Statement/Press Release:
Egypt Crisis: Mubarak Urged to Halt Attacks on Internet, Journalists, Protesters
Mubarak Urged to Halt Attacks on Journalists, Internet
The Washington, D.C.-based Center for Public Policy Analysis is calling on Egyptian President Mubarak, and his
public security and military forces, to immediately and unconditionally restore unfettered internet use to the people of Egypt
and allow independent journalists access to the developing crisis in the country.
For Immediate Release,
Washington, D.C., Friday, January 28 2011
Center
for Public Policy Analysis
The
Washington, D.C.-based Center for Public Policy Analysis is calling on Egyptian President Mubarak, and
his public security and military forces, to immediately and unconditionally restore unfettered internet use to the people
of Egypt and allow independent journalists access to the developing crisis in the country.
Thousands of largely peaceful protestors have
clashed with police and army units in recent hours, including at Ramsis Square, Tahrir Square and the October 6th
Bridge in Cairo Police and Egyptian Army units are firing rubber bullets and tear gas at the demonstrators,
who have also been bludgeoned with batons. Many are calling on the President Mubarak to step down as President.
“During this
crisis, we are calling on President Hosni Mubarak to embrace transparency and restore full internet access to the people of
Egypt as well as cease the censorship of independent news sources, and internet communications, which are important to a free
and open society in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Philip Smith, Executive Director
of the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) in Washingiton, D.C.
Internet usage and traffic by providers, including
Telecom Egypt, Link Egypt, Vodafone/Raya and Etisalat Mist has reportedly been blocked today in Cairo and much of Egypt.
Mr. Smith further
commented: “We are very concerned that, in the aftermath of the ongoing internet censoring and blockage,
large numbers of Egyptian military and security forces have been mobilized as a result of demonstrations in Cairo and elsewhere
in the Nile Delta and across the country.”
“There is growing concern in Washington, D.C., and in the U.S. Congress, that given the billions
of dollars in American taxpayers’ money given to Egypt over the years, that Egyptian Army units, including those with
armored vehicles, have been to deployed in Cairo in an apparent effort to head off peaceful protestors as well as silence
journalists and news reporters seeking to cover these recent events,” Smith said.
“Based upon credible reports about the
recent harassment and beating by Egyptian police of journalists from Al Jazeera, CNN, and the Arabic service of the BBC, we
are also urging President Mubarak to intervene to stop the attacks on journalists and permit press freedom and accurate news
reporting of breaking developments in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt,” Smith further stated.
“We are strongly urging Mubarak to
halt attacks on journalists and cease the internet censorship,” Smith concluded. “Military and security force
attacks against peaceful protestors should also cease.” http://www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
Internet instant
messaging, social network sites and other forms of internet and mobile telephone communications have been blocked by the Mubarak
government in an apparent effort to stifle protestors, anti-government opposition groups and political dissidents in Egypt.
President Mubarak
has ruled Egypt for three decades..
The United States provides some $1.3 billion dollars in annual military assistance to the Mubarak
government in Egypt--with tens of billions in U.S. taxpayers’ assisting being provided to the Egyptian military over
the last three decades of President Mubarak’s rule.
State-run television has announced a curfew in Egypt.
Egypt is besieged with rampant unemployment,
rising food prices and other problems.
The Egyptian crisis follows earlier protests in Tunisia that resulted in the ousting of its former
President Ben Ali Zine El Abidine who was given asylum in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia earlier this month.
Protests in Jordan
are calling for the resignation of its Prime Minister.
###
Contact: Maria Gomez
mgomez@centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
or info@centerorpublicpolicyanalysis.org
Tele. (202)
543-1444
CPPA - Center for Public Policy Analysis
2020 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
Washington, D.C.
20006 USA
http://www.cppa-dc.org
