As the Egyptian military takes off its mask

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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20111121cc.html

NEW YORK — The killing under torture in a maximum security prison in Cairo of Essam Ali Atta Ali, a 24-year-old Egyptian, raises concern on the role of the Egyptian military in the "New Egypt." His death was likened to that of Khalid Said, who was beaten to death by the police in Alexandria last year.

What Atta's death shows is that the same abuses that were perpetrated under former President Hosni Mubarak continue, and that true democracy and respect for people's rights are a long way off in Egypt.

Atta was arrested last February, convicted of "thuggery." He was sentenced to two years in prison. According to the Interior Ministry, he was also carrying an unlicensed weapon. He is one of 12,000 cases who, according to human rights activists in the country, have been tried by military, instead of civilian, courts. In contrast, Mubarak and his cronies are being tried in civilian courts and their trials are expected to last for months or even years.

"The military justice system should never be used to investigate or prosecute civilians. Military courts are fundamentally unfair, as they deprive defendants of basic fair trial guarantees," states Amnesty International. One may recall George Clemenceau's statement that "Military justice is to justice as military music is to music."