Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO7860
2005-10-13 09:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

TRANSPARENT BALLOT BOXES AND DOMESTIC OBSERVER

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM EG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 007860 

SIPDIS

NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EG
SUBJECT: TRANSPARENT BALLOT BOXES AND DOMESTIC OBSERVER
ACCREDITATION: RIGHTS COUNCIL PUSHING FOR IMPROVED
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 007860

SIPDIS

NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EG
SUBJECT: TRANSPARENT BALLOT BOXES AND DOMESTIC OBSERVER
ACCREDITATION: RIGHTS COUNCIL PUSHING FOR IMPROVED
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Egypt's National Council for Human Rights
(NCHR),a semi-official organization which has nonetheless
demonstrated its independence by publishing several reports
critical of the GOE, is pushing the GOE to procure
transparent ballot boxes for the parliamentary elections and
to guarantee polling station access by domestic monitors.
End summary.


2. (C) During an October 12 meeting with the DCM, Dr. Kamal
Aboul Magd, vice president of the NCHR, described the
Council's pressure on the GOE to implement tangible
improvements in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
According to Kamal, who said that he has discussed the issues
with President Mubarak as well as the ministers of Interior
and Justice, the GOE is on the cusp of deciding whether to
purchase transparent ballot boxes for use during the
November-December elections for the People's Assembly. Kamal
noted that many Egyptian opinion leaders supported a move to
transparent ballot boxes, but that the Interior Ministry had
long insisted that the cost of such a move would be
prohibitive. Kamal said that he and his NCHR colleagues had
shared with the GOE decision makers that sufficient
transparent boxes could be procured for less than one million
dollars, plus associated shipping costs. (Note: In late
September, post had advised NCHR member Mona Zulficar on
possible sources of transparent ballot boxes. End note.)
According to Kamal, the order form for the boxes "is sitting
on the Minister's desk," but he was unable to predict how
the Minister might decide, and he noted his worry that time
is running out for a procurement.


3. (C) Kamal then turned to the issue of access to the
polls by domestic monitors. A controversial subject during
the September 7 presidential election, the principle of
guaranteed access by domestic monitors was left unresolved
when the Presidential Election Commission (PEC),whose
authority applied just to the presidential election, decided
only after the September 7 polls opened to allow domestic
observers to enter the stations. (Comment: The PEC's
better-late-than-never decision was an important symbolic
development, but by itself provides no guarantee for the
parliamentary elections. End comment.) According to Kamal,
immediately after meeting with the DCM he would be huddling
with civil society leaders to develop a unified platform to
present to the GOE. Kamal was hopeful that he could secure
an arrangement whereby NCHR and civil society monitors would
be provided badges in advance of the parliamentary elections
that would ensure their access to ballot stations.


4. (C) The DCM advised Kamal that the USG is willing, if
requested, to provide resources for the ballot box
initiative, but that direct GOE procurement and
implementation would be even better. The preferred outcome,
said the DCM, is for Egyptians to devise their own solutions
to the reform challenges they face. The USG prefers not to
resort to public pressure, noted the DCM. Both the Egyptian
public and the international community are expecting further
expansion of political and civil rights in the days ahead,
especially with regard to the parliamentary elections.
Without additional progress, USG pressure on the GOE would
only increase. Kamal replied that he understood this
dynamic, and opined that despite the lingering influence of
GOE elements associated with the "ancien regime," he believes
that there is no turning back. In his view, President
Mubarak "gets it" that political reform cannot be avoided,
thanks to the clamor of domestic supporters for reform as
well as the international pressure for reform. Kamal cited
the Secretary's June 26 speech in Cairo and the NDI
assessment mission to the September 7 election as examples of
useful international pressure.


5. (C) Comment: It remains to be seen if the GOE will act
on the NCHR's advice to procure the transparent boxes in time
for the November 9 ballott, or guarantee access by domestic
monitors to the polls, but we are nonetheless encouraged that
an establishment figure of Kamal's background (a former
Information Minister, he is currently a partner in the Cairo
office of Baker McKenzie, in addition to his NCHR
responsibilities) is strenuously urging the GOE to do the
right thing on the parliamentary elections. Kamal has
helpfully reminded the GOE at very senior levels that free
and fair voting, open to public scrutiny, is an essential
element of political participation. End comment.


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