US embassy cable - 05CAIRO5946

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, Demonstrations 
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. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
JONES