Monday’s papers: Military oversees war games, detains activists as lawyers and judges feud

Stories making headlines in Monday's newspapers include the largest maneuvers and drills in the history of Egypt's navy, and the ongoing legal and political disputes between lawyers and judges regarding draft amendments to the judiciary law.

 

Also making headlines is the adjournment of Hosni Mubarak's trial to 28 December, along with the military prosecutor's interrogation of two young activists, one of whom is detained pending investigation.

 

Every Egyptian newspaper is running headlines pertaining to the adjournment of the Mubarak trial, which was announced during a swift court session on Sunday. The trial of Mubarak, his two sons Alaa and Gamal, former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and the latter's top six deputies, on charges of murdering protesters during the January protests, has been adjourned for two months. This is pending a judicial verdict on whether to replace Ahmed Refaat, the presiding judge, whose impartiality is being questioned by plaintiffs' lawyers. An appeals court is expected to deliver its verdict on Refaat and his panel of judges by Thursday, 3 November. 

 

The liberal Al-Wafd runs a headline reading "Trial of the gang of 10, adjourned." Al-Akhbar's is "Trial of the century adjourned until 28 December." Due to the media blackout imposed in the courtroom, Al-Akhbar runs a descriptive sub-headline reading "The former president is in good health … attended court session wearing blue training suit, covered in a blanket."  

 

Independent Al-Shorouk adds a more substantive note in its coverage: "Mubarak appeared from behind bars for only five minutes." Independent Al-Dostour runs similar news, reporting that the session at the North Cairo Criminal Court, presided over by Refaat, lasted not more than five minutes before being adjourned.  

 

In other news, the chief of Egypt's ruling military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, his deputy Sami Anan and other generals oversaw the massive naval drills dubbed "Sea Victory 44" on Sunday. These war games reportedly involved 47 navy vessels as well as F-16 fighter jets, other aircraft, and helicopters. Rocket and missile systems were tested in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alexandria, along with new Egyptian-made speedboats. 

 

"Field Marshal Tantawi in the largest navy maneuvers," reads the chief headline of Al-Akhbar. The state-owned paper quotes Tantawi in a large font: "We are capable of repelling any attempted infringement upon Egypt's security and stability." A more cynical headline, along with a photo of Egypt's top military rulers on the deck of a warship, is featured on the front page of the independent Al-Tahrir: "Field Marshal, where is the ship heading?" 

 

The expenses associated with this massive navy war game are not mentioned in any newspaper.

 

While no price tag can be attached to naval war games, Egypt's economic crunch is featured elsewhere in the news. In Al-Wafd, "Finance Ministry calls for LE10.5 billion to cover deficit in state budget." It says the Finance Ministry may resort to domestic banks, creditors and investors for loans; Egypt's accumulated national debt is currently estimated at over LE1.1 trillion. 

 

Another headline in Al-Wafd reads "The unemployed threaten mass suicide in Tahrir." The article says that a grouping of jobless youth dubbed "For All the Unemployed" will launch an open-ended sit-in in Tahrir Square on Wednesday, 2 November, as their demands – put forth in previous marches –  have been ignored. Some members have threatened to collectively commit suicide if the ruling authorities do not assist them in finding job opportunities.

 

In other news, the ongoing conflict between Egypt's lawyers and judges continues. The conflict centers around a proposed amendment to the Judicial Authorities Bill, specifically Article 18 of this draft. This article reportedly empowers judges to jail lawyers in their courtrooms for any deemed violations.

 

"Attempts to contain the conflict between lawyers and judges, at the cabinet" reads a headline in Al-Tahrir; in Al-Akhbar: "Government mediates between judges and lawyers." 

 

In an article under the headline "Schism between judges and lawyers threatens electoral process," Al-Wafd explains that a number of judges who are monitoring the upcoming parliamentary elections have threatened to pull out from polling stations if their professional rights are not upheld by the government. 

 

In other judiciary-related news, Al-Shorouk reports "[Activist] Alaa Abd El Fattah refuses to recognize military trial … Military prosecution jails him 15 days." Abd El Fattah and another young activist, Bahaa Saber, are accused of instigating violence against the armed forces on 9 October. 

 

At least 27 individuals are reported to have died as a result of the violence, which followed an army crackdown on a Coptic Christian protest outside the Maspero state TV building. Abd El Fattah is also accused of assaulting members of the armed forces. Both activists deny the charges. 

 

Both defendants have refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the military prosecutors, on the basis that they are civilian defendants. Saber was released, although the charges against him have not been dropped, while Abd El Fattah is being detained. Both defendants may yet face trial.  

 

Al-Tahrir runs a headline reading "Prison is for activists and the courageous." A subheadline explains "Activist Alaa Abd El Fattah jailed 15 days due to his refusal to accept interrogation by military prosecution." Campaigns for Alaa's release are mentioned in Al-Tahrir; petitions, protests, and marches are reportedly being organized in solidarity with both defendants. Since the 25 January revolution, more than 12,000 civilians have been referred to military tribunals.