Human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has condemned the conduct of the military in Egypt since it took over from the ousted leader, Hosni Mubarak.
In a damning report (Broken Promises: Egypt's military rulers erode human rights), released Tuesday, Amnesty asserted that Egypt's Egypt's Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) had "completely failed" to live up to their promises of returning power to the people and had committed human rights abuses that exceeded that of the Mubarak regime.
Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa acting director, Philip Luther said,
"The SCAF has continued the tradition of repressive rule which the January 25 demonstrators fought so hard to get rid of."
"Those who have challenged or criticise the military council - like demonstrators, journalists, bloggers, striking workers - have been ruthlessly suppressed in an attempt at silencing their voices ... The brutal and heavy-handed response to protests in the last few days bears all the hallmarks of the Mubarak era."
"The Egyptian military cannot keep using security as an excuse to keep the same old practices that we saw under President Mubarak."
"If there is to be an effective transition to the new Egypt that protesters have been demanding, the SCAF must release their grip on freedom of expression, association and assembly, lift the state of emergency and stop trying civilians in military courts."
The report comes and thousands of protesters have returned to the streets around Tahrir Square expressing anger at the slow pace of change and the military's brutal tactics of repression.
See here for full report.
Extracts reproduced below:
"In the name of ensuring security and stability, the authorities have committed numerous human rights violations, ignoring the very demands for social justice and fundamental freedoms that triggered the uprising."
"Many demonstrations have been violently dispersed, with the armed forces using excessive and lethal force, while riot police resumed their reckless use of rubber bullets, shotguns and tear gas. Protesters have been arrested, detained incommunicado and tortured before being tried unfairly before military courts and convicted."
"After almost a year in power, the main demands of the Egyptians still remain unanswered by the SCAF."
"The state of emergency remains in force; the relatives of those unlawfully killed by Egypt’s military rulers erode human rights the security forces during the “25 January Revolution” still await justice and compensation; torture and unfair trials remain routine practices; discrimination against women and religious minorities persists; and freedoms of expression, association and assembly continue to be undermined."
