Cairo not serious about reform, groups say

Sept. 20, 2011

CAIRO, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The military council in Cairo has introduced only "cosmetic changes" since a revolution ended Hosni Mubarak's reign, Egyptian human rights groups said.

A group of 22 Egyptian human rights organizations accused Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of keeping much of the previous regime's policies in place, the regional Gulf News reports.

"Those steering the helm of the country tend to keep the basic policy of the ousted president regime and be complacent about introducing cosmetic changes," the groups were quoted as stating.

SCAF has faced mounting protests over what's perceived as a slow pace of reform in the country. The ruling military council was rapped recently for extending an emergency law amid renewed tensions with Israel.

The rights groups' complaint follows a decision to let a former official in Mubarak's disbanded National Democracy Party form a new party to take part in elections this year and in 2012.

Hossam Badrawy, the former secretary-general of the disbanded NDP, will lead the new Union Party.

A petition by Islamic group Jama'a al-Islamiya to form the Construction and Development Party was rejected, however, because its platform was seen as "purely religious."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/09/20/Cairo-not-serious-about-reform-groups-say/UPI-94411316525247/.