Egypt has key vote in climate of fear

Associated Press

CAIRO

Egyptians are being asked to vote this week on a vision of their nation’s future sponsored by the powerful military, a two-day election widely seen as a referendum on a likely presidential run by the country’s top general — but taking place in a climate of fear and intimidation.

An astounding 160,000 soldiers and 200,000 policemen were expected to deploy across Egypt today and Wednesday to guard polling stations and voters after months of violence that authorities have blamed on Islamic militants. Supporters of Mohammed Morsi, the Islamist president ousted in a coup last summer, have said they would stage massive demonstrations and boycott the vote on a new constitution.

In many ways, Egypt looks more like a country going to war rather than one preparing for what is supposedly a transition to democratic rule. The government and the overwhelmingly pro-military media have portrayed the balloting as the key to the nation’s security and stability over which there can be no dissent.

Hundreds of thousands of fliers, posters, banners and billboards exhort Egyptians to vote “yes.” Posters urging a “no” vote have led to arrests.

“There appears to be a conviction among security officers that there should be zero accommodation for anyone who wants a ‘no’ vote,” said Heba Morayef, the Egypt director for Human Rights Watch.

Authorities have threatened legal proceedings against the owners of cyber cafes, presses and stationery stores if they allow use of their facilities for the production of ‘no’ fliers or posters, according to security officials. They said police commanders have instructed officers to arrest anyone distributing leaflets or hanging banners against the draft charter. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in exchange for discussing security operations.

“We are trying to mobilize the ‘yes’ vote. Anyone doing the opposite is a traitor and an American agent,” said Mohammed Hamdy, a politician and local dignitary from the city of Assiut, an Islamist stronghold with a large Christian community south of Cairo.