New developments in Borg Al-Arab
SOLIDARITY PEASANT COMMITTEE – EGYPT
P.S.C
Solidarity with Land Reform Farmers Committee
New developments in Borg Al-Arab
In light of the new developments in Borg Al-Arab, Hussein Fadl, one of the land owners said that around a year, a meeting was held between contractor Sobhy Hussein, who is assigned to carryout the project of traffic compound in Borg Al-Arab City, the head of Alexandria Traffic Department, and the head of apparatus of Borg Al-Arab City. The meeting was held to examine the location on which the traffic compound was going to be established. Yet the contractor realised that the land supposed to be submitted to him is an agricultural land owned by peasants who have formal possession contracts. Hence there was a squabble between the head of Alexandria Traffic Department and the head of apparatus of Borg Al-Arab City, as the former accused the latter of taking measures expected to lead to disturbances. Afterwards, there were many attempts to intimidate the peasants to retreat though they were all to no avail. The apparatus wants to pave a new way on the land owned by the peasants despite the existence of another road located 6 meters far away from the proposed one. On the other hand, the apparatus of Borg Al-Arab City sought to change facts on the ground by throwing exhausts in the peasants' land. Peasants informed the prosecution with the process. Environmental official examined the situation and made sure that the peasants were right in their complaints, though they did not send their report to the prosecution
In addition, the technical committee assigned by the prosecution following a peasants' compliant indicating that the apparatus ruined their fruit trees and maize crops, refrained from submitting its report
Strangely enough, the prosecution closed the investigation. Peasants and residents of Borg Al-Arab call on civil society organisations to visit the land and investigate the situation on the ground to realise the manipulative attitudes by the apparatus to control their land
May 2007
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