Partners in the Nation
Municipal Elections Monitoring Campaign, April 2008
PRESS STATEMENT
The Egyptian Association for Supporting Democratic Development (EASD) and the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies (ECDDS) deployed
4,700 observers today to monitor the voting process across 24 governorates, as the governorates of Fayoum and Ismailia were closed by acclamation.
The administrative obstacles to accredit observers put in place by the Ministry of Local Development and the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) resulted in the serious violation of observers’ rights to monitor the voting process. EASD observers were either completely denied access to the voting premises or sent out of polling stations by election supervisors under the pretext of not having official accreditations to monitor the elections. EASD regards this lack of access as a severe breach of the Egyptian legal framework on elections, including the Law on Exercising Political and Civil Rights.
It is worth mentioning that the security has released the observers detained in the early hours of the voting process as requested by EASD and ECDDS. Both organizations highly appreciate the cooperation with the security apparatus on this important day.
EASD and ECDDS stress that it is necessary for the administrative bodies supervising the voting process to be committed to the legal regulations ensuring equal
opportunities for candidates and enabling voters to practice their constitutional right of voting.
Electoral Transgressions
Until 13:00, EASD observers have reported a series of violations of the law of Exercising Political and Civil Rights, including:
In El-Shaheed Arref School, in Abu Tesht district, Qena Governorate, district coordinator Ahmad Abdel Baqqi and observers Ahmad Tamer Muhammad and Ahmad Ali were arrested.
In the Society Development School, El-Ganayen district, Suez Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers Neama Ghareeb and Muhammad Salah were denied access to polling stations by security.
In Hammada Nessiem School, Attaka district, Suez Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers Hani Said and Ahmad Muhammad Sulaiman were denied access
to polling stations by security.
In Taher Bieh Preparatory School, Minya El-Bassal district, Alexandria Governorate, EASD observers Noha Ahmad Gad, Camilia Ali Hassan, Muhammad Muhammad Attia, Ahmad Gad El-Rab and Hashem Muhammad Hashem were sent out of polling station.
In Shabba Preparatory School, Dessouq district, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observer Hammada Muhammad Bakr was sent out of the polling station.
In polling station (1), the Preparatory School, El-Hammol Center district, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observer Ewidda Mansour Ibrahim was sent out of polling station.
In polling stations #(6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10), Susan Mubarak Elementary School, El-Sadat district, Menufeyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers Ahmad Ali El-Din Nassar, Muhammad Ali Sadeq, Mayada Ibrahim Maddi and Ahmad El-Nahhas were detained for 30 minutes then released.
In polling station (21), Raas El-Khalig High School, Sherbien district, Daqahleya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observer Hossam El-Boghdady was sent out of polling station.
In polling station (60), Tal El-Kashef Elementary School, El-Zarqa district, Damitta Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observer Ahmad El-Sallamoni was sent out the polling station by the head of the station.
In polling station (87), Refaa El-Tahtawi School, Karmooz district, Alexandria Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers Ossama Shehatta and Muhammad
Mahmoud Hassan were sent out of polling station and their monitoring manuals and EASD IDs were taken from them.
In El-Zuhoor School, Karmooz district, Alexandria Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers Alaa El-Din Muhammad Abdel Salam and Nessma Ibrahim
were sent out of polling station.
In El-Attar High School, Shubra district, Cairo Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observer Ahmad Abdel Meggid was sent out of polling station and his cell phone
was taken away for some time. In Kafr Tseffa Preparatory School, Kafr Tseffa district, Qalubiyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observer Muhammad El-Sayed was sent out of polling station.
In polling station (17), the Preparatory School for Girls, El-Baddari district, Assiut Governorate, EASD observers Safaa Abdel Aal and Mamdouh Shaaban Fahmi, as well as candidate agents were sent out of polling station.
Ballot Stuffing
In Billa New School, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported that the security was is sending all candidate agents out, and that the Billa Ghad Candidate Abdel Razzeq El-Killani is sitting in in protest to ballot stuffing in favor of the NDP.
In the polling station of the 15th of May School, Shubra El-Khima district, Qalubiyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported ballot stuffing committed by NDP leaderships in all polling stations.
In polling station (115), Hegaga School, Fareskoor district, Damitta Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported ballot stuffing committed by the head of the polling station Muhammad Sabri Mahammadin.
In polling station (118), Hegaga School, Fareskoor district, Damitta Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported ballot stuffing committed by head of the polling station Saleh Ali Khalifa.
In Shabba Preparatory School polling station, Dessouq district, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported ballot stuffing in favor of NDP candidates.
In Raas El-Khalig Azhar Institute polling station, Sherbin district, Daqahliyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS reported closing the gates of the polling station and sending all observers out by the Chief Inspector.
In polling station (4), Kafr Ragab Elementary School, Kafr Shukr district, Qalubiyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported ballot stuffing by polling station employees.
In polling station (17), the Preparatory School for Girls, El-Badari district, Assiut Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported ballot stuffing by polling station employees.
Voter Prevention
In Ali bin Abi Talib School, Sers El-Layyan district, EASD and ECDDS observers reported that the security denied voters access by closing the doors.
In Bahteem School for Girls, East Shubra El-Khima district, Qalubiyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported denying voters access by NDP members with the help of the police.
Acts of Violence
In El-Shaheed Muhammad Farid Sarhan School polling station, Helwan district, Cairo Governorate, EASD and ECDDS reported that the Minister of Military Production was pushing laborers at the Helwan Military Production Factories to vote for NDP candidates.
In polling station (6), El-Salam School, Sahel Selim district, Assiut Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported that the voters were indirectly influenced by NDP candidate agents.
In Sahel Selim Elementary Azhar Institute polling station, Assiut Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported that the voters Emad Abdel Hafez and Ahmad Ismail were sent out of polling station. Voters Hazem Mahmoud was sent out of polling station (45) in the same school at 10:30 AM.
Election Campaigning
In El-Amir Lualu Elementary School polling station, Minya El-Bassal district, Alexandria Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported election campaigning
for Ghad candidate Naggi Khattab in front the polling stations of the school, and a banner for all NDP candidates.
In El-Wardiyyan Technical School polling station, Minya El-Bassal district, Alexandria Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported election campaigning for NDP candidate Muhammad Ali El-Gohary in front of polling stations.
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You can find more on our website: www.egyelections.com [2]
For enquiries and complaints, Please call our hotlines: 016-408-7170 – 023-792-2691– 023-762-2697
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Released April 8th,2008
Links:
[1] http://www.ndi.org/node/14738
[2] http://www.egyelections.com/