US 'used NGOs to create chaos in Egypt': minister
CAIRO — An Egyptian minister seen as the driving force behind impending trials of democracy activists, including 19 Americans, told investigators that Washington funded their groups to create a state of prolonged chaos in Egypt, official media reported Monday.
International cooperation minister Fayza Abul Naga, believed to be the instigator of a judicial probe into foreign-funded civil society groups, made the accusation in testimony to the investigating judges in October.
Abul Naga, one of the few remaining ministers from president Hosni Mubarak's era, added that the United States and Israel wanted to hijack Egypt's uprising that toppled Mubarak a year ago to serve the interests of Washington and the Jewish state.
"The United States and Israel could not create a state of chaos and work to maintain it in Egypt directly, so they used direct funding to organisations, especially American, as a means of implementing these goals," the official MENA news agency quoted her as saying, in the first public disclosure of the claims.
The impending trials of 44 activists, including 19 Americans, have deepened a rift between the traditional allies, with the State Department hinting that the crackdown could jeopardise American aid to Egypt.
Abul Naga said "the January 25 uprising came as a surprise to the United States, and it slipped from its control when it transformed into a people's revolution."
"That was when the United States decided to use all its resources and instruments to contain the situation and push it in a direction that promotes American and also Israeli interests," the agency quoted her as saying.
MENA reported that a judicial investigation into the funding of several civil society groups found that the United States had diverted aid promised for infrastructure to the NGOs.
Cairo prosecutors backed by police in December stormed the offices of the US-funded International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute and Freedom House as part of a probe into the NGO's alleged illegal foreign funding.
They were among 17 offices of local and international NGOs raided.
The crackdown was part of a wider campaign by Egypt's military rulers to silence dissent after months of criticism of its human rights record, analysts said.
The ruling generals, who took charge of the country after an uprising forced president Hosni Mubarak to resign a year ago, traditionally had close ties with the United States, the Egyptian military's most generous foreign benefactor.
The aid workers are accused of "setting up branches of international organisations in Egypt without a license from the Egyptian government" and of "receiving illegal foreign funding."
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Egypt state press escalates dispute over US NGOs
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian state-run newspapers escalated a dispute with the United States over an inquiry into civil society groups on Tuesday by splashing across their front pages accusations of an American plan to spread "anarchy" in the Arab country.
Based on remarks by a government minister, the headlines marked another low in a crisis between Washington and Cairo triggered by the investigation into U.S.-based non-governmental organisations that has resulted in criminal charges against Americans who have been banned from leaving the country.
"America is behind the anarchy," declared the front page of Al Gomhuria newspaper. "American funding aims to spread anarchy in Egypt," read the front page of Al Ahram newspaper. The papers are two of Egypt's most widely-distributed dailies.
The headlines were based on comments made in October to the investigating judges by Minister of International Cooperation Faiza Abul Naga - but which only came to light on Monday when they were released to the state news agency MENA.
In her remarks, Abul Naga linked what she said was a surge in U.S. funding for civil society groups last year to an attempt to steer the course of the post-Hosni Mubarak transition in "a direction that realised American and Israeli interests".
"All the indications show that there was a clear desire to abort any chance for Egypt to emerge as a modern democratic state with a strong economy," she was quoted as saying, adding that such a prospect would be a threat to "American and Israeli interests".
The timing of the statement's release is as telling as their contents, analysts said, coming just days after Egypt's military ruler appeared to signal an effort to contain tensions that now threaten $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Cairo.
"It looks like an escalation, but I don't know if it is intended or it reflects a state of confusion in the conduct of domestic and foreign policies in Egypt," said Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid, a political analyst.
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FY2013 Budget Request is Mixed Bag For World's Poor, Say Leading NGOs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Obama administration's FY2013 budget request is a mixed bag for the world's poor, with continued investment in international assistance overall but targeted cuts in areas such as global health and humanitarian assistance, said leading NGO alliance InterAction.
"Foreign assistance already amounts to less than 1 percent of the federal budget. We understand that this is a difficult fiscal climate, but any further trimming of these core accounts is counter-productive and impedes our efforts to build more self-sufficient populations," said Samuel A. Worthington, president and CEO of InterAction.
"We hope Congress will continue to support direct investments in innovative programs like new life-saving vaccines or teaching agriculture practices, which help people in less-developed countries feed themselves. These are key components of a strategy to make the delivery of aid more effective, transparent and accountable," said Worthington.
Overall, the international affairs budget request increased by 2 percent ($1.3 billion) to $56.2 billion from FY2012 levels, but several accounts that target global poverty were trimmed back. This included funding for global health projects, which are down 4 percent ($314 million) to $7.85 billion, and funds for migration and refugee assistance cut back by 13 percent from $1.88 billion to $1.63 billion.
Other cuts include:
* International Disaster Assistance is down 2 percent from $975 million to $960 million.
* Food for Peace grants are down 5 percent from $1.466 billion in FY2012 to $1.4 billion in FY2013.
On the plus side:
* The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria commitment is kept with a $1.65 billion request.
* The World Bank's International Development Association gets a $33.5 million increase (3 percent) to $1.36 billion; and a number of the multilateral development funds, the debt restructuring fund, and the GEF get increases of varying sizes.
For InterAction's federal budget table, please go to http://www.interaction.org/document/interaction-federal-budget-table-fy2013-budget-request.
InterAction is an alliance of nearly 200 U.S.-based international NGOs that offer humanitarian and development assistance. Our members operate in most developing countries, working alongside local communities to overcome poverty.
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THE DEBATE ON THE FUTURE OF NGOS Service providers or advocators for development
Dr. Kujejatou Manneh, Country Director of Action Aid International The Gambia (AAITG), said Government and Non Governmental Organizations {NGOs} need each other and as such are bound to work together.
Dr. Manneh made this remark at the opening of the NGO Week 2012 on Saturday 11th February at The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations {TANGO} office in Fajara.
The AAITG Director recalled that about three years ago they were talking of eight hundred people going hungry globally, but instead of the number dropping today it has risen to 1 billion people. She said this has happened despite all efforts and resources injected into development interventions. She added that they need to thoroughly review and interrogate their approaches and intervention strategies with a view to finding out what has gone wrong or where they have gone wrong.
“Gambia is a very small country with very cohesive people. Thus with dedication, commitment and collaboration, we can set up our country as the pilot of success in eradicating poverty,” said Dr. Manneh.
She revealed that in their advocacy and lobbying strategies, they have engaged all sectors of society on issues aimed at expanding opportunities for people to earn better lives. She said in the course of its development work, AAITG came to realize that poverty and hunger cannot be eradicated through service delivery alone and that they have learnt that the fight against poverty is more than merely providing services and goods.
“We have also responded to various disasters such as foods, fire and locust outbreaks in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency {NDMA} and other stakeholders,” she said.
People, Director of AAITG said, need to recognize that development is a fundamental right and are a critical step in empowering communities and individuals to acquire their voices and demand their rights. She added that in the right to development campaign, it is not only for communities to identify on their own what their needs and rights are, but are also empowered to hold duty bearers accountable and ensure that development processes are accountable, transparent, and relevant to the needs of the people.
The Director of TANGO, Mr. Ousman Yarbo said the primary obligation of TANGO is to promote and enhance NGO capacities and operations to be able to effectively deliver development goods and services for Gambian communities. He added that his organization seeks to build the capacities of state institutions and officials in order to further enhance national development processes through effective and results based monitoring and evaluation and right based approaches.
The TANGO Director highlighted the objectivesof the NGO week include as
raising their profile and celebrating their successes by showing appreciation and recognition of the role and contribution of its NGO members in the socio-economic and political development of The Gambia as well as to foster interactions and information sharing among Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to add value to partnership and collaboration, to name a few.
Mr. Yarbo concluded by congratulating the membership of TANGO, their partners and donors for supporting them in their celebrations.
Deputizing the President of the Republic of The Gambia, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Fatim Badjie said they recognize ultimately that the development of the Gambia rests with the government. The president’s statement added that however it is also the fact that no government can carry out the development of a nation on its shoulders alone. It stated that this is precisely why the role and contribution of individuals, communities and groups especially professionals and technically competent development organizations like NGOs are extremely crucial.
“My government is always willing to work in partnership with NGOs for the development of this country,” said the president.
The statement further highlighted that it is in recognition of this fact that the Government shall always appreciate and recognize the contributions that NGOs play in the development of the country in complementing Government efforts in its development agenda.
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US seeks 'clarification' on Egypt activist trials
WASHINGTON — The United States demanded "clarification" Sunday over Cairo's apparent plans to put dozens of pro-democracy activists, including 19 Americans, on trial over charges of illegal funding of aid groups.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Washington was "deeply concerned" over the developments, which threatened to further strain ties with Egypt's post-Arab Spring military rulers.
A top official at Freedom House, one of the groups targeted, called Egypt's handling of the matter "a disaster."
A judicial source in Cairo told AFP 44 people, including Egyptians, would be tried over alleged illegal funding of aid groups, a day after the United States said it would review aid to Egypt, $1.3 billion last year, over the crackdown.
"We have seen media reports that judicial officials in Egypt intend to forward a number of cases involving US-funded NGOs to the Cairo criminal court," Nuland told reporters traveling with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"We are deeply concerned by these reports and are seeking clarification from the government of Egypt."
The offices of Freedom House and the International Republican Institute were among 17 local and international NGOs raided in December by Egyptian authorities as part of a probe into alleged illegal funding.
The aid workers are accused of "setting up branches of international organizations in Egypt without a license from the Egyptian government" and of "receiving illegal foreign funding."
A travel ban on all the NGO workers who were detained remains in place.
