A private estate called Egypt

There is a lot more behind Hosni Mubarak digging in his heels and setting his
thugs on the peaceful protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square than pure politics. This
is also about money Under sweeping privatisation policies, they appropriated
profitable public enterprises and vast areas of state-owned lands. A small group
of businessmen seized public assets and acquired monopoly positions in
strategic commodity markets such as iron and steel, cement and wood. While
crony capitalism flourished, local industries that were once the backbone of the
economy were left to decline. At the same time, private sector industries making
environmentally hazardous products like ceramics, marble and fertilisers have
expanded without effective regulation at a great cost to the health of the
population.
A tiny economic elite controlling consumption-geared production and imports
has accumulated great wealth. This elite includes representatives of foreign
companies with exclusive import rights in electronics, electric cables and
automobilesMuch of this development is on public land acquired at very low
prices, with no proper tendering or bidding.

It is estimated that around a thousand families maintain control of vast areas of

the economy. This business class sought to consolidate itself and protect its
wealth through political office. The National Democratic party was their
primary vehicle for doing so. This alliance of money and politics became
flagrant in recent years when a number of businessmen became government
ministers with portfolios that clearly overlapped with their private interests.

The legitimate social and economic demands of the people were repressed and
denied, and the regime used the police to control the population. Under
emergency laws, the police acquired extensive powers and engaged in
surveillance and monitoring of the population. Torture and abuse in police
stations became routine. Police roadblocks and checks were part of the daily
reality of Egyptians. Under the generalised corruption, the police engaged in
extortion and offered their services to private interests.