Two proposals intended to curb military power have been rejected by Egypt's constitution-amending committee that could have paved the way for banning military trials for civilians.
The four-hour meeting between the military and civilian representatives in the committee yesterday ended in a deadlock with both parties refusing to budge from their respective stances.
The first amendment proposes banning military trials for civilians. The second would eliminate the need for the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), the Egyptian military's governing body, to approve the appointment of a defence minister.
The civilian representatives stressed the need for both amendments where as the representatives from the military side said the proposals would "undermine the army's status".
"The elimination of military trials for civilians in the constitution would undermine the army's status", said Deputy defence minister and committee military representative Mohamed El-Assar, as reported by the website.
As a concession, El-Assar proposed that military trials for civilians remain only for those civilians charged with "assaulting military property."
However, the committee's civilian representatives rejected the concession, insisting on prohibiting military trials for all civilians without exception.
All Egyptian constitutions, including the now-suspended 2012 constitution approved by a referendum in December, have allowed civilians to face military trials.
Thousands of citizens arrested by security forces during the military's temporary rule after the 2011 revolution were investigated by military prosecution, drawing domestic and international outcry.
Civilian representatives also voiced strong rejections to an article which states that the defence minister must be approved by the SCAF.
Military representatives justify the article on the grounds that the constitution also grants the judiciary the right to approve its appointed leader.
Former presidential candidate and committee member Amr Moussa suggested that an ad-hoc committee be formed to discuss the disagreements.
The constitution-amending committee, announced in early September by the country's interim presidency, is tasked with amending controversial articles in the now-suspended 2012 constitution.
An amended constitution draft, according to the interim government's roadmap that was implemented following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, should be ready for a national referendum within 60 days of the committee's formation.