The decision to try the foreign workers comes as Egypt remains beset by unrest sparked by the perceived failure of its military rulers and police to prevent football-linked violence following a match in the northern city of Port Said on Wednesday that left 74 people dead.
The decision to forward the NGO workers' cases for trial drew condemnation from US groups with staff in Egypt and from Germany's government.
"The Egyptian military's handling of this issue has been a disaster," said Charles Dunne, director for Middle East and North Africa programs for Freedom House.
"This represents another escalation by the Egyptian government in its war on civil society -- and it's not just the US organizations, it's the Egyptian organizations," he told AFP.
"I find it astounding that they would do this while you still have a delegation of Egyptian general officers here in the United States to talk to the Congress and the administration about continued US military funding."
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle slammed Egypt's decision.
"It is unacceptable to harm organizations that have a real international mission which they take on seriously," he told ARD television, according to an early release transcript.
"We shall act, in the framework of our foreign policy towards Egypt, in such a way as to ensure that political organizations that have a worldwide reputation are allowed to continue working as they have done."
Egypt's ruling military council, which took power after an uprising toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak last spring, has accused foreign groups of funding street protests against them.
The move will further strain US-Egypt ties after last year's raid during which Cairo prosecutors confiscated computers and paperwork from NGO offices.
Egypt then barred some US members of the NGOs from leaving the country and American officials said "a handful" took refuge inside the US embassy.
On Saturday, Clinton warned that Washington's aid to Egypt would be reviewed, highlighting the continued deadlock over Cairo's crackdown.
In a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Clinton said she "had a chance to once again express our deep concerns with what is happening to our NGOs."
"We do not believe there is any basis for these investigations, these raids... the seizure of their equipment and certainly no basis for prohibiting the exit from the country by" NGO members," Clinton said.
"We have worked very hard the last year to put into place financial assistance and other support for the economic and political reforms that are occurring in Egypt.
"And we will have to closely review these matters as it comes time for us to certify whether or not any of these funds from our government can be made available under these circumstances," Clinton added.
Senior Egyptian military officers visited the United States last week in a bid to defuse the row.
Among those barred from leaving the country is the Egypt director of IRI, Sam LaHood, the son of US Secretary for Transportation Ray LaHood.
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First official US visit discusses NGO case in Cairo
The top US military officer met Egypt's ruling generals in Cairo on Saturday and discussed the case of US pro-democracy activists charged in an investigation that has strained ties between Cairo and Washington.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the first senior US official to visit Cairo since the charges were brought against 43 foreign and Egyptian activists following a probe into civil society groups.
Around 20 of those charged are Americans. They have been banned from leaving the country and include Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) who is the son of the US transportation secretary. An undisclosed number have taken shelter at the US embassy.
The case has put a deep strain on relations with Washington, which counted Egypt as a close strategic ally under ousted President Hosni Mubarak and supplies Cairo with an annual $1.3 billion in military aid. Both the US Congress and the White House have said the investigation could threaten the aid.
The investigators have brought charges including that the activists were working for organisations not legally registered in Egypt. The Egyptian government says the issue is a case of law, not politics.
Dempsey met Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and chief of staff General Sami Anan during meetings at the defence ministry in Cairo.
“They discussed a wide range of issues related to the long-standing security relationship between our two countries, including the issue involving US NGOs,” Colonel David Lapan, a spokesman for Dempsey, told Reuters in a statement.
“We will not, however, further describe the contents and nature of their private discussions,” he added.
In signs the dispute could worsen, however, Egyptian authorities detained an Australian journalist and an American student on Saturday on suspicion they had distributed cash to workers and incited them to take part in a strike called by activists demanding an end to army rule.
State news agency MENA said the pair were detained along with their Egyptian translator in the industrial city of al-Mahalla al-Kubra north of Cairo.
They were referred to the prosecutor general for investigation, the agency said, identifying the American student as Derek Ludovici and the Australian journalist as Austin Mackell.
CONGRESS DELEGATION TO VISIT
An Egyptian army official said that in the talks with the United States, the sides had “stressed the importance of the two countries’ commitment to international conventions and treaties and emphasised the depth of the strategic relations between the US and Egypt”.
Dempsey had stressed America’s “keenness to follow up on the process of democratization in Egypt and the efforts of the armed forces to transfer power to civilian rule,” the official said.
The military council which assumed power from Mubarak on Feb. 11, 2011 has pledged to hand over to an elected president at the end of June, completing a transfer to civilians.
The Egyptian official said a delegation from Congress will be visiting Cairo to continue discussions over aid. For US aid to continue, the Obama administration must certify to Congress that Egypt is making progress toward democracy.
It was Dempsey’s first visit to Egypt as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a post he took in October.
In Congress, some lawmakers and their aides have said US aid to Egypt had effectively stopped pending resolution of the crisis.
The US delegation was also due to meet Egypt’s intelligence officials on Saturday, the official added, saying that both Tantawi and Anan would meet with the head of US Central Command, General James Mattis on Monday.
Following the meeting of the generals, Egypt’s government issued a statement saying it was reviewing the 2002 law regulating the work of non-governmental organisations in Egypt.
Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Faiza Abul Naga said on Saturday the review would aim to “resolve any legal gaps in the law”.
US military aid to Egypt accounts for about 25 percent of Egypt’s defence spending per year. The defence budget was $4.56 billion in 2010 – the third-largest in the Middle East after Israel and Saudi Arabia – according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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NGO worker cases sent to Egypt court in funding row
The cases of 40 foreign and Egyptian activists, including 19 Americans subject to travel bans over their work for pro-democracy and other groups, have been referred to court, judicial sources said Sunday, deepening a row with the United States.
Washington, which provides $1.3 billion in military aid annually to Egypt, has strongly criticized the crackdown on the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which has taken place under the army-backed government. An unspecified number of U.S. citizens involved have sheltered in the U.S. embassy.
The latest step in the judicial process will further strain ties with the United States, which counted Egypt under ousted President Hosni Mubarak as a vital regional ally and lynchpin in its Middle East policy.
"We are deeply concerned by these reports and are seeking clarification from the Egyptian government," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
Egyptian officials say the crackdown is part of an investigation into foreign funding of NGOs. For the authorities, it is a matter of law; the non-governmental organizations broke it by receiving foreign funding without government approval.
Activists say the ruling military may be using the issue to whip up nationalist sentiment and distract attention from criticism the army is facing from protesters over its handling of the transition to civilian rule.
"The cases of 40 foreign and Egyptian suspects have been transferred to the Cairo criminal court related to foreign funding," a judicial source told Reuters. State news agency MENA also carried the report.
Even before the move to refer the NGO cases to court, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had warned that relations could be harmed if Egypt did not resolve the issue.
"We are very clear that there are problems that arise from this situation that can impact all the rest of our relationship with Egypt. We do not want that," Clinton told reporters in Munich where she met Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr on the sidelines of an international security conference.
Several U.S. citizens and others involved in the probe have been barred from leaving Egypt. They include Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) who is the son of the U.S. transportation secretary.
"The continued assault on American, German and Egyptian civil society is not a 'legitimate judicial process,' the IRI said in a statement. "It is a politically motivated effort to squash Egypt's growing civil society, orchestrated through the courts, in part by Mubarak-era hold overs."
U.S. officials said soon after the row erupted in late December that they had received assurances from the Egyptian leadership that the issue would be resolved. That followed talks with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi who heads the military council and others. Instead, the row has deepened.
FOREIGN FUNDING
Civil society groups say the ruling military council ordered the raids to harass activists who were at the forefront of the anti-Mubarak revolt and have been pressing for the army to swiftly hand power to civilians.
The NGO activists include 19 Americans alongside others who are Serbian, Norwegian, Lebanese as well as Egyptian, according to a statement issued by judges overseeing the probe and seen by Reuters. One judge involved said the list included LaHood.
The charge listed in the statement was "running organizations without getting the required licences." One of the judges running the probe said that investigations were continuing with Egyptians in other similar cases.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr told Clinton during his meeting with her that all groups, regardless of country of origin, had to abide by Egypt's laws on registering, the ministry's spokesman Amr Rushdy said in a statement.
NGOs say that the authorities have failed to respond to past requests to register and insist they have worked in full view of and in contact with the Egyptian authorities for years.
The National Democratic Institute, one of the U.S.-funded groups whose staff are facing travel bans, said it began work in 2005 and sought to register the same year but after responding to some official queries after that no progress was made.
However, the group says it has operated openly since then, engaging with officials regularly.
President Barack Obama's administration is finalizing its budget for the 2013 fiscal year, which will be presented on February 13 and is expected to include continued assistance for Egypt's military, albeit subject to new conditions imposed by U.S. lawmakers.
Those include evidence that Egyptian military authorities are committed to holding free and fair elections and protecting freedom of expression, association, and religion.
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“Ukraina bez kholopiv”
Donetsk tends to support the rights of social classes and groups. Last autumn we permanently heard the news from the Chornobyl disaster fighters’ camp. Now the social movement “Ukraina bez kholopiv” that actively protects the consumers is in the center of attention.
Donbas is one of the regions whose image for the rest of the country is distorted most because of the stereotypes. It is the result of the communication breakdown within the country. However, lately the Donetsk region tends to open itself from an unexpected side. This regional identity deserves attention.
The Day discussed the social process in the region with the activist and founder of the movement “Ukraina bez kholopiv,” journalist and blogger Pavlo KOLESNYK and the student of the Donetsk National University, journalist Pavlo OSTROVSKY.
Pavlo KOLESNYK: “ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A LAWYER TO KNOW THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNTRY”
What is “Ukraina bez kholopiv”? Is it an implication? What do you call the people upon with your activity?
