SINCE its creation in 2003, the State-backed National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) has meant to serve as a national institution enjoying independence from the Government. Being headed by the ex-Secretary General of the UN Boutros Boutros Ghali, the NCHR has gained the trust of the public, especially with its periodic reports on human rights in the country. However, the vice-Chairman of the Council, Moqbel Shaker, recently made a controversial statement, in which he expressed the Council's opposition to international monitors in the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. In rejecting international observers, on the pretext that this would impinge on State sovereignty, the Council seems to be siding with the Government. The Council had previously expressed its support for international observers, on condition that the State approves. At such a critical juncture in Egypt's history, the public should press for closely monitored elections, which would be for the long-term benefit of the country. With the growing accusations of rigging in the mid-term Shura Council elections, the ruling party's Government should offer the necessary guarantees for transparent elections, in order to restore public trust after the corruption cases involving many parliamentarians, most of them representing the ruling party. These guarantees should include inviting respectable international human rights organisations as well as representatives of some Arab countries to monitor the forthcoming elections, especially as Egypt has helped monitor, through the Arab League, many recent Arab polls. The absence of judicial supervision of the forthcoming elections has apparently discouraged some political parties from participating. This could cause a real crisis for the ruling party, whose credibility could be affected if it runs in the elections without any opposition. The Government and the ruling party should either accept impartial observation of the elections or offer the opposition and the public all the necessary guarantees for fair, transparent elections, with MPs chosen by the citizens, regardless of their political loyalties.
