By Cliff Montgomery – Feb. 11th, 2011
An Egyptian populace in open revolt has broken much of the oppressive power structure in its country, forcingformer President Hosni Mubarak into retirement and placing its army in charge.
But the Egyptian military may not have been peacefully standing aside during the popular protests, as mostbelieve. The London Guardian on Wednesday published an eye-opening article that declared the army hasbeen quietly detaining and even torturing pro-democracy demonstrators:
“The Egyptian military has secretly detained hundreds and possibly thousands of suspected governmentopponents since mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak began,” stated the Guardian, “and at leastsome of these detainees have been tortured.”
The paper said its statements were based the testimony of Egyptian citizens and others.
“The Guardian has spoken to detainees who say they have suffered extensive beatings and other abuses atthe hands of the military,” continued the newspaper, “in what appears to be an organised campaign ofintimidation.”
“Human rights groups have documented the use of electric shocks on some of those held by the army,” statedthe Guardian.
Such abuses against Egyptians have for years been associated with the country’s State Security Intelligence(SSI). Military forces previously were not thought to have been involved in Mubarak’s oppression.
“Egyptian human rights groups say families are desperately searching for missing relatives who havedisappeared into army custody,” the paper declared.
“Some of the detainees have been held inside the renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities on the edge ofTahrir Square,” revealed the Guardian.
“Those released have given graphic accounts of physical abuse by soldiers who accused them of acting forforeign powers, including Hamas and Israel,” the paper reported.