“We are organized as a social network: people can get together, exchange information and fix meetings. Anyone can participate. Today these are journalists, bloggers and lawyers. After the inspections they place photos, videos, and texts at their pages in the social networks and blogs. I invented the name “Ukraina bez kholopiv.” Every activist has their own vision of the developments: some think that if we change the president, we will change the country, adopt new laws, join the EU or cooperate with Russia. I think that the country will change only after people stop being ‘kholops’ and when every citizen starts defending their rights in all spheres of life, starting with the supermarkets and finishing with elections rigging. Even if an honest and fair president comes to power, he or she will not be able to change anything until people get more responsible. There was a project ‘Ukraina bez Kuchmy’ [Ukraine without Kuchma. – Ed.] and we invented our variant ‘Ukraina bez kholopiv,’ meaning Ukraine of conscious, free, and peaceful people.”
What can make people get together in Donetsk now?
“They can get together to protect their rights and interests. We do not fight for any lofty ideas, we work on practical things. One can fight for trivial things: make supermarkets stop selling expired foods or make minibuses stop raising fare without any reason. The society can be changed if people realize that their rights protection is their own task.”
Are the locals ready to be active?
“I think they are. Many people are dissatisfied with something and would like to change it. They just lack special knowledge and support from the others. A lot of people think: even if I try to do something my actions will not influence the situation in general, it is just a drop in the bucket. In reality it is not true. About five people inspected supermarkets in Donetsk. The essential is determination, desire to resist fixed but negative occurrences and knowledge.”
Does it mean that one has to be judicially aware to defend one’s rights?
“Judicial knowledge plays a big role, but it is not the essential. Besides, all the legislative acts are accessible on the Internet. In the supermarkets case we use only one article of the Ukrainian Constitution reading that the information about food cannot be hidden. One does not have to be a lawyer to know the constitution of the country.”
Your activity breaks certain stereotypes about Donbas the region should thank our political elite for. Are the locals changing their attitude towards themselves?
“Actually, local people have always been active. Suffice it to recall the project ‘Dorozhny kontrol’ [Road Control. – Ed.] aimed at detecting inefficient work of the road police officers, it was actively realized in Donetsk. We have journalists and public figures that resist something, fight for something and get some result. As for the political elite that became nationwide long ago, they are very far from the people and the inhabitants of Donbas are not an exception. Yes, they were born here, they rule our country now. However, here people know theirs better from the negative side than in other regions. Of course, people do not agree with what is going on.”
The Leninsky District Public Prosecutor’s Office has brought an action because of the conflict that happened on January 23 in the supermarket “Sokil.” How is this situation developing now?
“The public prosecutor’s office brought an action only because of bodily harms. As for the journalists of Ukrainsky Tyzhden magazine who were snatched their equipment and could not work, the action has not been brought yet. They tried to snatch my phone out of my hands twice. Besides, I was threatened with a murder. All of this comes within the criminal code but the actions have not been brought yet.”
What is the role of the Internet and social networks in the social processes in the Donetsk region today?
“The Internet is both a negative and positive phenomenon. It is negative since it is difficult to make difference between the virtual and real life. On the other hand, there is freedom of speech here; there are people who are not afraid of voicing their ideas. They make public opinion on the Internet. However, I hope that this conscious and active group of people will go beyond the limits of the Internet. Probably, then the question who we should support at the elections will be resolved in a different way...”
Pavlo OSTROVSKY: “THE CIVIC SOCIETY OF THE DONETSK REGION IS WAKING UP”
The movement “Ukraina bez kholopiv” was actively supported by the inhabitants of Donetsk. Do you think it proves civic activity of the people living in Donetsk and in the region?
“The civic society of the Donetsk region is waking up little by little. Certainly, it is a slow process but the developments of the recent months prove that it is consistent. The protests of the Chornobyl disaster fighters, retirees, students, entrepreneurs, average people against dubious constructions… The fact that these processes activated during Viktor Yanukovych’s presidential term is not a coincidence but natural reaction to the actions of the socially irresponsible authorities. It is strange but the fact that someone from our region is at the power now consolidates the people and make them protect their rights.”
What is the role of the third sector in shaping the social processes? Who is this third sector in Donetsk today?
“Last year the NGOs were offered to become a separate center of influence. I am speaking about the socalled ‘social councils.’ However, the power willing to control everything took control of these associations, too. Instead of controlling the power through the most active representatives of the society we have the opposite situation. Fortunately, the third sector is not only formalized NGOs but also such informal civil movements as ‘Ukraina bez kholopiv,’ students’ associations, etc. It is a new format, however, often our actions are more efficient than the ones by the NGOs that have been existing for many years. I am sure that the future belongs to this format because the inspection of the supermarkets is only the start…”
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TANGO PRESS CONFERENCE ON FORTHCOMING NGO WEEK
Speaking at the press conference held yesterday, 9 February 2012 at the TANGO head office in Fajara, on the state of purpose and state of readiness of the forthcoming ‘NGO Week’ to be commemorated by The Association of Non Governmental Association (TANGO), Mr. Yankuba Dibba, Chairperson of the organization, told journalists that the event is one of its kind in the 40 years existence of the apex body.
Mr. Dibba said this ‘NGO Week’ will bring out all the NGOs operating in the country to showcase the different products and services they offer. He described the role of the NGO’s in the development process of the country as necessary and crucial. He dismissed the notion held by some that the NGOs are opponents of government. He said NGOs are partners in national development.
The TANGO Chair noted that there are many NGOs in the country and that 70 organizations among them are members of his organisation. He noted the difference between NGOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs), describing the former as those which are registered and have met all the requirements to operate within the purview of the government body dealing with NGO affairs under the Office of the President.
Dilating on the organizational structure of TANGO, he said the organisation comprises a board with membership from both the government and private institutions. He said the event will hold an exhibition by the various NGO’s in the country including invited organizations from Senegal. He added that during this special week, issues like gender, poverty reduction, human rights, governance, climate change, policy dialogue etc will be key topics for discussion.
On the work of TANGO, Mr. Dibba said the function of the organisation is not to formulate policy but to help in the implementation of the already designed policies and to go out to meet and present them to donors.
He concluded by thanking the partners like EU, ACBF, CRS, Actionaid and ECO Bank among others for having been contributing immensely toward the implementation of their plans.
The vice chair Mis Jainaba Nyang Njie, on her part, reiterated the pivotal role being played by TANGO in terms of national development, adding that the crucial among these is the mobilization of resources. She said resource mobilisation is an integral part in any development project as there will be no proper implementation of any project without finance.
The Vice Chair of the NGO apex body reminded their members that TANGO is not a profit making institution, adding that all the resources they look for eventually come back to the people in the country.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Madi Ceesay, chairing the press conference said TANGO is constituted by two different types of organizations namely the local NGOs and the international NGOs. He said this NGO Week is dedicated to the local NGO’s which are affiliated to TANGO.
He said the purpose of the press conference is to share with the public information on the objectives TANGO and the NGO Week through the media. He said this public sensitization cannot be done without the full participation of the media.
Ousman Yarbo, the Executive Director of TANGO, elaborated on the non-profit nature of the apex body and the relation with government. He thanked ACBF for being one of the donors who always respond to their project proposals and helps in building their capacity. He said for them an event called the NGO Week is a very great achievement on their part. He described the event as historic and informed the gathering that the occasion will also be used to launch a Website of TANGO.
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Somalia, gender and changes to USAid
We ask for your questions on the future of Somalia; strong opinions voiced on empowering young women; and developing countries win bidding rights in US aid procurement
Earlier this month, the UN announced that the famine in Somalia was officially over, thanks to a good harvest, heavy rains and a swift response to the crisis from donors.
However, the UN also warned that more than 2 million people were still at risk of malnutrition and food insecurity and would need ongoing support to prevent a return to famine conditions.
Somalia's future is to be discussed at a high-level international conference in London next week, expected to be attended by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Civil society and diaspora groups have not been invited to the table, but local NGOs are due to hold their own event on Monday to discuss their country's future. Ahead of both events, we will be speaking to a panel of representatives from the Somali diaspora to gauge their views and ideas, and we'd like to hear from you. Post your questions on our talk point and we'll put some of them to the panel. We'll report back with their answers on the site next week.
Elsewhere on the site
We reported on the postponement of the UK government's election promise to enshrine in law the commitment to give 0.7% of national income in foreign aid.
Following news that the commodities trader Glencore received £50m from the World Food Programme from the sale of wheat, Felicity Lawrence discussed whether, in the absence of enough available local stock to fill the need, the WFP had much choice on where it sourced food.
Annie Kelly explored what the second decade holds for the Global Fund for Aids, TB and Malaria, suggesting that it needs to make changes to regain lost momentum.
Claire Provost reported on changes to the USAid procurement regulations, which mean firms in developing countries can now bid for contracts with the US international aid agency.
And Mark Tran reports on schemes to help poor communities in Bangladesh.
Community photo project
Got a development story to tell this year? Is something in your life, work or local neighbourhood expected to change over the coming months? We want you to get involved with our 2012 community photo project to document a slice of your life. More details are on our Talk point and Flickr group.
Coming up on the site
On Wednesday, we'll report on research by the NGO Save the Children on the long-term effects of hunger on young people. We also highlight the impact of malnutrition on children in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A month after Nigerians ended their protests against a 120% rise in the price of petrol, we speak to Lagos residents about the future of the country, and whether they feel confident president Goodluck Jonathan's government can deliver on development and good governance.
Mark Tran reports on climate adaptation in Bangladesh.
And look out for our next Global development podcast, which this month explores the progress and future of the fair trade movement.
Multimedia
In pictures: Cartoons that highlight justice and security
The London School of Economics is hosting an exhibition of cartoons that address issues of justice and security. The images are provided by the VJM's Cartoon Movement, a global collaborative platform for editorial cartoons and comics journalism.
