Hosni Mubarak due in dock but Egypt uncertain whether trial will proceed

The 83-year-old ousted president faces charges of corruption and unlawful killing which could carry the death penalty Egypt’s faltering revolution will reach a defining moment on Wednesday morning when toppled president Hosni Mubarak goes on trial to face charges of corruption and unlawful killing. Just over six months after the start of an uprising that would eventually overthrow his regime, ending 30 years of autocratic rule and sending shockwaves across the region, the 83-year-old is scheduled to appear in the dock in white prison overalls and will stand behind the bars of a specially constructed metal cage – although there are some doubts whether he will actually appear. His much-anticipated downfall is to be screened live on Egyptian state television, attracting tens of millions of viewers. For most, it will be a scene that only last year seemed utterly unimaginable. “Egypt’s many problems cannot be solved by one appearance of Mubarak in a courtroom,” said Soheir Basma, a middle-aged Cairo woman who will be tuning in for the trial. “But people must see justice being done, and maybe the sight of that happening to Mubarak will inspire us to carry on fighting for our own rights, the rights he denied us for so long.” Yet as the final preparations are made to ferry the ailing former leader from his hospital bed in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to the temporary courthouse – a police academy that once bore his name, in the sandy outskirts of the capital – few Egyptians are under the illusion that this trial will be a panacea for the multiple problems their country is facing. Earlier this week military forces stormed Tahrir Square, where a protest against army generals – the country’s de facto rulers since Mubarak was ousted in February – had been under way since early last month. Using tactics reminiscent of Mubarak’s security services, soldiers and riot police beat demonstrators and dragged several off into military detention. Revolutionary youth groups have called for daily marches to condemn the violence. As Egypt lurches towards parliamentary elections in November, when the armed forces have promised to return to their barracks, many are sceptical that the military top brass will succeed in holding Mubarak to account. “It’s crucially important that Mubarak gets a fair hearing, because this needs to be the trial that breaks the cycle of impunity which characterised his 30 years in power,” said Heba Morayef, of Human Rights Watch. “Mubarak’s Egypt was all about police being above the law, so if this trial proceeds in accordance with due process, then it’s not only very politically significant but it also sets a precedent regarding accountability in this country, and changes the balance of power between government security services and the rule of law.” However, there is uncertainty over whether Mubarak will appear or not, with some reports suggesting that even if he does enter the dock, the trial will be swiftly adjourned – a potentially welcome compromise for the ruling generals, who are facing intense public pressure to see the prosecution through but fear that politically explosive revelations may leak out when Mubarak takes the stand, implicating the army top brass. Mubarak is to be flown by military helicopter to an airstrip close to the police academy, before being driven the final 500 metres by ambulance. His co-defendants – his sons Alaa and Gamal, former interior minister Habib El-Adly, and six other senior regime officials – will be transported from Tora prison by armoured vehicles. Up to 8,000 soldiers and police officers are being deployed to secure the trial. In the streets of Cairo on Tuesday, conversations were full of the impending legal drama. “He’s definitely guilty, and a quick verdict would be really good for the country as it would bring all the protests to an end and get things moving again,” said Ahmed Yusuf, a 26-year-old student of commerce at Ain Shams university. “Mubarak didn’t care about us. He took no interest in his people – and that’s why he never noticed that we were rising up to defeat him. I’m going to be very happy tomorrow.” Others sounded a different tone. “To be honest, I was detached from the regime – I never received anything good from it, and I never felt particularly oppressed by it,” said Karim Hadi, a garage worker who has a college degree in factory management but has been unable to find a job in his chosen field. “I see Mubarak like any other traitor or common criminal, and I hope he gets what he deserves.” Mubarak could face the death penalty if convicted. But even a guilty verdict may not be enough to quell much of the popular anger stemming from his reign, particularly as the “unlawful killing” charges refer only to the 18-day uprising this year – and to none of the alleged brutality that proceeded it. “My biggest regret is that Mubarak will never face trial for the 30 years of police brutality, systematic torture and forced disappearances carried out under his rule,” said Morayef. “His legacy is such a destructive one because he institutionalised abuse, and it will take us generations to overcome that.” Hosni Mubarak Egypt Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Africa Jack Shenker guardian.co.uk

Posted by on August 2, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.