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Ref: 173/2005

Date: 28 December 2005

 Time: 10:30 GMT

In Light of the Lack of Serious Protection for the CEC Offices, PCHR Is Concerned That the PNA May Not Be Able to Hold Free and Fair Elections

Armed groups of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah movement have stormed offices of the Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC) in Rafah, Khan Yunis, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City.  They forced the CEC staff to leave and close these offices.  These attacks have been launched in protest to the way the candidates of Fatah movement for the upcoming parliamentary elections were selected.     

These latest attacks raise doubts regarding the possibility of holding free and fair elections.  The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has proved unable to provide protection for the CEC offices.  All such attacks have been launched by armed groups affiliated to Fatah movement, the PNA ruling party. 

According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 30 armed masked members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, broke into the CEC office in Rafah and forced the staff to leave and close the office. 

Also at approximately 08:00, an armed group of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, stormed the CEC office in Khan Yunis.  They forced the staff to leave the office. 

Also on Wednesday morning, 12 members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, stormed the CEC office in Deir al-Balah.  They forced the staff to leave the office.  The police force guarding the office did not intervene to stop this attack. 

At approximately 10:20, dozens of gunmen from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades stormed the CEC regional office in the Gaza Strip.  They opened fire and forced the staff to leave and close the office.  Then, they withdrew quietly.  The same armed group stormed the CEC office in Gaza City.  The gunmen forced the staff to leave and close the office.  They have surrounded the office so far.  At the time of this writing, those gunmen have surrounded the CEC regional office again. 

It is worth noting that a series of such attacks have launched on the CEC offices in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, especially before the closing date of submitting candidatures for the upcoming parliamentary elections, which was 15 December 2005.  Armed groups affiliated to Fatah movement have been responsible for these attacks.  Internal conflicts in Fatah have apparently impacted the overall electoral process.   A decision taken by the Election Appeal Committee on Monday, 26 December 2005, to allow the submission of candidature for additional 6 hours gave Fatah movement another chance to unify itself and run for the elections with one single list.  However, it seems that the movement has not been able to solve internal problems and conflicts have imposed themselves on the electoral process.     

PCHR strongly condemns these latest attacks on the CEC offices in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip denounces forcing the CEC, which is an independent, neutral body responsible for organizing elections, into internal conflicts of parties, and:

1.      Calls upon the PNA to provide full protection for CEC offices throughout Palestine to ensure that free and fair elections can be held.

2.      Reiterates its call upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney General, to investigate these attacks and search for, and bring their perpetrators to justice.

3.      Asserts that the pre-election stage is an integral part of the electoral process, and the PNA is responsible for ensuring protection for all stages of the electoral process. 

4.      Expresses its full support to the CEC’s efforts in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections and hopes that these elections will be held as planned on 25 January 2006. 

5.      Calls upon all political factions and their armed wings to show respect for the CEC offices and keep them away from partisan differences. 

-End-

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