In pictures: Solar power arrives in the Puno region of Peru
Euro-Solar, together with local partners, has installed solar panels in 600 villages in the eight poorest countries of Latin America, as part of a 36m euros ($47.6m) EU-funded project. The isolated village of Pasiri and the Uros people of Lake Titicaca, in southern Peru, are two of the communities to have benefited.
What you said: some of the best comments from our readers
Last week we published a blogpost that discussed whether encouraging young women to delay childbirth can improve their economic prospects. The post provoked some strong reactions. We will be coming back to the issues of gender and development over the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here is a selection of your comments from the post.
ameliesgnome wrote:
Its [sic] not just about reducing pregnancy rates. It's about how the society views women, and their place within it. Giving women back their reproductive systems is just one part of that.
BladeAbroad commented:
Isn't this whole "girl effect" being misread? Isn't it rather a reflection of the society in question and openness of mind and shared responsibility rather than simply a matter of "Here you go. Here's some money and change in regulations. Now go change society"? It's not just the lives of girls and women in some societies that you'd need to change but the minds of boys and men.
Chewtoy said:
Of course there's nothing wrong with campaigns to educate poor women, a worthy cause in and of itself. But if the "girl effect" is seen as a one-size-fits-all magic solution to poverty, ignoring the many differences between the various local conditions in developing countries (cultural, economic and otherwise) then I'm afraid it is destined to fail.
And Branfish added:
Good article, but I think you may have slightly missed the point. Yes, educating more girls has sometimes been sold as a means to delay parenthood, but I've more often heard it explained that it's because if you invest in girls' education, you're educating their (future) families, whereas if you invest in boys' education, you're only educating that boy.
Highlights from the blogosphere
The "results agenda" has been much discussed, but, as Owen Barder discovered, it can mean different things to different people. He dissects some of the debate.
The World Bank's Vijay Pillai looks at two signifcant reforms in Sierra Leone – in the energy and telecoms and ICT sectors – that have the potential to yield economic gains in the long term.
Following the opening of Somaliland's first central bank, Vijaya Ramachandran, from the Centre for Global Development, asks how international donors can further support business in the country, and what can be learned from how the bank does business.
And finally …
The Poverty matters newsletter will be back in two weeks with another round-up of the latest news and comment. In the meantime, keep up to date with the issues on the Global development website. Follow @gdndevelopment and the team – @ClaireProvost, @LizFordGuardian, @MarkTran and @JazCummins – on Twitter, and join Guardian Global development on Facebook.
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Egypt tells U.S. to stay out of domestic affairs
Editor’s Note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin, the premium online newsletter published by the founder of WND. Subscriptions are $99 a year or, for monthly trials, just $9.95 per month for credit card users, and provide instant access for the complete reports.
WASHINGTON – Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces wants to send a strong message to Washington not to interfere in its internal affairs and has taken to court 43 non-governmental organization workers, 16 of whom are Americans. One of the Americans is the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, according to a report inJoseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
As a result, the U.S. Congress is threatening to cut off some $1.5 billion in annual foreign assistance, with $1.3 billion of that amount going to the military. The SCAF’s action, analysts say, is designed to show the United States the limits in dictating how Egypt manages its transition to democracy.
In recent parliamentary elections, the Islamist groups Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists won a majority of the seats. Presidential elections are scheduled for June. The military believes the NGOs have been interfering in the Egyptian democratic process and has taken action against them, claiming they were not registered.
The military also was concerned, analysts say, that the NGOs had been talking about eliminating the military altogether from the leadership role in Egyptian politics, a role it has held for more than 60 years.
The Egyptian military especially sees Washington using its NGOs – the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute – as a means of destabilizing the Egyptian government. These NGOs regard themselves as promoting democracy and human rights.
Now, the Egyptian military needs to consider whether it can live without that $1.3 billion a year from the U.S. Along with it comes the other baggage of limits imposed on that aid and having to contend with the NGOs.
Analysts believe that because the majority of Egyptians oppose the relationship with Washington, the SCAF will have support if the current standoff results in a crisis in the strategic relationship which has been in existence since the 1978 Camp David Accords with Israel.
Some analysts believe the SCAF won’t push the current confrontation with Washington to the breaking point but could use its hardened position as a bargaining chip for further concessions in the future.
The Obama administration already has signaled that it opposes any such cutoff of aid or conditioning it on Egypt’s transition to democracy. Instead, it regards the strategic relationship with Egypt as more important.
Keep in touch with the most important breaking news stories about critical developments around the globe with Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence news source edited and published by the founder of WND.
For the complete report and full immediate access to Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin, subscribe now.
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Judge says NGOs were lawfully inspected, not 'raided'
CAIRO: Judge Sameh Abou Zeid, investigating the alleged illegal foreign funding of local and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), said Wednesday that inspecting their offices was legal according to the criminal procedural law.
"Labeling this inspection as a ‘raid’ is inaccurate since the law gives us the authority to order the prosecution to inspect the NGOs in question," Abou Zeid said in a press conference held at the Ministry of Justice, reiterating earlier statements by the Minister of International Cooperation and Planning.
Investigating judge Ashraf El-Ashmawy said the defendants were referred to court in line with Egypt’s penal code and not the controversial NGOs law, adding that the charges against the staff could lead to five-year prison sentences.
"These organizations conducted unlicensed and illegal activities without the knowledge of the Egyptian government,” El-Ashmawy said.
A total of 44 workers in five foreign NGOs, including 19 Americans, were referred to the Cairo Criminal Court for violating Egyptian law by receiving illegal foreign funding.
The US defendants include Sam LaHood, the son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Also facing charges are five Serbs, two Germans, two Lebanese, one Jordanian and one Palestinian, in addition to 14 Egyptians, all of whom have either been banned from travel or have been placed on inbound watch-lists if they are outside the country.
US ambassador Anne W. Patterson urged authorities to lift the travel ban.
"This is illegal and Patterson violated Egyptian laws that stipulate that ambassadors of foreign countries should not directly address the judiciary, and because she is not one of the parties involved in the case," Abou Zeid said, adding that the matter was referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act accordingly.
Abou Zeid said investigators were astonished with the interference of the American ambassador, which politicized the probe.
"We are not involved in politics, but if we have to be involved we will act according to the law," he said.
The move triggered the anger of US lawmakers who are currently pressuring for halting US military aid to Egypt, saying it is conditional upon the country’s commitment to democracy and preserving freedoms.
Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Aboul Naga said in another press conference Wednesday that Egypt has strong strategic relations with the US, which will not be affected by such disagreements.
Prosecution and army forces raided in December a group of foreign and local NGOs, confiscated equipment and documents and closed down some of the offices under allegations of receiving illegal foreign funding.
Abou Zeid said that the Ministry of Justice ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to start investigating the case in July, which then recommended appointing two judges to continue the investigation.
The judges, according to Abou Zeid, began the investigation in September and issued a warrant to inspect the offices of local and foreign NGOs.
"We discovered that five foreign NGOs received secret money transactions from abroad under the names of workers inside these NGOs not through official bank accounts [under the name of the NGOs]. Transactions were in the millions of pounds," he said.
"Workers inside these NGOs deliberately had tourist visas, not work visas, and did not pay taxes," Abou Zeid continued. He said 67 items were confiscated during the raid, including documents that “prove foreign funding.”
The case file also includes “reports by state experts” evaluating the confiscated items.
"One piece of evidence we found was a map showing Egypt divided into four parts: Upper Egypt, the Delta, Greater Cairo and the Canal provinces," Abou Zeid said.
While he didn’t explain the significance of such maps in proving the case, the accusation reflects claims made by some TV personnel and officials that there is a foreign plot to divide Egypt.
Abou Zeid said the five NGOs are not involved in civil services, but their work extends to politics, which took a different direction after the Jan. 25 uprising.
"Many eyewitnesses who used to work for these NGOs testified that they quit once they doubted the nature of the work of these foreign organizations," Abou Zeid claimed.
"They told us surveys were conducted across the country by these NGOs asking Egyptians about their religious beliefs and their dress codes," he added. Egyptians have to state their religious affiliation on ID cards.
"The results of these surveys are never published in Egypt, but are secretly reported to their mother organizations in the US," the judge said.
“Homeland Security and National Security” refused to give licenses to these organizations before the revolution but they continued to operate illegally, he added.
"This part of the probe is only related to the foreign NGOs, while the remaining local NGOs are [also] under investigation, including religious organizations that receive illegal funding from Arab countries," investigating judge El-Ashmawy said.
He added that the other stages of the investigation will be made public once they are finished to ensure maximum transparency.
The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) criticized earlier in a statement the campaign against NGOs, labeling it a plot by the ruling military junta to tarnish the reputation of rights organizations that have worked to expose violations by the military since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
"[The campaign casts] doubt over the real role played by these organizations and defames them, using one of the most prominent figures of the Mubarak regime, Fayza Aboul Naga, who found in this campaign an opportunity for vengeance [targeting] the human rights institutions that contributed to toppling the regime to which she belongs, ," the statement said.
ANHRI claimed it was also personal vengeance since rights groups exposed the rigging of elections in 2010, through which Aboul Naga had won a seat in parliament. Both houses of parliament were dissolved following the Jan. 25 uprising.
"ANHRI believes that the practices of US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson have paved the way for and fueled the campaign led by Aboul Naga against civil society. The ambassador breached rules of transparency and credibility by refusing to announce the names of the institutions that received millions of dollars from the US during the year 2011, despite the many requests submitted to her to announce these names," ANHRI said.
"The ambassador knows very well that several civil society institutions in Egypt, especially the serious human rights ones, refuse to deal with her as a representative of a government known for its repetitive human rights violations and lack of credibility for its double standards … which is the US government."
