"Our appeal for political participation is not limited to parties," Mubarak

CAIRO, September 29 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called Sunday, September 28, for the removal of shackles on political parties and announced the cancellation of all martial orders in concrete steps towards reforming Egypt's political landscape.

Mubarak issued his call at the end of the three-day congress of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) held under the slogan "New Line of Thought, The Rights of the Citizen," reported Agence France Press (AFP).

Speaking to hundreds of party members, Mubarak called for "modernizing laws governing" political parties in order "to remove obstacles blocking their activities" with the aim of making "political life more dynamic."

"Our appeal for political participation is not limited to parties but is also addressed to civil society organizations, for which greater freedom should be granted," the Egyptian president said.

Under the 1977 law on parties, any new party must be approved by a government committee, a body which has rejected around 60 requests and approved only four, according to the Egyptian Human Rights Organization (EHRO).

Mubarak, who is party chairman, also called for "modernizing and developing laws governing the activities of unions," which he said represent an "important tool in the practice of democracy."

The appeal also echoed one given at Friday's start of the convention by Gamal Mubarak, the head of the NDP's policy-making political committee.

"The time has come to say that human rights include political and economic rights. If we do not consolidate the concept of [political] participation, we cannot solve the problems ahead," NDP members were told by Gamal.

Gamal also urged the party to push for greater political freedoms, legal reforms and women's rights.

"We want political parties to play a more dynamic role," the young Mubarak said, advocating legal reforms "to lift the obstacles that hinder their action ... a big step in developing political life in Egypt."

He also took part in an unprecedented meeting of party officials and representatives of non-government organizations, including human rights groups.

Martial Orders

The President also annulled the martial orders given by the military governor, a post held by Mubarak under emergency laws, except for those orders necessary to preserving "public order and security."

"I have decided to abolish all martial orders issued by the military rule during emergency law, except those that are necessary and essential for maintaining security and public order," the CNN quoted Mubarak as saying.

The emergency law, renewed in February for three years and has been in effect since the era of late president Anwar As-Sadat, gives authorities wide powers to arrest, detain for extended periods of time without formal charges and bring civilians before military courts, from which appeals are limited.

Change Underway

One political analyst said he believed real political change was underway.

"Serious attempts are being made to develop the ruling party," said Wahid Abdel Maguid, the deputy director of the government Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

Abdel Maguid said there is a real "local determination for change."

But he said reformists ran up "against obstacles, especially from the old guard which fears change."

"There may be well-intentioned people in the NDP," said Rifaat El-Said, leader of the left-wing Taggamu party.

"But what they are now doing is like handing someone sitting on a branch a saw and asking him to cut the branch off. For real change to occur you need a new mentality which means changing individuals," the BBC quoted El-Said as saying.  

For his part, EHRO's secretary general Hafez Abu Saadat told AFP that Mubarak's appeal was "a good beginning," but did not represent real reform because it meant parties still had to receive state approval.