CAIRO: This week the national press focused on President Hosni Mubarak s European tour, while independent and opposition papers were concerned with local news, including the ongoing controversy surrounding the two judges stripped of immunity. Coverage of the Palestinian internal conflict, however, was shared by both. The difference was evident in the coverage of the protestors arrest. While the news found its way to the front pages of independent and opposition papers, it failed to find a spot on any of the pages of state-run newspapers. Amr Khafagy noted the increasing differences between the two sides in Al-Masry Al-Youm. He wrote that the independent press reflects society s cry of protest over its problems, which has put this type of press in the line of fire of the government and its newspapers. While both sides are screaming at each other, he continued, the real powers that produce these political objections are not found. Khafagy called for the drawing of a clear policy and vision of the time after the objections. This week saw an increase in general commentary similar to Khafagy s, since the news of the week did not feature a major event or announcement affecting the nation as a whole. In previous weeks, editorials in most newspapers, regardless of affiliation, discussed the same topics. Throughout this week, writers covered numerous topics ranging from political analysis of regional issues, suggestions to regulate the privatization process, corruption and general commentary. The Dahab bombings have remained in the spotlight, since security forces killed the alleged mastermind of the attacks in an exchange of fire. But discussions of the Sinai Bedouins are keeping up the momentum on news reporting regarding the issue. Salah Montasser published a letter from a high profile Sinai native who described the patriotism of the people of Sinai. He said that even though they lived in isolation from the rest of the country through the 1970s, they have always remained loyal to Egypt in spite of the succession of occupiers. In response, Monatasser called for the establishment of a research center to study all the aspects of Sinai life and its society. If studies take two or three years, he wrote, it would benefit the country s future for hundreds of years. Like the Dahab bombings, the renewal of the Emergency Law also sustained a strong presence in local editorials. In Al-Wafd, Nabil Zaki said the anti-terrorism law, the anticipated replacement of the current Emergency Law, wouldn t be much different. The state of emergency has been lengthened to become a permanent system rather than a temporary one, Zaki said. Generations succeed [each other] without knowing the meaning of a normal legal situation, without knowing the meaning of life in unexceptional circumstances. It s not true, he continued, that the Emergency Law has only been used against terrorism. He said there have been numerous incidents in which the law was applied to curtail freedom of expression and peaceful protests. He said the anti-terrorism law would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in terms of wide-scale political arrests. Zaki surveyed the different societal aspects that have been negatively affected by the state of emergency, including the judiciary and the legal system and citizens dignity. He said under the state of emergency corruption has flourished. In Al-Ahram, Gailan Hamza acknowledged the downsides of these laws but said they are crucial. No one chooses Emergency Laws but by all mean they can t be canceled before issuing the terrorism law because this is what we need. She cited the need for protection in the light of the latest terrorist attacks. Economic reform was also the topic of many articles this week. Regulating the privatization process was Salama Ahmed Salama's subject in Al-Ahram. He also called for transparency. In Al-Akhbar, Ahmed Ragab focused on corruption, calling the country Fasad-stan or Corruption-stan. He cited over-expenditure in unproductive projects and the helplessness of the legal system in fighting corruption. Regional concerns, however, were the theme of even more editorials. In Al-Akhbar, Galal Doweidar said the two Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, are responsible for the escalation of violence between their members. The violence is a reflection of the people s reaction to the election that ousted Fatah from authority for the first time. The United States is also responsible, he added. He explained that the economic siege the United States has imposed on the Palestinians is one of the reasons behind the tension that led to this tragic conflict.
