EGYPT: New Raids on NGOs Expected
“Foreign funding has also been another reason to target NGOs, which, again, must be approved by the Ministry of Social Solidarity. In August, the Supreme State Security Prosecution launched investigations into foreign funding allegations, warning that groups could be charged with high treason, conspiracy against the state and compromising national security through the implementation of foreign agendas.” – NGO crackdown: Frontline of the ongoing revolution, Jan 5, 2012
Photo: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks with “Egyptian activists promoting freedom and democracy”, prior to meetings at the State Department in Washington, DC, May 28, 2009. Source: Part I: Occupy Wall Street and “The American Autumn”: Is It a “Colored Revolution”?
The judge presiding over the investigation of accusations against civil society organisations says he ordered a warrant for searching several NGOs anew
Ahram Online, 8 Feb 2012
Egypt’s ruling military council has rejected US threats to end aid payments to the country. US-Egypt tensions have risen considerably following the decision to refer 43 civil society workers to a Cairo court on charges of violating laws regulating the operation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
A statement released on the council’s official Facebook page stressed that Egypt is a country with a rich heritage that cannot be pressured or blackmailed into doing someone else’s bidding. The council also added that Egypt’s international relations with the US and others countries were governed by the common interests of both parties, and that “Egypt does not bow to the domination of anyone.”
The council also added that the NGO case is in the hands of Egypt’s judiciary, which will make the right decision. They also stressed that the Ministry of Justice had found damning evidence against the groups, including maps that feature plans to divide Egypt.
The amount of money that had been pumped into Egypt to spread chaos and disorder was difficult to assess at the moment, the council said, but they referred to statements made recently by El-Sayed El-Badawy, head of the liberal Wafd Party, who claimed that $300 million had been spent in Egypt to cause unrest.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/0/34029/Egypt/0/New-raids-on-NGOs-expected.aspx
TIMELINE
Egypt military council snubs US aid threat
Ahram Online, 9 Feb 2012
Ruling military council says NGO case in judiciary’s hands, justice ministry has ‘damning evidence’ against accused groups
“A statement released on the council’s official Facebook page stressed that Egypt is a country with a rich heritage that cannot be pressured or blackmailed into doing someone else’s bidding. The council also added that Egypt’s international relations with the US and others countries were governed by the common interests of both parties, and that “Egypt does not bow to the domination of anyone.” … They also stressed that the Ministry of Justice had found damning evidence against the groups, including maps that feature plans to divide Egypt.The amount of money that had been pumped into Egypt to spread chaos and disorder was difficult to assess at the moment, the council said, but they referred to statements made recently by El-Sayed El-Badawy, head of the liberal Wafd Party, who claimed that $300 million had been spent in Egypt to cause unrest.”
Egypt magistrate names 43 defendants in foreign-funded NGOs case
Ahram Online, 6 Feb 2012
Defendants – including 14 Egyptians and 29 foreigners – stand accused of working to destabilise Egypt’s national security and promoting foreign agendas
“The 14 Egyptian defendants, meanwhile, are accused of cooperating with American organisations and receiving some $22 million from the International Republic Institute (IRI); $18 million from the National Democratic institute (NDI); $23 million from the International Journalists Centre (IJC); $5 million from the German Centre; and $600,000 from various secular organisations with the intention of destabilising Egypt’s national security and sending reports about the country to foreign parties.”
Targeting of NGOs puts Egypt-US relations to test
Dina Ezzat , 7 Feb 2012
The decision to refer 43 NGO workers to trial – including several US nationals – is likely to strain Cairo’s already-tense relations with Washington even further; Egypt says it is defending its sovereignty
“Sources close to the investigation told Ahram Online that the volume of evidence compiled was too significant to overlook, and that some evidence pointed to attempts by the NGOs to interfere in Egypt’s internal affairs.”
Egypt plans to send delegation to US as NGO furor mounts
Reuters, 28 Jan 2012
Egyptian military delegation to the US to discuss case of six US NGO staffers currently banned from leaving Egypt and related prospects for US military aid to Egypt
NGO crackdown: Frontline of the ongoing revolution
Bel Trew, 5 Jan 2012
As civil society groups prepare for more raids and fight charges of illegal funding, Advisory Council calls for further restrictions on work of NGOs
“This is just the beginning,” says Khalid Ali, a prominent lawyer whose organisation, the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights, was not visited in the recent raids. “There are rumours that 100 NGOs will be subject to investigation, with some saying as many as 400 will be targeted.”… The list includes the three American NGOs – the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI) and Freedom House – that were raided last Thursday.”
EU’s Ashton ‘greatly concerned’ over security raids on Egypt NGO offices
Nada Hussein Rashwan, 2 Jan 2012
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemns recent raids on civil society organisations in Egypt by police and military, while Egypt’s official human rights body says the raids were conducted illegally
NGO raids: a ‘smear campaign’ say Human Rights groups, as SCAF backdown
Ekram Ibrahim, 31 Dec 2011
Pro-democracy organisations point to more sinister motives behind Thursday’s attacks, as Egyptian officials prepare to hand back confiscated items
Egypt’s military rulers retreat on NGO crackdown after US intervention: reports
Sherif Tarek, 31 Dec 2011
Field Marshal Tantawi has reportedly told US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that NGOs recently raided would be allowed to operate as before
Egypt risks losing military aid after conducting raids on international NGOs
AFP, 31 Dec 2011
Egypt runs some risk of losing $1.5 billion in U.S. military aid now that Egyptian prosecutors and police have stirred an uproar in Washington with raids on U.S.- funded pro-democracy groups
“The raided U.S. organizations were the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and Freedom House.”
Human rights organisations condemn mass raids of NGOs in Egypt
Ahram Online, 30 Dec 2011
Twenty-seven human rights organisations describe raid of 17 NGOs by public prosecution office, police and military personnel as an ‘unprecedented campaign’ against political activists and rights entities
It’s Official: “Arab Spring” Subversion is US Funded
Tony Cartalucci, April 15, 2011
“Bangkok, Thailand April 15, 2011 – As American bombs rain down upon Libya on the premise that Qaddafi was brutalizing indigenous pro-democratic demonstrators, the accusing fingers of Libya, Iran, China, Syria, Belarus, and a growing number of other nations are pointing at Washington for funding and plotting regime change against their respective governments. Either in an act of absolute hubris or to spin emerging evidence that the US indeed has been funding and preparing the ground for the “Arab Spring” for years, New York Times has recently published “U.S. Groups Helped Nurture Arab Uprisings.“
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/official-arab-spring-subversion-us.html
Share the Knowledge
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.