Security measures in place for constitutional referendum

Egyptian army tanks are deployed outside the Presidential Palace A well-placed security source has told Arabstoday that Egyptian authorities have put security measures in place ahead of the draft constitution referendum on Saturday. Up to 120,000 Egyptian soldiers will be deployed across the country for the smooth running of the vote. Egypt’s Health Ministry has 739 ambulances on standby to aid the process.
The source added that Egypt’s Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal el-Din held a meeting with his advisors to discuss security measures. He said that the government\'s role is limited to making sure polling stations help individuals make a free choice. He added that the security forces are not allowed to enter the polling stations without official authorisation from the judge supervising the station.
The National Salvation Front has expressed its fears about the absence of necessary conditions, to ensure the integrity of the referendum. It added that the decision to hold the referendum in two phases could pave the way for violence and forgery.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NSF coalition said holding the referendum in two phases, separated by a week, violates the law, adding that the process should be conducted in two consecutive days. The group has submitted an appeal against the decision to Egypt’s Administrative Court.
It also highlighted fears that the referendum would not witness full judicial supervision, in light of the current division between judges on the matter. It added that a large sector of judges have refused to participate in supervising the referendum, meaning there might not be a judge at every electoral state commission, which could hinder fairness of the voting process.
The Front renewed its insistence on calling for a delay to the referendum, because of the current absence of national accordance and the deteriorating political and security conditions. It expressed its confidence that millions of Egyptians would respond to their call for voting against the new constitution, if the authorities insisted on holding the referendum on Saturday. The group claimed it would monitor the voting process to make a record of each violation which could affect the result.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian churches have announced that they will participate in the coming referendum, as the Coptic patriarch agreed with officials of Egypt’s Catholic Church to participate in the event, during their meeting in Cairo’s St Mark Cathedral on Thursday.
Pope Tawadros II said that the churches would participate in the referendum as national entities, stressing that every Coptic has the right to vote freely without interference from the church.
Pastor Andrea Zaki told Arabstoday that the Evangelical Church would not direct its followers to a specific viewpoint on the new constitution. He said that the church supports people\'s right to participate in the voting process and express their opinions.
In the past, the churches have withdrawn from the Constituent Assembly and criticised the draft constitution for not reflecting Egypt’s diversity.