GOE REMINDS PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS NGO THAT IT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000748 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA TUNIS FOR SCHMONSEES E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM EG SUBJECT: GOE REMINDS PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS NGO THAT IT COULD BE DISSOLVED Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. KEY POINTS: -- (SBU) A prominent independent human rights NGO, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) received a letter April 27 from The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MOSS) reminding it that MOSS is authorized to dissolve EOHR for receiving unauthorized foreign funding. EOHR is registered with MOSS. EOHR received money from a Moroccan NGO to fund a Cairo conference on press freedom in January 2009. -- (C) EOHR Secretary-General Hafez Abu Seada told us this is the first such communication the organization has received from the GOE since its founding in 1985. He interpreted the letter as a warning that was in response to EOHR's April human rights report, which was critical of the government, and asserted that the GOE is trying to constrict EOHR's political activities in advance of the 2010 parliamentary elections. -- (C) On April 30, A/DCM expressed concern over the MOSS letter to the MFA, and we will consult with EOHR on whether an embassy high-level intervention with MOSS would be productive. We do not believe that a U.S. public statement would be helpful, and could make matters worse. ¶2. (C) Comment: The GOE letter is a clear shot across the bow at one of Egypt's most prominent human rights NGOs and at foreign funding of Egyptian NGOs. We believe that the GOE would probably not risk the domestic and international outcry that would result from actually dissolving the NGO, and that therefore the U.S. should avoid public statements that could change the GOE's calculus. End comment. ¶3. (C) On April 29, Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) Secretary-General Hafez Abu Seada gave us a copy of a Ministry of Social Solidarity letter his organization received April 27 noting that EOHR is "legally accountable" under article 42 (6) of law 84, Egypt's NGO law, for foreign money it received from the Moroccan NGO "The Center for Media Freedom." (Note: MEPI has funded the Moroccan NGO. End note.) The specific article of the NGO law cited in the letter authorizes the ministry to dissolve an NGO for actions including accepting foreign funding without authorization. EOHR issued a press release April 30 accusing the GOE of threatening to dissolve the organization. ¶4. (C) Abu Seada told us that EOHR sent a letter to the ministry in July 2008 requesting permission to accept foreign funds, but never received a definitive reply to the letter. He said that the ministry sent EOHR a letter in September 2008 committing to approve the request following the receipt of additional documents. Abu Seada told us EOHR sent the documents, but never received a definitive response. EOHR's April 30 press release asserts that the ministry's lack of a response after 60 days "implies (sic) an initial approval." (Note: The NGO law says MOSS must approve foreign funding requests. End note.) MOSS' letter says that the ministry never approved the foreign funding request. ¶5. (C) Abu Seada told us he is unsure whether the GOE will move to dissolve EOHR, but he believes the letter was in response to the April 13 release of EOHR's 2008 human rights report, which was critical of the government. Abu Seada also speculated that the GOE wants to "clamp down on civil society" before the 2010 parliamentary elections. He noted that EOHR is in discussions with the Dutch Embassy in Cairo regarding funding for a parliamentary election monitoring project. ¶6. (C) Abu Seada believed that the letter is also a GOE attempt to dissuade EOHR from submitting a report by September 2009 on human rights in Egypt as part of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review process. Abu Seada noted that EOHR routinely accepts foreign funds from Europe and from the National Endowment for Democracy. He said it is ordinary for EOHR not to receive clear approval from the ministry, but this is the first letter reminding EOHR of MOSS' right to dissolve the organization that it has received since its founding in 1985. He was puzzled that the GOE sent EOHR such a letter before President Mubarak's planned upcoming visit to Washington. ¶7. (C) On April 30, A/DCM raised concerns over the Ministry of Social Solidarity letter with Deputy Assistant Minister CAIRO 00000748 002 OF 002 for North American Affairs Amin Meleika. A/DCM emphasized the political dimension of a GOE letter regarding the possible dissolution of one of Egypt's most prominent human rights organizations. Meleika said he would look into the matter. SCOBEY