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1/6/2002
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Statement One
Parliamentary Elections 2005, Third Phase Run-Off
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7/12/2005
The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) expresses its deepest concerns regarding security forces (SF) closing off balloting stations before voters, nay even candidates themselves-only National Democratic Party (NDP) supporters were let in upon showing their NDP ID cards such as happened at stations of Eish al-Asmar, Ibn Sinah, and Ibn Saqr Schools, al-Areesh Constituency, Northern Sinai and at stations of al-Mahalawy School, al-Gamaliya Constituency, al-Daqahliya.
In this context, EOHR observers monitored SF closing balloting stations in six Governorates: Dameitta, Kafr al-Sheik, al-Daqahliya, al-Sharqiyah, Souhag, and Northern Sinai. Closed stations are as high as 355, according to EOHR estimates.
Worth mentioning, balloting stations closed off by SF during Third Phase, First Round were as high as 1000 in four Governorates: Damietta, Kafr al-Sheik, al-Daqahliya, al-Sharqiyah, and Northern Sinai.
Another negative aspect during Third Phase Run-Off: EOHR watchdogs were never let into balloting stations so much so that candidates themselves were denied access. That took place at al-Roudah Station, Faraskour Constituency, Dameitta where Mr. Diaa al-Dein Dawood, Arab Nasserite Party (ANP) candidate, was not let in. Moreover, assaults-against-media-representatives phenomenon persists.
Violations List Include:
1. Balloting Stations Closed Off
According to EOHR observers, Central Security Forces (CSF) cordoned stations off since morning many voters had to leave without casting votes such as happened at al- Roudah Village, Faraskour Constituency, and Dameitta where Mr. Dawood was not let in: "SF completely holds voters off balloting stations at Faraskour. I was even denied access to the station myself.
There's an army out there besieging stations," Dawood told an EOHR interviewer. Moreover, at Damietta Downtown Constituency around 74 stations were closed off;
SF held voters off at:
(a) al-Ghoubashy School, Khayatah;
(b) al-Goumrouk School;
(c) Abdel Moneim al-Salamouny School;
(d) Abdel Moneim al-Shamy Commercial Co-Ed School;
(e) Amr Ibn al-Aas School;
(f) Gamal al-Dein Shiehaa School; and
(g) Ibn Khaldoun School.
Similarly in al-Daqhliya, the following stations at-
(a) al-Tersanah al-Bahariyah School, al-Gamaliyah-al-Matariyah Constituency;
(b) Meet Margah Salsil Village, al-Gamaliyah-al-Matariyah Constituency;
(c) al-Sanaiea School, al-Gamaliyah-al-Matariyah Constituency;
(d) al-Mahalawy School, al-Gamaliyah-al-Matariyah Constituency;
(e) Girls Preparatory School, al-Gamaliyah-al-Matariyah Constituency;
(f) Al-Irshad Elementary School, al-Gamaliyah-al-Matariyah Constituency;
(g) Al-Maahad al-Deiny, al-Gamaliyah-al-Matariyah Constituency;
(h) Housny Mubarak Elementary School, Minah al-Nasr Constituency;
(i) al-Horiyah Elementary School, Minah al-Nasr Constituency; and
(j) Kamilia Abou Shetaa and al-Tegarrah Schools, Minah al-Nasr Constituency-
were closed off. Likewise, in Souhag voters (and candidates) were denied access to the following stations:
(a) Shata Morning School, Tama Constituency
(b) Health Clinic at Shataa, Tama Constituency
(c) Mashta Elementary School, Tama Constituency
(d) al-Shaheed Moustafa Ebeid School, Tama Constituency
(e) Girls Preparatory School, Tama Constituency
(f) al-Maahad al-Deiny School, Tama Constituency
(g) Dardash School, Tama Constituency;
(h) Al-Shawawlah Secondary School, Tenth Constituency, al-Douwyrat Police Station;
(i) al-Shawawlah Elementary School, Tenth Constituency, al-Douwyrat Police Station;
(j) al-Nasrah Elementary School, Awlad Salam, Tenth Constituency, al-Douwyrat Police Station; and
(k) al-Amidah School, Tenth Constituency, al-Douwyrat Police Station.
The same applies for Kafr al-Sheikh where 63 stations were closed off:
(a) Metoubas: 19 stations ( 84: 103);
(b) al-Jazeerah al-khadraa: 13 (184: 196);
(c) Idianah Village: 4 (129: 132);
(d) Abou Diraz: 3 (64: 66);
(e) al-Salimiyah Village: 8 (54: 61);
(f) Omar Estate: 2 (102: 104);
(g) Erban Estate: 2 (62: 63);
(h) al-Thanawyah Girls School: 6 (28: 33); and
(i) Al-Tougarreyah Secondary School: 6 (34: 39).
The same story goes with al-Sharqiyah:
(a) Stations of al-Saadieen Village, Minah al-Qamh Constituency;
(b) Stations of al-Sharqiyah Village, Abou Kibeer Constituency;
(c) Sixteen stations at Kafr Saqr Constituency such as: Qatourah, Singaha, al-Zoour, and al-Maqt; and
(d) Sixteen stations at Diarb Negm such as Salah Salim Preparatory School, so iron- handedly besieged by SF that Muslim Brotherhood supports broke through part of the school's outside wall. SF tried dispersing them; however, MB supporters threw stones at SF who retaliated releasing tear gas bombs.
An Ashraf Sayed Awad, 22, voter, even tried climbing the wall so he could vote, only to have heavy sticks falling upon him from SF. The unfortunate was moved to the School Clinic. "Mr. Awad was bruised all over his body, got a deep wound in the head that needs at least six stitches. He's now lying in the clinic," watching doctor said.
Finally Northern Sinai 's Eish al-Asmar, Ibn Sinah, and Ibn Saqr Schools, al-Areesh Constituency were closed off.
Surprisingly, though, banning voters from casting their voters goes at odds with EOHR pleas for SF mainly that SF should not intervene during elections. More, EOHR has even urged SF facilitate voters access to balloting stations, according to the Egyptian Constitution and human rights international covenants that guarantee citizens' rights to participate politically and to have a say in the public domain.
2. EOHR Observers Denied Access to Balloting Stations
SF held many EOHR observers off in al-Sharqiyah from:
(a) Stations of Safour Elementary and Preparatory School;
(b) Stations 71: 76 of Salah Salim Preparatory School, Dirb Negm Constituency;
(c) Stations of Commercial Technical Institute, First Constituency, First Police Station, Zagazig;
(d) Stations of al-Nasriyah Elementary School, , First Constituency, First Police Station, Zagazig; and
(e) Stations of Abel Aziz Ali Elementary School, First Constituency, First Police Station, Zagazig.
3. Assault on Media Representatives
According to EOHR observers, SF wrecked an al-Jazeerah broadcasting station, attacked her cameraman, and threatened other satellite and news agencies correspondents.
Assault took place in front of al-Louzi School, Damietta Downtown Constituency, Damietta.
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