Media restriction in Egypt, “outrageous”

As protests in Egypt intensify following Mubarak’s refusal to immediately descend from power, the UN goes along and expresses its support on Egyptian’s call for true democracy. The situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly worrying, and the people are waiting for a speedy transition in Egypt. The people are angered by the delaying tactic employed by Mubarak who said that leaving the country now would plunge Egypt into chaos.

The illegal detention and intimidation of journalists and protesters plus the shutdown of Facebook and Twitter to prevent people from organizing pressed UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to dub the reaction of the Mubarak regime as “outrageous.” He then called for an immediate end to “the intimidation and restrictions on the international media and human rights groups”.

“Respecting freedom of expression and assembly as well as information is a crucial and essential part of democratic values. I once again strongly urge the Egyptian authorities to listen to the voices of the people and immediately start real change,” he said during the joint press conference with German President Christian Wulff.

In equally stimulating statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said “I warned then, and I reiterate again, that governments must listen to their people and put in practice their human rights obligations. Regimes that deprive people of their fundamental rights, which depend on a ruthless security apparatus to impose their will, are bound to fail in the long-term.”

Ban Ki-moon has guaranteed the support of the UN to help the Egyptian authorities and the people if they begin their transition and changes, including elections.

The international community as well expressed concerns on the explosive situation in the country advising Egyptian authorities to make the necessary reforms reflecting the genuine wishes of the people.

The opinion of Ban Ki-moon is sustained by the Director-General of the UN International Labour Organization, Juan Somavia. He called the leaders of Egypt to “listen attentively and sincerely to the voices of the people,” and to take seriously “their responsibility, first of all, to provide decent jobs and good opportunities to maintain a decent living”. “The failure to address this situation effectively, with all of its consequences for poverty and unbalanced development, together with limitations on basic freedoms, has triggered this historic outpouring of popular demands,” Mr. Somavia said in a statement from his headquarters in Geneva.