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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Breifs
Projects young and small
FOR MORE than two hours on Saturday, President Hosni Mubarak toured the 19th Youth and Sport trade fair, organised by the Ministry of Information and the Social Fund for Development (SFD).Some 2,000 young producers who manage small projects throughout the country are presenting over 4,000 products in the week-long fair. The varied goods on display include agricultural and motor vehicle parts, heaters powered by solar energy, textiles, software, carpentry, handmade leather, brassware and glass ornaments.
Mubarak said he was impressed by the advanced technology used in manufacturing some of products on show and by the increasing number of young people who find jobs in the private sector. Since mid-1993, the SFD has funded 100,000 projects, providing 250,000 jobs, at a cost of LE200 million. "Quality and competitiveness should be the motto of all Egyptian products," Mubarak told reporters after walking around the vast exhibition grounds.
During his tour, Mubarak autographed T-shirts, pottery and leather products and listened to both complaints and praise from exhibitors. He gave a number of directives to the accompanying ministers to remove obstacles facing young producers, such as facilitating loan approvals, allowing producers to pay their taxes in instalments, showing these products in exhibitions and trade fairs abroad and allotting space for young producers in new industrial zones. The president also emphasised the importance of government efforts to encourage young and small producers and investors by marketing their products abroad.
Outraged villagers protest
A BUS struck and killed two girls and seriously wounded two others who were crossing the Zaqaziq-to-Bilbeis highway near the village of Awlad Seif in the Nile Delta on Saturday. The accident triggered the rage of villagers who rioted, blocked the highway and burned the bus and two other vehicles.Police forces intervened, using tear gas to disperse the rioters, of whom they arrested 18. Four others are wanted.
The disturbance occurred only a week after villagers in Mit Ne'ma, on the Cairo-Alexandria highway, rioted in protest against the death of 14-year-old Samah Mustafa, who was also knocked down while attempting to cross the highway. Some 3,000 people blocked traffic on the highway on 4 March of whom 60 were wounded. A dozen cars were torched in a confrontation with police forces.
Brothers' defence
LAWYERS for 20 suspected members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood standing trial before a military court brought in 10 witnesses on Sunday to testify that the defendants were active members of professional syndicates bent on serving the interests of their colleagues, reports Khaled Dawoud.The witnesses also denied that any of the defendants favoured the use of violence to achieve their goals. The witnesses included two Coptic Christian figures: Milad Hanna, a former MP, a member of the Engineers Syndicate and a prominent writer at Al-Ahram, and Rifaat Mikhail, a member of the Bar Association.
Hanna, who has a left-wing, secular background that contradicts the views of the Muslim Brotherhood and their quest to establish an Islamic state, told the military judges that he "hates any human being who uses violence and arms [to achieve political goals]. I am for dialogue and I feel that many of the Muslim Brotherhood members have true nationalist sentiments and are entitled to their own point of view." Hanna added that what Egypt needed was greater freedom of expression, "provided that this did not threaten society and did not involve the use of violence."
Hamdi El-Sayed, head of the Doctors Syndicate which has been controlled for years by Brotherhood figures, also praised their performance at professional unions, saying that they offer their services to all members, regardless of their political affiliation. El-Sayed, who is not a member of the Brotherhood, said that members of the outlawed group do not draw a distinction between Muslims and Christians and their main goal is to provide services and benefits.
The 20 Muslim Brothers were arrested in mid-October and put on trial in late December. Sixteen were arrested while taking part in what military prosecutors described as a secret meeting in which they were discussing a plan to regain control of professional syndicates.
In Sunday's session, the military judges listened again to police recordings of the alleged secret meeting, despite protests from lawyers who insisted that the sound quality was very poor. The judges decided to adjourn hearings until 22 March and asked lawyers to cooperate in speeding up the trial, instead of spending hours bringing in new witnesses who are basically saying the same thing.
Released for the feast
THE MINISTRY of Interior began releasing on Saturday several hundred Islamist prisoners, the largest number since militant groups pledged to end violence two years ago. Official sources announced that authorities had reviewed the files of hundreds of detainees in preparation for their release, timed to coincide with the Eid Al-Adha (feast of the sacrifice) holiday that commences today.
The majority of those to be released are alleged members of the Gama'a Al-Islamiya while a few are said to have connections with the Jihad, El-Tawaqouf Wal-Tabayoun as well as El-Qotbiyoun.
