Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAIRO839
2009-05-14 13:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
how-toVZCZCXRO4353 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #0839 1341322 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141322Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2433 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000839
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: NGO SAFE -- FOR NOW
REF: A. CAIRO 786
B. CAIRO 748
Classified By: A/DCM William R. Stewart for reason 1 .4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000839
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: NGO SAFE -- FOR NOW
REF: A. CAIRO 786
B. CAIRO 748
Classified By: A/DCM William R. Stewart for reason 1 .4 (d).
1. (C) On May 10, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
(EOHR) received a letter from the Ministry of Social
Solidarity's (MOSS) Director of Central Administration for
Associations noting that the ministry is not attempting to
dissolve EOHR. EOHR Secretary-General Hafez Abu Seada told
us May 11 that he was pleased with the letter, which he
believed satisfied the organization's request for written
assurances that it will not dissolve EOHR (ref A). EOHR had
received a letter April 27 from MOSS reminding it of the
ministry's authorization to dissolve the organization for
receiving unauthorized foreign funding (ref B). EOHR issued
a press release May 11 quoting the May 10 MOSS letter and
calling for amendments to the current NGO law to "limit the
intervention of administrative bodies in the work of NGOs."
2. (C) Comment: EOHR's aggressive response to MOSS' April 27
letter -- publicizing the issue and requesting written
assurances -- appears to have paid dividends. MOSS initially
backed down through comments to the independent press and
then by acceding to EOHR's request to send written assurances
that it is not attempting to dissolve the organization. This
episode demonstrates that while Egyptian law affords the
government wide latitude to interfere with NGOs, actions on
the ground can be shaped by political calculations.
SCOBEY
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: NGO SAFE -- FOR NOW
REF: A. CAIRO 786
B. CAIRO 748
Classified By: A/DCM William R. Stewart for reason 1 .4 (d).
1. (C) On May 10, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
(EOHR) received a letter from the Ministry of Social
Solidarity's (MOSS) Director of Central Administration for
Associations noting that the ministry is not attempting to
dissolve EOHR. EOHR Secretary-General Hafez Abu Seada told
us May 11 that he was pleased with the letter, which he
believed satisfied the organization's request for written
assurances that it will not dissolve EOHR (ref A). EOHR had
received a letter April 27 from MOSS reminding it of the
ministry's authorization to dissolve the organization for
receiving unauthorized foreign funding (ref B). EOHR issued
a press release May 11 quoting the May 10 MOSS letter and
calling for amendments to the current NGO law to "limit the
intervention of administrative bodies in the work of NGOs."
2. (C) Comment: EOHR's aggressive response to MOSS' April 27
letter -- publicizing the issue and requesting written
assurances -- appears to have paid dividends. MOSS initially
backed down through comments to the independent press and
then by acceding to EOHR's request to send written assurances
that it is not attempting to dissolve the organization. This
episode demonstrates that while Egyptian law affords the
government wide latitude to interfere with NGOs, actions on
the ground can be shaped by political calculations.
SCOBEY