CAIRO — An Egyptian minister seen as the driving force behind impending trials of democracy activists, including 19 Americans, told investigators that Washington funded their groups to create a state of prolonged chaos in Egypt, official media reported Monday.
International cooperation minister Fayza Abul Naga, believed to be the instigator of a judicial probe into foreign-funded civil society groups, made the accusation in testimony to the investigating judges in October.
Abul Naga, one of the few remaining ministers from president Hosni Mubarak's era, added that the United States and Israel wanted to hijack Egypt's uprising that toppled Mubarak a year ago to serve the interests of Washington and the Jewish state.
"The United States and Israel could not create a state of chaos and work to maintain it in Egypt directly, so they used direct funding to organisations, especially American, as a means of implementing these goals," the official MENA news agency quoted her as saying, in the first public disclosure of the claims.
The impending trials of 44 activists, including 19 Americans, have deepened a rift between the traditional allies, with the State Department hinting that the crackdown could jeopardise American aid to Egypt.
Abul Naga said "the January 25 uprising came as a surprise to the United States, and it slipped from its control when it transformed into a people's revolution."
"That was when the United States decided to use all its resources and instruments to contain the situation and push it in a direction that promotes American and also Israeli interests," the agency quoted her as saying.
MENA reported that a judicial investigation into the funding of several civil society groups found that the United States had diverted aid promised for infrastructure to the NGOs.
Cairo prosecutors backed by police in December stormed the offices of the US-funded International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute and Freedom House as part of a probe into the NGO's alleged illegal foreign funding.
They were among 17 offices of local and international NGOs raided.
The crackdown was part of a wider campaign by Egypt's military rulers to silence dissent after months of criticism of its human rights record, analysts said.
The ruling generals, who took charge of the country after an uprising forced president Hosni Mubarak to resign a year ago, traditionally had close ties with the United States, the Egyptian military's most generous foreign benefactor.
The aid workers are accused of "setting up branches of international organisations in Egypt without a license from the Egyptian government" and of "receiving illegal foreign funding."
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Egypt state press escalates dispute over US NGOs
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian state-run newspapers escalated a dispute with the United States over an inquiry into civil society groups on Tuesday by splashing across their front pages accusations of an American plan to spread "anarchy" in the Arab country.
Based on remarks by a government minister, the headlines marked another low in a crisis between Washington and Cairo triggered by the investigation into U.S.-based non-governmental organisations that has resulted in criminal charges against Americans who have been banned from leaving the country.
"America is behind the anarchy," declared the front page of Al Gomhuria newspaper. "American funding aims to spread anarchy in Egypt," read the front page of Al Ahram newspaper. The papers are two of Egypt's most widely-distributed dailies.
The headlines were based on comments made in October to the investigating judges by Minister of International Cooperation Faiza Abul Naga - but which only came to light on Monday when they were released to the state news agency MENA.
In her remarks, Abul Naga linked what she said was a surge in U.S. funding for civil society groups last year to an attempt to steer the course of the post-Hosni Mubarak transition in "a direction that realised American and Israeli interests".
"All the indications show that there was a clear desire to abort any chance for Egypt to emerge as a modern democratic state with a strong economy," she was quoted as saying, adding that such a prospect would be a threat to "American and Israeli interests".
The timing of the statement's release is as telling as their contents, analysts said, coming just days after Egypt's military ruler appeared to signal an effort to contain tensions that now threaten $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Cairo.
"It looks like an escalation, but I don't know if it is intended or it reflects a state of confusion in the conduct of domestic and foreign policies in Egypt," said Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid, a political analyst.
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FY2013 Budget Request is Mixed Bag For World's Poor, Say Leading NGOs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Obama administration's FY2013 budget request is a mixed bag for the world's poor, with continued investment in international assistance overall but targeted cuts in areas such as global health and humanitarian assistance, said leading NGO alliance InterAction.
"Foreign assistance already amounts to less than 1 percent of the federal budget. We understand that this is a difficult fiscal climate, but any further trimming of these core accounts is counter-productive and impedes our efforts to build more self-sufficient populations," said Samuel A. Worthington, president and CEO of InterAction.
"We hope Congress will continue to support direct investments in innovative programs like new life-saving vaccines or teaching agriculture practices, which help people in less-developed countries feed themselves. These are key components of a strategy to make the delivery of aid more effective, transparent and accountable," said Worthington.
Overall, the international affairs budget request increased by 2 percent ($1.3 billion) to $56.2 billion from FY2012 levels, but several accounts that target global poverty were trimmed back. This included funding for global health projects, which are down 4 percent ($314 million) to $7.85 billion, and funds for migration and refugee assistance cut back by 13 percent from $1.88 billion to $1.63 billion.
Other cuts include:
* International Disaster Assistance is down 2 percent from $975 million to $960 million.
* Food for Peace grants are down 5 percent from $1.466 billion in FY2012 to $1.4 billion in FY2013.
On the plus side:
* The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria commitment is kept with a $1.65 billion request.
* The World Bank's International Development Association gets a $33.5 million increase (3 percent) to $1.36 billion; and a number of the multilateral development funds, the debt restructuring fund, and the GEF get increases of varying sizes.
For InterAction's federal budget table, please go to http://www.interaction.org/document/interaction-federal-budget-table-fy2013-budget-request.
InterAction is an alliance of nearly 200 U.S.-based international NGOs that offer humanitarian and development assistance. Our members operate in most developing countries, working alongside local communities to overcome poverty.
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THE DEBATE ON THE FUTURE OF NGOS Service providers or advocators for development
Dr. Kujejatou Manneh, Country Director of Action Aid International The Gambia (AAITG), said Government and Non Governmental Organizations {NGOs} need each other and as such are bound to work together.
Dr. Manneh made this remark at the opening of the NGO Week 2012 on Saturday 11th February at The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations {TANGO} office in Fajara.
The AAITG Director recalled that about three years ago they were talking of eight hundred people going hungry globally, but instead of the number dropping today it has risen to 1 billion people. She said this has happened despite all efforts and resources injected into development interventions. She added that they need to thoroughly review and interrogate their approaches and intervention strategies with a view to finding out what has gone wrong or where they have gone wrong.
“Gambia is a very small country with very cohesive people. Thus with dedication, commitment and collaboration, we can set up our country as the pilot of success in eradicating poverty,” said Dr. Manneh.
She revealed that in their advocacy and lobbying strategies, they have engaged all sectors of society on issues aimed at expanding opportunities for people to earn better lives. She said in the course of its development work, AAITG came to realize that poverty and hunger cannot be eradicated through service delivery alone and that they have learnt that the fight against poverty is more than merely providing services and goods.
“We have also responded to various disasters such as foods, fire and locust outbreaks in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency {NDMA} and other stakeholders,” she said.
People, Director of AAITG said, need to recognize that development is a fundamental right and are a critical step in empowering communities and individuals to acquire their voices and demand their rights. She added that in the right to development campaign, it is not only for communities to identify on their own what their needs and rights are, but are also empowered to hold duty bearers accountable and ensure that development processes are accountable, transparent, and relevant to the needs of the people.
The Director of TANGO, Mr. Ousman Yarbo said the primary obligation of TANGO is to promote and enhance NGO capacities and operations to be able to effectively deliver development goods and services for Gambian communities. He added that his organization seeks to build the capacities of state institutions and officials in order to further enhance national development processes through effective and results based monitoring and evaluation and right based approaches.
The TANGO Director highlighted the objectivesof the NGO week include as
raising their profile and celebrating their successes by showing appreciation and recognition of the role and contribution of its NGO members in the socio-economic and political development of The Gambia as well as to foster interactions and information sharing among Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to add value to partnership and collaboration, to name a few.
Mr. Yarbo concluded by congratulating the membership of TANGO, their partners and donors for supporting them in their celebrations.
Deputizing the President of the Republic of The Gambia, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Fatim Badjie said they recognize ultimately that the development of the Gambia rests with the government. The president’s statement added that however it is also the fact that no government can carry out the development of a nation on its shoulders alone. It stated that this is precisely why the role and contribution of individuals, communities and groups especially professionals and technically competent development organizations like NGOs are extremely crucial.
“My government is always willing to work in partnership with NGOs for the development of this country,” said the president.
The statement further highlighted that it is in recognition of this fact that the Government shall always appreciate and recognize the contributions that NGOs play in the development of the country in complementing Government efforts in its development agenda.
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US seeks 'clarification' on Egypt activist trials
WASHINGTON — The United States demanded "clarification" Sunday over Cairo's apparent plans to put dozens of pro-democracy activists, including 19 Americans, on trial over charges of illegal funding of aid groups.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Washington was "deeply concerned" over the developments, which threatened to further strain ties with Egypt's post-Arab Spring military rulers.
A top official at Freedom House, one of the groups targeted, called Egypt's handling of the matter "a disaster."
A judicial source in Cairo told AFP 44 people, including Egyptians, would be tried over alleged illegal funding of aid groups, a day after the United States said it would review aid to Egypt, $1.3 billion last year, over the crackdown.
"We have seen media reports that judicial officials in Egypt intend to forward a number of cases involving US-funded NGOs to the Cairo criminal court," Nuland told reporters traveling with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"We are deeply concerned by these reports and are seeking clarification from the government of Egypt."
The offices of Freedom House and the International Republican Institute were among 17 local and international NGOs raided in December by Egyptian authorities as part of a probe into alleged illegal funding.
The aid workers are accused of "setting up branches of international organizations in Egypt without a license from the Egyptian government" and of "receiving illegal foreign funding."
A travel ban on all the NGO workers who were detained remains in place.
The decision to try the foreign workers comes as Egypt remains beset by unrest sparked by the perceived failure of its military rulers and police to prevent football-linked violence following a match in the northern city of Port Said on Wednesday that left 74 people dead.
