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| Prof. Dr. Ashraf el-Bayoumi, member of the Anti-colonialist Anti-Zionist Committee, Vice-president of Alexandrian Association for Human Rights Advocating |
"Most of the NGOs that are funded from European Union and the USA have people working in them that are former Marxists. After the Soviet Union collapsed they shifted almost 180 degrees. So this is the challenge, we have to start from reality. It needs hard work and resistance, but the situation is not hopeless. (Dr. Ashraf el-Bayoumi)
"They use the banner of democracy and human rights to interfere and dominate," (Dr. Ashraf el-Bayoumi)
Dr. Ashraf el-Bayoumi is a former Muslim Brother, when asked, 4 years ago, about how should the left deal with the MBs he said:
"Expose them. Show their opportunism, show the fact that the government is using them to fill the vacuum. In fact the brotherhood in the 40ies was more responsible and had more knowledge than today. I happen to know Hassan el-Banna personally because my father was a founding member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and I myself was a member for three or four years at college, but contradictions made me leave them. I am not against people advocating Islamic ideals, but with conditions. You have to respect Christians, and that is lacking. They now say that they accept Christians and so on, when did they issue a statement against some of their students, who are advocating to not even say hello to a Christian, a Copt in the university? How come the universities were filled with slogans for Afghanistan in the 80ies, while during the Israeli invasion in Lebanon, not one word was uttered, in 1982. When were they against normalization with Israel? They discovered this just a few years ago. And only symbolical. They are using religion to gain power. And also I really believe that when you enter politics through the window of religion you will be at the end sectarian, eventually. I do not believe that entering into politics should be through religion at all. "
Egyptians oppose US economic aid, says Gallup
by Joseph Mayton, source
CAIRO: A new poll published by Gallup revealed that some 70 percent of Egyptians surveyed oppose United States economic aid to Egypt. The poll, conducted in December 2011, also said that Egyptians are against direct aid to civil society organizations in the country.
“This rebuke of US financial support may be a challenge for Egypt’s newly elected parliament and its future president as the government attempts to bolster the nation’s financial stability,” wrote Gallup in their report published on Monday.
Egyptians were not against international economic assistance altogether, however, showing signs of support from international aid groups.
Gallup reported that around 50 percent of the country favoring aid and assistance from international institutions.Egypt’s ruling military junta and the interim government appointed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) had initially rejected assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but has since reversed their opposition.
Last month, Masood Ahmed, Director for the Middle East and Central Asia Department for the IMF, was in Egypt to discuss a potential $3.2 billion IMF loan to Egypt.
“Egyptian leaders’ ability to attract foreign aid and investment will be important to collecting the capital needed to move the nation’s economy forward,” Gallup continued.
Civil society groups have received tens of millions of dollars from the US since the January 2011 uprising ousted President Hosni Mubarak, but in the past month, the military rulers have cracked down on local and international NGOs, sending some 43 employees to a criminal court on Sunday to face charges for illegal funding.
Among those sent are 19 Americans, 5 Serbians, two Germans, three Arabs and the remaining Egyptians. Sam LaHood, the son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has made headlines recently after being barred from leaving Egypt, was among those charged.The spat over American citizens being barred from leaving Egypt has left a diplomatic row between the military junta here in Egypt and the American government.
A senior State Department official said last week that a “handful of US citizens have opted to stay in the embassy compound in Cairo while awaiting permission to depart Egypt.”
The official, who was not allowed to discuss the matter on the record, would not say whether Sam LaHood, the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, was among those at the embassy.
LaHood said last week that he fears he could be jailed for up to five years after being barred from leaving the country earlier this month.
“As Egypt’s new parliament begins its work and the country’s citizens prepare for presidential elections, many Egyptians are suffering from the day-to-day realities of unemployment and price inflation. According to Gallup’s most recent survey in December 2011, Egyptians are most likely to name inflation and lack of money as the biggest problem facing their families; the second is lack of jobs,” added the report on the implications for Egypt’s future.
Egypt MP says America, Israel causing state of anarchy
CAIRO: Speaking in parliament on Monday afternoon, MP Mustafa Bakri told his fellow elected officials that the ills of Egypt are the result of the United States, Israel and the former regime.“Egypt is entering a state of anarchy caused by America, Israel, and the previous regime,” Bakri told parliament. He went on to argue that leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei was “directing” American agents in the country to cause unrest.
It also comes one day after Egypt transferred the case of 43 foreign and local NGO workers to a criminal court, where they face charges of “illegal funding” from abroad.
Among those charged are 19 Americans, including US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s son Sam LaHood, who was the director for Egypt’s International Republican Institute (IRI) office in Cairo.
Five days of clashes between police and protesters have left Egypt on edge. Police on Sunday night fired round after round of tear gas and birdshot at protesters in downtown Cairo, injuring scores of Egyptians.
At least 12 people have died in violence in Egypt’s capital and Suez.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!
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