SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Feared 'baltagia' thugs absent from polls
Published in Daily News Egypt on 02 - 12 - 2011

CAIRO: "Baltagia, baltagia," were words that once struck fear into the hearts of Egyptians trying to vote in elections under Hosni Mubarak, as they heralded the arrival of hired thugs with sticks, swords and sometimes guns, bent on intimidation.
The baltagia, an extension of the security apparatus in the deposed leader's rigged polls, used to be hired by candidates from the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and some others, ready to bully anyone who might vote for a rival.
Renting such gangs was embedded in Egypt's electoral landscape but they were notably absent this week in the nation's first free election since army officers ousted the king in 1952.
"There's a huge difference between voting before and after the revolution," Yasser Abdel Moneim, 47, an English-language teacher, voting for the party of the Muslim Brotherhood, said.
"Before there was thuggery and people were passive. People used to ask, 'why should I go vote? It's rigged anyway'," he said. "People had anticipated these polls would be marred by thuggery and massacres ... but actually it's a very flowery and democratic picture that is extraordinary."
The near-absence of thugs from this week's election may be partly due to the disbanding of Mubarak's NDP and the low profile that many of its former politicians have adopted.
But thugs have sought to intimidate protesters opposed to army rule, just as they tried to break up demonstrations during the revolt against Mubarak in January and February.
The ruling generals have blamed recent violence on "hidden hands," but many Egyptians question why thugs were so conspicuously absent from an election run by the military.
One message circulating on social networking sites summed up what many thought: "We would like to thank the Egyptian army for securing the elections and proving to us that the security breakdown was fundamentally a political decision."
After polls closed on Tuesday, dozens of youths caused mayhem near Cairo's Tahrir Square, where protesters are staging a sit-in to demand military rulers quit now. The Health Ministry said more than 100 people had been hurt in the fracas.
"Thugs are now attacking the protesters in Tahrir," tweeted reformist politician Mohamed ElBaradei. "A regime that cannot protect its citizens is a regime that has failed in performing its basic function."
Tahrir camel charge
Near the climax of the 18-day uprising that toppled Mubarak on Feb. 11, the world watched as baltagia on camels and horses charged into demonstrators, flailing whips and sticks.
Mubarak's increasingly desperate government sent in riot police against the protesters, then F-16 fighter jets to buzz them, tactics that only hardened their resolve. In Egypt and abroad, it seemed a crude attempt to bully the demonstrators.
"The regime gave the impression that it was strong, but it was weak," Khaled El-Sheikh, 45, recalled. "They had weapons and power, but we were victorious because we had principles."
Under Mubarak, armed gangs in civilian clothes were used, particularly at election time, to frighten citizens.
Egyptians gave lurid stories of people being assaulted to persuade them to change their minds about opposing Mubarak.
One witness to the rigged 2010 poll, recalls how one woman wearing a face veil demanded to be let into the polling station in the Delta province of Kafr El-Sheikh. She argued angrily with a security officer, only to be interrupted by a female thug who grabbed her by the scarf and dragged her outside.
The officer followed them outside and calmly said: "Kick her in her stomach, so it doesn't bruise." The beating didn't stop even while her friend screamed: "She is pregnant."


Clic here to read the story from its source.