CAIRO: Mediation by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) ended a long-standing conflict between three key tribes in Sinai that has left around 120 cars hijacked and dozens of Bedouins injured over the years, according to activists.
The Sawarkeh, Fawakhreya Armillat tribes have feuded over business transactions, land possession and day to day dealings since long before the January 25 Revolution, say North Sinai activists and journalists.
Tribal judge of Sawarekeh, Hassan Khalaff, explained that the tribes of North Sinai resorted to hijacking the cars of tribesmen from other tribes in conflict with them to impose what is known as “tawsiq”, a systematic blackmailing strategy which aims to force enemies to resort to common law councils to resolve conflicts.
According to North Sinai journalist and activist Mustapha Singer, weapons are often used to hijack cars for that purpose and dozens of people have been injured in the process.
Khalaff, however, denies that there were any injuries.
These common law councils replace the police and traditional legal system and were usually coordinated by security forces.
Residents of North Sinai have long complained of the maltreatment of security forces under the former corrupt regime. However their sentiments towards the military are completely different.
“The sons of Sinai have always been on good terms with the army,” Khalaff told Daily News Egypt in a telephone interview. “The military is loved by the people and it has never wronged us, unlike the police forces.”
“There’s mutual trust between the military and the people of Sinai as the military seeks to find a real solution for the people’s problems,” Singer told DNE.
Singer said that the heads of the tribes are now working with security bodies to issue a proposal to eliminate tawsiq, which has been implemented in Sinai since 2007.
“There’s popular demand from the people of Sinai to cancel tawsiq because it can be dangerous and increases the use of weapons,” he added.
Khalaff and Singer said that all the hijacked cars have been returned to their rightful owners, who agreed to resolve their conflicts amicably. The date of the next common law council meeting is yet to be set.
“The governor [of Sinai] or security forces usually coordinate with the tribes to set a date for these councils; they are in the process of doing that,” Khalaff said.
