US embassy cable - 05CAIRO7860

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. 
 
 
RICCIARDONE