Conscripts see themselves as victims of the system

Cairo: For many local and foreign observers, the police are a tool of oppressive authoritarianism. Armed with batons and glass shields, thousands are unleashed to disperse protesters who are a common sight in this country of 76 million.

The riot policemen, however, have their own struggle to have their voice heard.

"We are condemned if we follow our superiors' orders and if we don't," said a police conscript, who gave his name only as Hassan for fear of punishment.

"When the word goes round that a demonstration is in sight, we are rushed en masse to foil the protest or at least to ensure it would not descend into chaos," added Hassan, 21, who is a native of southern Egypt.

Hassan, who has been in the service in Cairo for more than two years, complains that a recent surge in anti-government protests has placed a burden on him and his colleagues.

"Hardly do we finish breaking up a demonstration when we are ordered to move to another part of the city to handle another demonstration," he said. Over recent years, Egypt has been hit by a wave of protests for political reforms and better wages.

Early this month, three people were killed in clashes with police during violent protests against price hikes in the Nile Delta city of Al Mahala Al Kobra. More than 100 people, mostly policemen, were injured in the clashes.

"People regard us as inhuman," said Hassan. "In many cases, demonstrators provoke and even insult us. Everybody demands better wages, but little attention is given to us," he added. "I look forward to the day when I complete my service and return to my village."

Egypt's anti-riot police are mostly composed of villagers drafted for three years under a compulsory conscription system. In January 1986, police soldiers went on a rampage in Giza, south of Cairo, after a rumour that their term would be extended by one more year. Their rioting inspired a box office local film starring the late Egyptian actor Ahmad Zaki.

This month the Ministry of Interior demanded its allocations in the public budget for the new fiscal year 2008/2009 be hiked to cope with price increases.

"Since December 2007, food prices have risen by 50 per cent, a matter that should prompt the increase of allocations," Major General Jihad Yousuf, an assistant to the Minister of Interior, told the parliament recently. He added that a sizeable portion of the ministry's budget is spent on buying communication devices and anti-riot gear in the euro whose exchange rate against the Egyptian pound has increased.

"The Ministry of Finance has reportedly responded to the demand by injecting an additional 1.18 billion Egyptian pounds [about Dh807 million] into the Ministry of Interior's new budget to reach 9 billion Egyptian pounds [about Dh6 billion].