The decision to forward the NGO workers' cases for trial drew condemnation from US groups with staff in Egypt and from Germany's government.
"The Egyptian military's handling of this issue has been a disaster," said Charles Dunne, director for Middle East and North Africa programs for Freedom House.
"This represents another escalation by the Egyptian government in its war on civil society -- and it's not just the US organizations, it's the Egyptian organizations," he told AFP.
"I find it astounding that they would do this while you still have a delegation of Egyptian general officers here in the United States to talk to the Congress and the administration about continued US military funding."
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle slammed Egypt's decision.
"It is unacceptable to harm organizations that have a real international mission which they take on seriously," he told ARD television, according to an early release transcript.
"We shall act, in the framework of our foreign policy towards Egypt, in such a way as to ensure that political organizations that have a worldwide reputation are allowed to continue working as they have done."
Egypt's ruling military council, which took power after an uprising toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak last spring, has accused foreign groups of funding street protests against them.
The move will further strain US-Egypt ties after last year's raid during which Cairo prosecutors confiscated computers and paperwork from NGO offices.
Egypt then barred some US members of the NGOs from leaving the country and American officials said "a handful" took refuge inside the US embassy.
On Saturday, Clinton warned that Washington's aid to Egypt would be reviewed, highlighting the continued deadlock over Cairo's crackdown.
In a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Clinton said she "had a chance to once again express our deep concerns with what is happening to our NGOs."
"We do not believe there is any basis for these investigations, these raids... the seizure of their equipment and certainly no basis for prohibiting the exit from the country by" NGO members," Clinton said.
"We have worked very hard the last year to put into place financial assistance and other support for the economic and political reforms that are occurring in Egypt.
"And we will have to closely review these matters as it comes time for us to certify whether or not any of these funds from our government can be made available under these circumstances," Clinton added.
Senior Egyptian military officers visited the United States last week in a bid to defuse the row.
Among those barred from leaving the country is the Egypt director of IRI, Sam LaHood, the son of US Secretary for Transportation Ray LaHood.
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First official US visit discusses NGO case in Cairo
The top US military officer met Egypt's ruling generals in Cairo on Saturday and discussed the case of US pro-democracy activists charged in an investigation that has strained ties between Cairo and Washington.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the first senior US official to visit Cairo since the charges were brought against 43 foreign and Egyptian activists following a probe into civil society groups.
Around 20 of those charged are Americans. They have been banned from leaving the country and include Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) who is the son of the US transportation secretary. An undisclosed number have taken shelter at the US embassy.
The case has put a deep strain on relations with Washington, which counted Egypt as a close strategic ally under ousted President Hosni Mubarak and supplies Cairo with an annual $1.3 billion in military aid. Both the US Congress and the White House have said the investigation could threaten the aid.
The investigators have brought charges including that the activists were working for organisations not legally registered in Egypt. The Egyptian government says the issue is a case of law, not politics.
Dempsey met Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and chief of staff General Sami Anan during meetings at the defence ministry in Cairo.
“They discussed a wide range of issues related to the long-standing security relationship between our two countries, including the issue involving US NGOs,” Colonel David Lapan, a spokesman for Dempsey, told Reuters in a statement.
“We will not, however, further describe the contents and nature of their private discussions,” he added.
In signs the dispute could worsen, however, Egyptian authorities detained an Australian journalist and an American student on Saturday on suspicion they had distributed cash to workers and incited them to take part in a strike called by activists demanding an end to army rule.
State news agency MENA said the pair were detained along with their Egyptian translator in the industrial city of al-Mahalla al-Kubra north of Cairo.
They were referred to the prosecutor general for investigation, the agency said, identifying the American student as Derek Ludovici and the Australian journalist as Austin Mackell.
CONGRESS DELEGATION TO VISIT
An Egyptian army official said that in the talks with the United States, the sides had “stressed the importance of the two countries’ commitment to international conventions and treaties and emphasised the depth of the strategic relations between the US and Egypt”.
Dempsey had stressed America’s “keenness to follow up on the process of democratization in Egypt and the efforts of the armed forces to transfer power to civilian rule,” the official said.
The military council which assumed power from Mubarak on Feb. 11, 2011 has pledged to hand over to an elected president at the end of June, completing a transfer to civilians.
The Egyptian official said a delegation from Congress will be visiting Cairo to continue discussions over aid. For US aid to continue, the Obama administration must certify to Congress that Egypt is making progress toward democracy.
It was Dempsey’s first visit to Egypt as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a post he took in October.
In Congress, some lawmakers and their aides have said US aid to Egypt had effectively stopped pending resolution of the crisis.
The US delegation was also due to meet Egypt’s intelligence officials on Saturday, the official added, saying that both Tantawi and Anan would meet with the head of US Central Command, General James Mattis on Monday.
Following the meeting of the generals, Egypt’s government issued a statement saying it was reviewing the 2002 law regulating the work of non-governmental organisations in Egypt.
Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Faiza Abul Naga said on Saturday the review would aim to “resolve any legal gaps in the law”.
US military aid to Egypt accounts for about 25 percent of Egypt’s defence spending per year. The defence budget was $4.56 billion in 2010 – the third-largest in the Middle East after Israel and Saudi Arabia – according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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NGO worker cases sent to Egypt court in funding row
The cases of 40 foreign and Egyptian activists, including 19 Americans subject to travel bans over their work for pro-democracy and other groups, have been referred to court, judicial sources said Sunday, deepening a row with the United States.
Washington, which provides $1.3 billion in military aid annually to Egypt, has strongly criticized the crackdown on the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which has taken place under the army-backed government. An unspecified number of U.S. citizens involved have sheltered in the U.S. embassy.
The latest step in the judicial process will further strain ties with the United States, which counted Egypt under ousted President Hosni Mubarak as a vital regional ally and lynchpin in its Middle East policy.
"We are deeply concerned by these reports and are seeking clarification from the Egyptian government," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
Egyptian officials say the crackdown is part of an investigation into foreign funding of NGOs. For the authorities, it is a matter of law; the non-governmental organizations broke it by receiving foreign funding without government approval.
Activists say the ruling military may be using the issue to whip up nationalist sentiment and distract attention from criticism the army is facing from protesters over its handling of the transition to civilian rule.
"The cases of 40 foreign and Egyptian suspects have been transferred to the Cairo criminal court related to foreign funding," a judicial source told Reuters. State news agency MENA also carried the report.
Even before the move to refer the NGO cases to court, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had warned that relations could be harmed if Egypt did not resolve the issue.
"We are very clear that there are problems that arise from this situation that can impact all the rest of our relationship with Egypt. We do not want that," Clinton told reporters in Munich where she met Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr on the sidelines of an international security conference.
Several U.S. citizens and others involved in the probe have been barred from leaving Egypt. They include Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) who is the son of the U.S. transportation secretary.
"The continued assault on American, German and Egyptian civil society is not a 'legitimate judicial process,' the IRI said in a statement. "It is a politically motivated effort to squash Egypt's growing civil society, orchestrated through the courts, in part by Mubarak-era hold overs."
U.S. officials said soon after the row erupted in late December that they had received assurances from the Egyptian leadership that the issue would be resolved. That followed talks with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi who heads the military council and others. Instead, the row has deepened.
FOREIGN FUNDING
Civil society groups say the ruling military council ordered the raids to harass activists who were at the forefront of the anti-Mubarak revolt and have been pressing for the army to swiftly hand power to civilians.
The NGO activists include 19 Americans alongside others who are Serbian, Norwegian, Lebanese as well as Egyptian, according to a statement issued by judges overseeing the probe and seen by Reuters. One judge involved said the list included LaHood.
The charge listed in the statement was "running organizations without getting the required licences." One of the judges running the probe said that investigations were continuing with Egyptians in other similar cases.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr told Clinton during his meeting with her that all groups, regardless of country of origin, had to abide by Egypt's laws on registering, the ministry's spokesman Amr Rushdy said in a statement.
NGOs say that the authorities have failed to respond to past requests to register and insist they have worked in full view of and in contact with the Egyptian authorities for years.
The National Democratic Institute, one of the U.S.-funded groups whose staff are facing travel bans, said it began work in 2005 and sought to register the same year but after responding to some official queries after that no progress was made.
However, the group says it has operated openly since then, engaging with officials regularly.
President Barack Obama's administration is finalizing its budget for the 2013 fiscal year, which will be presented on February 13 and is expected to include continued assistance for Egypt's military, albeit subject to new conditions imposed by U.S. lawmakers.
Those include evidence that Egyptian military authorities are committed to holding free and fair elections and protecting freedom of expression, association, and religion.
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“Ukraina bez kholopiv”
Donetsk tends to support the rights of social classes and groups. Last autumn we permanently heard the news from the Chornobyl disaster fighters’ camp. Now the social movement “Ukraina bez kholopiv” that actively protects the consumers is in the center of attention.
Donbas is one of the regions whose image for the rest of the country is distorted most because of the stereotypes. It is the result of the communication breakdown within the country. However, lately the Donetsk region tends to open itself from an unexpected side. This regional identity deserves attention.
The Day discussed the social process in the region with the activist and founder of the movement “Ukraina bez kholopiv,” journalist and blogger Pavlo KOLESNYK and the student of the Donetsk National University, journalist Pavlo OSTROVSKY.
Pavlo KOLESNYK: “ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A LAWYER TO KNOW THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNTRY”
What is “Ukraina bez kholopiv”? Is it an implication? What do you call the people upon with your activity?
