Al-Erian to be Egypt's Ambassador to Myanmar….Afifi says
written by Nawal Sayed
Omar Afifi is a retired Colonel who ended his service in 2004 due to an injury. Afifi, who was born in 1963 (48 years old), was serving at the anti-drug intelligence apparatus in Cairo before being the Chief of al-Jazeera/Zamalek district police station. Throughout 20 years, Afifi was serving as the chief of General Ad
ministration of Cairo Intelligence Apparatus. During his service, he communicated with several leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood group during their investigations' period before they were referred to prisons.
Afifi strongly confirmed he had received certain news stipulating that Brotherhood leading member Essam al-Erian has been nominated to be Egypt's Ambassador to Burma. Afifi wrote on his Face-Book account "news is circulated at Egypt's Foreign Ministry that Essam al-Erian has been nominated to be Egypt's Ambassador to Burma/Myanmar. Freedom and Justice Party has made this candidacy to stop Muslims' bloodshed in Myanmar".
Afifi wondered: "Is it a polite exclusion to Essam al-Erian? Or, Is it a kind of protection from legal accountability? Or, Is he the best man for this post?!!"
Afifi addressed al-Erian via his Face-Book account and demanded him to reply to his in wonderings. Afifi said that Erian might refuse this post as he might be greedy for the people's assembly's speaker post so that he would be pleased and would not turn against his group.
"Al-Erian has made many problems to his group and the Presidency. His declarations have recently embarrassed both the group and the Presidency. Al-Erian exposed the Presidency's secrecy when he said the General Prosecutor's phone conversation with the Presidency was recorded", Afifi told Sankei Shimbun.
In a short conversation with Sankei Shimbun on Tuesday, he stressed that his information have been received from credible sources from the Foreign Ministry, the Security and the Muslim Brotherhood group. He received "deliberated leaks" that the group is pushing Essam al-Erian to accept the post of Egypt's Ambassador to Myanmar as a kind of "the safe exit" to al-Erian and a kind of "a polite protection from legal accountability".
Afifi indicated that al-Erian faces many serious lawsuits including criminal lawsuits and misdemeanors. He said al-Erian has no choice as if he "is a smart person, he will accept this appointment".
Afifi disclosed the Foreign Ministry is to carry out a reshuffle shortly as Egypt's consul in New York Post is vacant now and Egypt's Ambassador to Rome post is also vacant. He expects the announcement of al-Erian's appointment as Egypt's ambassador to Burma is to be very soon. Afifi sees this appointment is an honor as al-Erian is the perfect person at the perfect place as al-Erian will have a chance to serve the Nation in a very important place. "Burma is at a very significant area, near to Bangladesh. At least, al-Erian will receive between 15.000$ and 25.000$ monthly-besides, other advantages such as a private villa and a group of cars.
For the reasons behind al-Erian's candidacy for this post, Afifi said: "Saad al-Katatni is the one who has nominated al-Erian for this post. Of course, al-katatni's interests meet with the exclusion of al-Erian and require his disappearance. The group's leadership, represented in the Guide, al-Shater, al-katatni and President Mohammed Mursi, has suppressed al-Erian twice. The first time when they chose al-Katatni for the People's Assembly's Post instead of al-Erian. Secondly, the leadership put al-Erian away from the FJP's leadership. Al-Katatni is a clam person who can manage the party's affairs well. Now the group's leadership tends to making consensus with other political forces as the group has realized its lack of cadres and opportunities so the leadership has decided to share power honestly this time. I think this news has been leaked to us intentionally in order not to give al-Erian any chance to retreat or reconsider the matter. Egypt's Ambassador to Burma is not a bad position. On contrary, it is a very good chance to serve Muslims there as Jihad is not limited in Egypt only as he can perform Jihad anywhere".
For al-Erian's legal situation, Afify indicated that "al-Erian has suffering from a very bad situation as he faces criminal charges such as threatening the General Prosecutor. According to Egypt's Penal Code, these threats are a crime, not a just a misdemeanor especially threatening judicial figures as in this case the punishment is to be doubled. Secondly, al-Erian announced that the Presidency had recorded its conversations with the General Prosecutor and this is another criminal charge. This charge has two possibilities. If al-Erian is right, the charge is to be exposing the Presidency's secrets. If al-Erian is wrong, the charge is to be the spread of false information. Third, he has many slander and libel cases. Al-Erian enjoys no immunity so his legal situation is no bad. He also might be charged on other cases like opening and storming jails during the Egyptian Revolution in 2011".
For his personal opinion on this appointment, Afifi said if he were al-Erian, he would have accepted this chance. He pointed out to an interior conflict with the Muslim Brotherhood group itself.
Afifi stressed that leaks he had received on al-Erian's appointment as Egypt's Ambassador to Myanmar had been written already waiting for his approval as al-Erian would be Egypt's Ambassador to Burma as a Plenipotentiary Minister.
For his Part, al-Erian refused to comment on this news. Al-Erian told Sankei on Wednesday (October 31st), "I'll not respond to false news in order not to give it any importance via my response". He repeated "I'll not deny or confirm this false news".
