CAIRO - As the Higher Election Commission (HEC) issued permits for 498 foreign correspondents to follow the parliamentary polls Sunday, those reporters have a significant job to do. Egypt has refused any kind of foreign election monitoring. However, foreign correspondents are welcome to cover them. Here are some tips for foreign correspondents, provided by Egypt's veteran writer and former correspondent Salama Ahmed Salama and Volkhard Windfuhr, the Chairman of Cairo Foreign Press Association: First, a correspondent should obtain permission from the HEC, which will grant him a press card allowing him to follow the voting process. Second, correspondents should put the press cards on their chest and never rely on their foreign-looking appearance. Third, in order to enter a sub-polling station, correspondents are asked to get permission from its chief. Fourth, once inside polling stations, correspondents are not allowed to interview voters, staff managing the process or candidate representatives. Fifth, correspondents can use the Cairo International Media Centre, established by the State Information Service (SIS), to facilitate their election coverage. Upon request from foreign correspondents, the centre organises interviews and other media activities with those involved in the elections such as parties, candidates as well as HEC's spokesmen. Sixth, in case of rioting, foreign correspondents are urged to have handkerchiefs in their backpacks to use against tear gas. Please note that the handkerchiefs should be wet to prevent fainting from gas inhalation. Seventh, all correspondents should have the phone numbers of the National Human Rights Council, the HEC and the Interior Ministry in case of an emergency. These numbers are available on the HEC's website: elections.gov.eg. Eighth, correspondents should have links with local rights groups and civil society organisations monitoring the polls. Reports from these groups could be extremely useful. The website for the HEC is www.elections.gov.eg and any complaints can be faxed to it on 02/241/426/15 or phoned on 02/241/426/13-19.
