was filed in behalf of villagers of Kafr El-Mahrouk village, Kafr Ezayyat town center, where the charity endowment of Aziz Pasha is located. This endowment is nearly 300 Feddans, where they are considered the best in fertility. Egyptian endowment department has the jurisdiction of this endowment; and lands of this endowment were distributed, by lease contracts, among landless farmers, since 1952. The country had spent lots of money on subsurface drainage projects, which was established to make those lands the most fertile and the best in quality. But farmers were shocked by the decree of the ministerial committee that was held in 17/7/2008. The decree stated that an industrial zone shall be established upon an area of 262 Feddans in Kafr El-Mahrouk village, in addition to three other regions in Gharbeyya governorate. Therefore, the area of agricultural land that could be barren because of that decision reaches 1205 Feddans.
That decree is illegitimate, and includes misuse and deviation in the use of authority, as it violated articles 7 and 37 of the Egyptian constitution.
In addition, that contested decision violated constitutional provision, especially those decisions pertaining to securing the farmer and the agricultural land, because the decision will lead to setting the agricultural land aside, and disposing it. On the same time, the constitution has assured on the development, reclamation and protection of the agricultural land. This decree also violates the law; there is a plenty of desert lands that can be used for establishing many investment projects, so this decision is invalid and need to be eliminated.
The law was void, also, because it represented abuse of power, and misuse of it to diverse from public interest. It was void, also, because it included discrimination between citizens; the decision achieved, only, the interest of a specific sector; sector of businessmen who want to build factories on those lands; meanwhile the public interest is resembled in the maintenance of the agricultural land, to produces goods, food and job opportunities for present and coming generations in Egypt.
On applying the aforementioned rules and principles on the case, we will find that the governor; the official man in the administration, has used his power to achiever results that don't aim the greater public good. On contrary, he harmed the public good. He chose the land of the plaintiffs, though it would cost the country 15 million pounds more than costs estimated if projects were established on desert lands, a matter that makes the contested decision invalid.
Mr. Hassan Suleiman, one of farmers' leaders on Kafr El-Mahrouk village, said to the researchers of the center: "God doesn't approve this situation. No government in the globe accepts this situation during its era. How can we bear all that pressure; swine flu, our sons are threatened to die by going to schools, seeking job opportunity for our unemployed sons, immigration of other village youth via see where they face death, threatening us with detention, imprisoning us, torturing us in police stations to leave our lands which is the only thing that remained for us. How can a human bear all those pressures? And what the government expects when it keeps pressing us like that?"
Hajj Hussein urged us to bring our case to the ruler of Egypt, so that he can show mercy to the poor people in the village, and keep their piece of land for them; the only source of income that feeds them.
Land center hope that ruler of Egypt hears the ombuds of villagers. Center hopes also that he protects farmers' families from displacement and homelessness. The center, by its appeal on the decision, urged for the stoppage and elimination of the administrative decision issued by the prime minister. The decision that stated that an industrial zone should be built on the area of 262 Feddans, on Kafr El-Marouk village, Gharbeyya governorate. The appeal aimed to insure the villagers' right to safe agriculture, decent job opportunity, and sufficient clean food. The center urges civil society institutions to support villagers in their right and demands for safety, freedom and decent life.
The message
Join us in calling upon the president to intervene in order to stop trespassing agricultural lands in Egypt. Call upon him also to stop wasting those lands, stop displacing villager, abusing them, and guaranteeing their rights of safe agriculture and decent life.
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