A NEW GOE APPROACH TO DEMONSTRATIONS?

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005946

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/FO
NSC/POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM EG
SUBJECT: A NEW GOE APPROACH TO DEMONSTRATIONS?

REF: A. CAIRO 4024


B. CAIRO 4005

Classified By: A/CDA Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: A July 30 anti-Mubarak rally in downtown
Cairo was violently disbanded by Egyptian riot police and NDP
"thugs," possibly including undercover security personnel.
The tactics were reminiscent of events during the May 25
constitutional referendum (reftels),but on a much smaller
scale. Two protesters suffered serious injuries and 31
demonstrators were either arrested or detained, and
subsequently released. The Ministry of Interior reported
that 15 riot policemen sustained injuries from stone-throwing
demonstrators. What remains unclear is what sparked the
GOE's violent response to the protest and whether the GOE has
abandoned its permissive attitude towards political protests
evident since the May 25 referendum. One explanation may be
that the GOE is consciously moving to forestall any
demonstrations during the election campaign. Charge will use
a scheduled meeting with Minister of Interior El-Adly (for
visiting CODEL King) to protest police actions against
demonstrations. Embassy is also passing the message to NDP
reformers that the GOE reaction and the inevitable Western
media coverage do not bode well for the campaign season. End
summary.


3. (SBU) A loose coalition of about 250 demonstrators, led
by Kifaya ("Enough") Movement leader George Ishaq, protested
President Mubarak's presidential candidacy in downtown Cairo
on the afternoon of July 30. Local and international media
widely reported that security forces and NDP "thugs"
violently confronted protesters and beat them with batons.
Kifaya leader George Ishaq (detained and later released)
reported that security forces detained and/or arrested at
least 31 protesters, including Ayman Barakat, lawyer for
al-Ghad party leader Ayman Nour, and Kifaya leaders Amin
Eskandar and Hani Enan. Arrested protesters were taken to
the Central Security station in El-Darasa. All 31
individuals had been released by the Ministry of Interior
(MOI) by the afternoon of August 2, although two dozen face
charges of raising banners promoting public disorder and
contempt of the regime, assaulting policemen, destroying
public property, participating in an unauthorized
demonstration, and possessing "illegal" publications.


4. (SBU) The MOI publicly justified its response by
claiming that not only was the demonstration unauthorized,
but that demonstrators had provoked the violence by throwing
stones at police and disobeying warnings to disband. MOI
further claimed that 15 of its own were injured in the
clashes. For their part, the demonstrators denied throwing
stones and said that even though they demonstrated without a
permit, the MOI has allowed unauthorized demonstrations in
the past. It remained unclear, however, whether
demonstrators took a more aggressive approach, and if so,
whether stones were thrown in response to an MOI onslaught or
whether MOI and its supporters forcefully responded to the
stone-throwers.


5. (C) Comment: This confrontation comes in direct
contrast to the "hands off" tactics adopted by the police
towards demonstrators since the May 25 violence. Numerous,
unauthorized demonstrations, including the large and
vociferous demonstration during the June 28 opening of the
Ayman Nour trial, have seen the security forces take a
disciplined, observer role. The July 30 events may reflect a
conscious decision by the authorities to crack down on
demonstrations during the campaign season. The Government
may argue that it cannot let protests by any party mar the
campaign process. However, the brutal scenes on July 30 were
clearly unacceptable. Charge will protest police actions
against demonstrations with MOI chief Adly at a previously
scheduled meeting on August 4, and the Embassy will raise
with NDP reformers the extremely negative image generated
from these events. End comment.


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JONES