ELEVEN ELECTORAL CRIMES WORST OF ALL ATTACKING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

I found this news on one of the Egyptian government newspapers. The government is giving the Egyptian people an ultimatum to remain obedient and polite otherwise punishments are enforced.

Interestingly enough, the crimes as reported by the newspaper do not include election rigging crimes. Does this mean that as an Egyptian citizen I should believe that regime will be suddenly democratic and I should forget 53 years of forging our will? What are the guarantees for fair elections? What are the punishments to be given to such a regime when there are no guarantees as stated by the Egyptian Judges Club few days ago? And...

• A court ruling yesterday allowed Egyptian NGOs to monitor the election process, the regime decided that banning them from monitoring is still enforced.
• International monitors are not allowed.
• Foreign Journalists are given hard time for permissions to cover election day and help us to document that day. Egypt as described by an international journalist is like a communist fortress. I agree. Yes it is very difficult to be given a chance to know what is cooking.

I want to know what should we do when votes are rigged?

My only wish is that the judges' engagement in the monitoring will give them the chance to contest the election results after being proved rigged. I hope they will stand by us.

Here are the 11 crimes expected by the ground Egyptian people who have been oppressed for 24 years under poverty, unemployment and complete humiliation by the government. I found also a very funny picture on the same newspaper that I think I should share with you, showing armies of state security with one Egyptian citizen and the image caption reads "opposition arenbeating soldiers"....yeah... Egyptian opposition civilians are attacking armoured tanks and troops. I m thinking of raising funds for the beaten police officers by the bad opposition people...

Dear Egyptian citizens, please stay sweet, decent and nice otherwise....

AL AKHBAR - 5/9/2005 ELEVEN ELECTORAL CRIMES WORST OF ALL ATTACKING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The law of presidential elections has set 10 crimes that could possiblyoccur during the election day, stipulating deterrent punishments,ranging between life sentence and fine.

• The first crime is failing to vote without reason, where a fine of EGP100 is imposed.
• The second is using violence against the chairman or members ofelectoral committees to stop them from carrying out their duty. Here,the punishment could reach a five year sentence.
• The third is threatening the chairman or members of electoralcommittees to stop them from carrying out their duty. Here, thepunishment could reach a two year sentence.
• The fourth is insulting the chairman or members of electoral committeeswhile carrying out their duty. Here, the punishment could reach a twoyear sentence and/or an EGP 5000 fine.
• The fifth is use of intimidation and terror to impede the electoralprocess. Here, the punishment could reach a two year sentence.
• The sixth is demolition or damage of buildings, establishments, orpublic transportation used during the elections. Here, the punishmentcould be a one year sentence and/or an EGP 1000-3000 fine, in additionto repairing the damage. This crime applies even before the electionday.
• The seventh is embezzling, hiding or damaging documents pertaining tothe elections with the purpose of changing facts. Here, the punishmentcould be a two year sentence.
• The eighth is crimes of bribery and gangster actions. Here, thepunishment could be a six month sentence and/or an EGP 1000-5000 fine.This also applies to anyone forcing people to vote in a certaindirection.
• The ninth is voting without being entitled to. Here, the punishmentcould be a one month sentence and/or an EGP 500 fine.
• The tenth is committing an act to impede or suspend the implementationof the Presidential Committee. Here, the punishment could be detentionand/or an EGP 2000-50,000 fine.
• The eleventh is embarking on committingany misdemeanour of the foregoing crimes.