“We are organized as a social network: people can get together, exchange information and fix meetings. Anyone can participate. Today these are journalists, bloggers and lawyers. After the inspections they place photos, videos, and texts at their pages in the social networks and blogs. I invented the name “Ukraina bez kholopiv.” Every activist has their own vision of the developments: some think that if we change the president, we will change the country, adopt new laws, join the EU or cooperate with Russia. I think that the country will change only after people stop being ‘kholops’ and when every citizen starts defending their rights in all spheres of life, starting with the supermarkets and finishing with elections rigging. Even if an honest and fair president comes to power, he or she will not be able to change anything until people get more responsible. There was a project ‘Ukraina bez Kuchmy’ [Ukraine without Kuchma. – Ed.] and we invented our variant ‘Ukraina bez kholopiv,’ meaning Ukraine of conscious, free, and peaceful people.”
What can make people get together in Donetsk now?
“They can get together to protect their rights and interests. We do not fight for any lofty ideas, we work on practical things. One can fight for trivial things: make supermarkets stop selling expired foods or make minibuses stop raising fare without any reason. The society can be changed if people realize that their rights protection is their own task.”
Are the locals ready to be active?
“I think they are. Many people are dissatisfied with something and would like to change it. They just lack special knowledge and support from the others. A lot of people think: even if I try to do something my actions will not influence the situation in general, it is just a drop in the bucket. In reality it is not true. About five people inspected supermarkets in Donetsk. The essential is determination, desire to resist fixed but negative occurrences and knowledge.”
Does it mean that one has to be judicially aware to defend one’s rights?
“Judicial knowledge plays a big role, but it is not the essential. Besides, all the legislative acts are accessible on the Internet. In the supermarkets case we use only one article of the Ukrainian Constitution reading that the information about food cannot be hidden. One does not have to be a lawyer to know the constitution of the country.”
Your activity breaks certain stereotypes about Donbas the region should thank our political elite for. Are the locals changing their attitude towards themselves?
“Actually, local people have always been active. Suffice it to recall the project ‘Dorozhny kontrol’ [Road Control. – Ed.] aimed at detecting inefficient work of the road police officers, it was actively realized in Donetsk. We have journalists and public figures that resist something, fight for something and get some result. As for the political elite that became nationwide long ago, they are very far from the people and the inhabitants of Donbas are not an exception. Yes, they were born here, they rule our country now. However, here people know theirs better from the negative side than in other regions. Of course, people do not agree with what is going on.”
The Leninsky District Public Prosecutor’s Office has brought an action because of the conflict that happened on January 23 in the supermarket “Sokil.” How is this situation developing now?
“The public prosecutor’s office brought an action only because of bodily harms. As for the journalists of Ukrainsky Tyzhden magazine who were snatched their equipment and could not work, the action has not been brought yet. They tried to snatch my phone out of my hands twice. Besides, I was threatened with a murder. All of this comes within the criminal code but the actions have not been brought yet.”
What is the role of the Internet and social networks in the social processes in the Donetsk region today?
“The Internet is both a negative and positive phenomenon. It is negative since it is difficult to make difference between the virtual and real life. On the other hand, there is freedom of speech here; there are people who are not afraid of voicing their ideas. They make public opinion on the Internet. However, I hope that this conscious and active group of people will go beyond the limits of the Internet. Probably, then the question who we should support at the elections will be resolved in a different way...”
Pavlo OSTROVSKY: “THE CIVIC SOCIETY OF THE DONETSK REGION IS WAKING UP”
The movement “Ukraina bez kholopiv” was actively supported by the inhabitants of Donetsk. Do you think it proves civic activity of the people living in Donetsk and in the region?
“The civic society of the Donetsk region is waking up little by little. Certainly, it is a slow process but the developments of the recent months prove that it is consistent. The protests of the Chornobyl disaster fighters, retirees, students, entrepreneurs, average people against dubious constructions… The fact that these processes activated during Viktor Yanukovych’s presidential term is not a coincidence but natural reaction to the actions of the socially irresponsible authorities. It is strange but the fact that someone from our region is at the power now consolidates the people and make them protect their rights.”
What is the role of the third sector in shaping the social processes? Who is this third sector in Donetsk today?
“Last year the NGOs were offered to become a separate center of influence. I am speaking about the socalled ‘social councils.’ However, the power willing to control everything took control of these associations, too. Instead of controlling the power through the most active representatives of the society we have the opposite situation. Fortunately, the third sector is not only formalized NGOs but also such informal civil movements as ‘Ukraina bez kholopiv,’ students’ associations, etc. It is a new format, however, often our actions are more efficient than the ones by the NGOs that have been existing for many years. I am sure that the future belongs to this format because the inspection of the supermarkets is only the start…”
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TANGO PRESS CONFERENCE ON FORTHCOMING NGO WEEK
Speaking at the press conference held yesterday, 9 February 2012 at the TANGO head office in Fajara, on the state of purpose and state of readiness of the forthcoming ‘NGO Week’ to be commemorated by The Association of Non Governmental Association (TANGO), Mr. Yankuba Dibba, Chairperson of the organization, told journalists that the event is one of its kind in the 40 years existence of the apex body.
Mr. Dibba said this ‘NGO Week’ will bring out all the NGOs operating in the country to showcase the different products and services they offer. He described the role of the NGO’s in the development process of the country as necessary and crucial. He dismissed the notion held by some that the NGOs are opponents of government. He said NGOs are partners in national development.
The TANGO Chair noted that there are many NGOs in the country and that 70 organizations among them are members of his organisation. He noted the difference between NGOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs), describing the former as those which are registered and have met all the requirements to operate within the purview of the government body dealing with NGO affairs under the Office of the President.
Dilating on the organizational structure of TANGO, he said the organisation comprises a board with membership from both the government and private institutions. He said the event will hold an exhibition by the various NGO’s in the country including invited organizations from Senegal. He added that during this special week, issues like gender, poverty reduction, human rights, governance, climate change, policy dialogue etc will be key topics for discussion.
On the work of TANGO, Mr. Dibba said the function of the organisation is not to formulate policy but to help in the implementation of the already designed policies and to go out to meet and present them to donors.
He concluded by thanking the partners like EU, ACBF, CRS, Actionaid and ECO Bank among others for having been contributing immensely toward the implementation of their plans.
The vice chair Mis Jainaba Nyang Njie, on her part, reiterated the pivotal role being played by TANGO in terms of national development, adding that the crucial among these is the mobilization of resources. She said resource mobilisation is an integral part in any development project as there will be no proper implementation of any project without finance.
The Vice Chair of the NGO apex body reminded their members that TANGO is not a profit making institution, adding that all the resources they look for eventually come back to the people in the country.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Madi Ceesay, chairing the press conference said TANGO is constituted by two different types of organizations namely the local NGOs and the international NGOs. He said this NGO Week is dedicated to the local NGO’s which are affiliated to TANGO.
He said the purpose of the press conference is to share with the public information on the objectives TANGO and the NGO Week through the media. He said this public sensitization cannot be done without the full participation of the media.
Ousman Yarbo, the Executive Director of TANGO, elaborated on the non-profit nature of the apex body and the relation with government. He thanked ACBF for being one of the donors who always respond to their project proposals and helps in building their capacity. He said for them an event called the NGO Week is a very great achievement on their part. He described the event as historic and informed the gathering that the occasion will also be used to launch a Website of TANGO.
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Somalia, gender and changes to USAid
We ask for your questions on the future of Somalia; strong opinions voiced on empowering young women; and developing countries win bidding rights in US aid procurement
Earlier this month, the UN announced that the famine in Somalia was officially over, thanks to a good harvest, heavy rains and a swift response to the crisis from donors.
However, the UN also warned that more than 2 million people were still at risk of malnutrition and food insecurity and would need ongoing support to prevent a return to famine conditions.
Somalia's future is to be discussed at a high-level international conference in London next week, expected to be attended by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Civil society and diaspora groups have not been invited to the table, but local NGOs are due to hold their own event on Monday to discuss their country's future. Ahead of both events, we will be speaking to a panel of representatives from the Somali diaspora to gauge their views and ideas, and we'd like to hear from you. Post your questions on our talk point and we'll put some of them to the panel. We'll report back with their answers on the site next week.
Elsewhere on the site
We reported on the postponement of the UK government's election promise to enshrine in law the commitment to give 0.7% of national income in foreign aid.
Following news that the commodities trader Glencore received £50m from the World Food Programme from the sale of wheat, Felicity Lawrence discussed whether, in the absence of enough available local stock to fill the need, the WFP had much choice on where it sourced food.
Annie Kelly explored what the second decade holds for the Global Fund for Aids, TB and Malaria, suggesting that it needs to make changes to regain lost momentum.
Claire Provost reported on changes to the USAid procurement regulations, which mean firms in developing countries can now bid for contracts with the US international aid agency.
And Mark Tran reports on schemes to help poor communities in Bangladesh.
Community photo project
Got a development story to tell this year? Is something in your life, work or local neighbourhood expected to change over the coming months? We want you to get involved with our 2012 community photo project to document a slice of your life. More details are on our Talk point and Flickr group.
Coming up on the site
On Wednesday, we'll report on research by the NGO Save the Children on the long-term effects of hunger on young people. We also highlight the impact of malnutrition on children in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A month after Nigerians ended their protests against a 120% rise in the price of petrol, we speak to Lagos residents about the future of the country, and whether they feel confident president Goodluck Jonathan's government can deliver on development and good governance.
Mark Tran reports on climate adaptation in Bangladesh.
And look out for our next Global development podcast, which this month explores the progress and future of the fair trade movement.
Multimedia
In pictures: Cartoons that highlight justice and security
The London School of Economics is hosting an exhibition of cartoons that address issues of justice and security. The images are provided by the VJM's Cartoon Movement, a global collaborative platform for editorial cartoons and comics journalism.
