08 Marzo 2012
CAIRO — The last American facing criminal charges here for his work with United States-backed nonprofit groups appeared in court Thursday as the trial re-opened, standing in the metal cage where Egyptian criminal courts keep defendants.
The American, Robert Becker, chose to stay behind to stand trial even after his federally financed employer, the National Democratic Institute, paid $330,000 in bail to allow him a chance to leave the country. He has not returned an electronic message and could not be reached for comment.
He and six other Americans had been trapped here under a travel ban pending their trial until last week when, under heavy United States pressure, judicial officials mysteriously withdrew the travel restriction as long as bail was posted. A state department airplane flew the other six out of Egypt last week and none returned Thursday for the trial despite their pledges to do so.
The diplomats who worked frantically for weeks to try to arrange the exit deal did so in part to avoid the humiliating and politically explosive image of United States citizens locked in a cage. But Mr. Becker’s last-minute refusal to leave meant the spectacle unfolded despite their efforts.
Mr. Becker and 42 others are accused of accepting unauthorized foreign funding for unlicensed nonprofit groups. Those facts are not in dispute, but the relevant laws have seldom been enforced, and three of the American groups were in good enough standing that the military-led government asked them to serve as observers for the parliamentary elections. (If the laws were enforced, they would decimate the nonprofit community because almost every independent nonprofit here relies on foreign funds.)
Mr. Becker could face six or more years in jail if convicted.
Most of the 42, including 15 Americans, are now outside the country. But about a dozen Egyptian employees of the American-backed groups continue to face trial along with Mr. Becker.
On Thursday, the judge ordered the arrest of the six Americans who skipped bail, which means they face jail immediately if they return. Mr. Becker can still leave the country.
Beside the National Democratic Institute, the American groups involved include the International Republican Institute and Freedom House. All the groups are chartered to promote democracy abroad.
The lifting of the travel ban has now become a major political issue in Egypt. Many have denounced it as an inappropriate infringement on the independence of the courts and the impartial rule of law — made all the worse by the secretiveness of the decision-making process.
Leaders of Parliament who are taking steps to hold a vote of no-confidence in the military-led government have added the lifting of the travel ban to their reasons for moving forward.(David D. Kirkpatrick per "The New York Times")
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