In pictures: Solar power arrives in the Puno region of Peru
Euro-Solar, together with local partners, has installed solar panels in 600 villages in the eight poorest countries of Latin America, as part of a 36m euros ($47.6m) EU-funded project. The isolated village of Pasiri and the Uros people of Lake Titicaca, in southern Peru, are two of the communities to have benefited.
What you said: some of the best comments from our readers
Last week we published a blogpost that discussed whether encouraging young women to delay childbirth can improve their economic prospects. The post provoked some strong reactions. We will be coming back to the issues of gender and development over the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here is a selection of your comments from the post.
ameliesgnome wrote:
Its [sic] not just about reducing pregnancy rates. It's about how the society views women, and their place within it. Giving women back their reproductive systems is just one part of that.
BladeAbroad commented:
Isn't this whole "girl effect" being misread? Isn't it rather a reflection of the society in question and openness of mind and shared responsibility rather than simply a matter of "Here you go. Here's some money and change in regulations. Now go change society"? It's not just the lives of girls and women in some societies that you'd need to change but the minds of boys and men.
Chewtoy said:
Of course there's nothing wrong with campaigns to educate poor women, a worthy cause in and of itself. But if the "girl effect" is seen as a one-size-fits-all magic solution to poverty, ignoring the many differences between the various local conditions in developing countries (cultural, economic and otherwise) then I'm afraid it is destined to fail.
And Branfish added:
Good article, but I think you may have slightly missed the point. Yes, educating more girls has sometimes been sold as a means to delay parenthood, but I've more often heard it explained that it's because if you invest in girls' education, you're educating their (future) families, whereas if you invest in boys' education, you're only educating that boy.
Highlights from the blogosphere
The "results agenda" has been much discussed, but, as Owen Barder discovered, it can mean different things to different people. He dissects some of the debate.
The World Bank's Vijay Pillai looks at two signifcant reforms in Sierra Leone – in the energy and telecoms and ICT sectors – that have the potential to yield economic gains in the long term.
Following the opening of Somaliland's first central bank, Vijaya Ramachandran, from the Centre for Global Development, asks how international donors can further support business in the country, and what can be learned from how the bank does business.
And finally …
The Poverty matters newsletter will be back in two weeks with another round-up of the latest news and comment. In the meantime, keep up to date with the issues on the Global development website. Follow @gdndevelopment and the team – @ClaireProvost, @LizFordGuardian, @MarkTran and @JazCummins – on Twitter, and join Guardian Global development on Facebook.
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Egypt tells U.S. to stay out of domestic affairs
Editor’s Note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin, the premium online newsletter published by the founder of WND. Subscriptions are $99 a year or, for monthly trials, just $9.95 per month for credit card users, and provide instant access for the complete reports.
WASHINGTON – Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces wants to send a strong message to Washington not to interfere in its internal affairs and has taken to court 43 non-governmental organization workers, 16 of whom are Americans. One of the Americans is the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, according to a report inJoseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
As a result, the U.S. Congress is threatening to cut off some $1.5 billion in annual foreign assistance, with $1.3 billion of that amount going to the military. The SCAF’s action, analysts say, is designed to show the United States the limits in dictating how Egypt manages its transition to democracy.
In recent parliamentary elections, the Islamist groups Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists won a majority of the seats. Presidential elections are scheduled for June. The military believes the NGOs have been interfering in the Egyptian democratic process and has taken action against them, claiming they were not registered.
The military also was concerned, analysts say, that the NGOs had been talking about eliminating the military altogether from the leadership role in Egyptian politics, a role it has held for more than 60 years.
The Egyptian military especially sees Washington using its NGOs – the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute – as a means of destabilizing the Egyptian government. These NGOs regard themselves as promoting democracy and human rights.
Now, the Egyptian military needs to consider whether it can live without that $1.3 billion a year from the U.S. Along with it comes the other baggage of limits imposed on that aid and having to contend with the NGOs.
Analysts believe that because the majority of Egyptians oppose the relationship with Washington, the SCAF will have support if the current standoff results in a crisis in the strategic relationship which has been in existence since the 1978 Camp David Accords with Israel.
Some analysts believe the SCAF won’t push the current confrontation with Washington to the breaking point but could use its hardened position as a bargaining chip for further concessions in the future.
The Obama administration already has signaled that it opposes any such cutoff of aid or conditioning it on Egypt’s transition to democracy. Instead, it regards the strategic relationship with Egypt as more important.
Keep in touch with the most important breaking news stories about critical developments around the globe with Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence news source edited and published by the founder of WND.
For the complete report and full immediate access to Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin, subscribe now.
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Judge says NGOs were lawfully inspected, not 'raided'
CAIRO: Judge Sameh Abou Zeid, investigating the alleged illegal foreign funding of local and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), said Wednesday that inspecting their offices was legal according to the criminal procedural law.
"Labeling this inspection as a ‘raid’ is inaccurate since the law gives us the authority to order the prosecution to inspect the NGOs in question," Abou Zeid said in a press conference held at the Ministry of Justice, reiterating earlier statements by the Minister of International Cooperation and Planning.
Investigating judge Ashraf El-Ashmawy said the defendants were referred to court in line with Egypt’s penal code and not the controversial NGOs law, adding that the charges against the staff could lead to five-year prison sentences.
"These organizations conducted unlicensed and illegal activities without the knowledge of the Egyptian government,” El-Ashmawy said.
A total of 44 workers in five foreign NGOs, including 19 Americans, were referred to the Cairo Criminal Court for violating Egyptian law by receiving illegal foreign funding.
The US defendants include Sam LaHood, the son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Also facing charges are five Serbs, two Germans, two Lebanese, one Jordanian and one Palestinian, in addition to 14 Egyptians, all of whom have either been banned from travel or have been placed on inbound watch-lists if they are outside the country.
US ambassador Anne W. Patterson urged authorities to lift the travel ban.
"This is illegal and Patterson violated Egyptian laws that stipulate that ambassadors of foreign countries should not directly address the judiciary, and because she is not one of the parties involved in the case," Abou Zeid said, adding that the matter was referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act accordingly.
Abou Zeid said investigators were astonished with the interference of the American ambassador, which politicized the probe.
"We are not involved in politics, but if we have to be involved we will act according to the law," he said.
The move triggered the anger of US lawmakers who are currently pressuring for halting US military aid to Egypt, saying it is conditional upon the country’s commitment to democracy and preserving freedoms.
Minister of International Cooperation Fayza Aboul Naga said in another press conference Wednesday that Egypt has strong strategic relations with the US, which will not be affected by such disagreements.
Prosecution and army forces raided in December a group of foreign and local NGOs, confiscated equipment and documents and closed down some of the offices under allegations of receiving illegal foreign funding.
Abou Zeid said that the Ministry of Justice ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to start investigating the case in July, which then recommended appointing two judges to continue the investigation.
The judges, according to Abou Zeid, began the investigation in September and issued a warrant to inspect the offices of local and foreign NGOs.
"We discovered that five foreign NGOs received secret money transactions from abroad under the names of workers inside these NGOs not through official bank accounts [under the name of the NGOs]. Transactions were in the millions of pounds," he said.
"Workers inside these NGOs deliberately had tourist visas, not work visas, and did not pay taxes," Abou Zeid continued. He said 67 items were confiscated during the raid, including documents that “prove foreign funding.”
The case file also includes “reports by state experts” evaluating the confiscated items.
"One piece of evidence we found was a map showing Egypt divided into four parts: Upper Egypt, the Delta, Greater Cairo and the Canal provinces," Abou Zeid said.
While he didn’t explain the significance of such maps in proving the case, the accusation reflects claims made by some TV personnel and officials that there is a foreign plot to divide Egypt.
Abou Zeid said the five NGOs are not involved in civil services, but their work extends to politics, which took a different direction after the Jan. 25 uprising.
"Many eyewitnesses who used to work for these NGOs testified that they quit once they doubted the nature of the work of these foreign organizations," Abou Zeid claimed.
"They told us surveys were conducted across the country by these NGOs asking Egyptians about their religious beliefs and their dress codes," he added. Egyptians have to state their religious affiliation on ID cards.
"The results of these surveys are never published in Egypt, but are secretly reported to their mother organizations in the US," the judge said.
“Homeland Security and National Security” refused to give licenses to these organizations before the revolution but they continued to operate illegally, he added.
"This part of the probe is only related to the foreign NGOs, while the remaining local NGOs are [also] under investigation, including religious organizations that receive illegal funding from Arab countries," investigating judge El-Ashmawy said.
He added that the other stages of the investigation will be made public once they are finished to ensure maximum transparency.
The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) criticized earlier in a statement the campaign against NGOs, labeling it a plot by the ruling military junta to tarnish the reputation of rights organizations that have worked to expose violations by the military since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
"[The campaign casts] doubt over the real role played by these organizations and defames them, using one of the most prominent figures of the Mubarak regime, Fayza Aboul Naga, who found in this campaign an opportunity for vengeance [targeting] the human rights institutions that contributed to toppling the regime to which she belongs, ," the statement said.
ANHRI claimed it was also personal vengeance since rights groups exposed the rigging of elections in 2010, through which Aboul Naga had won a seat in parliament. Both houses of parliament were dissolved following the Jan. 25 uprising.
"ANHRI believes that the practices of US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson have paved the way for and fueled the campaign led by Aboul Naga against civil society. The ambassador breached rules of transparency and credibility by refusing to announce the names of the institutions that received millions of dollars from the US during the year 2011, despite the many requests submitted to her to announce these names," ANHRI said.
"The ambassador knows very well that several civil society institutions in Egypt, especially the serious human rights ones, refuse to deal with her as a representative of a government known for its repetitive human rights violations and lack of credibility for its double standards … which is the US government."
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