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Ref: 61/2005

Date: 09 May 2005

Time: 09:30 GMT  

PCHR Calls for Investigation into an Attack on a CEC Office 

PCHR is deeply concerned by an attack launched by an armed group on the office of the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Deir al-Balah.  The group forced the CEC to close election registration centers in the central Gaza Strip.  PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to investigate this attack and bring its perpetrators to justice. 

According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 8 May 2005, nine members of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade of Fatah movement, seven of whom were masked and armed, raided the CEC office in the Deir al-Balah, which serves the central Gaza Strip.  The groups requested director of the office, Jameel Tawfiq al-Khaldi, 42, and his staff to close the office and all election registration centers throughout the central Gaza Strip.  The director was forced, following contacts with the CEC in Ramallah, to close the office and registration centers for one day.  PCHR observers reported that the office and registration centers reopened this morning. 

The CEC has started complementary registration of electors since Saturday, 7 May 2005, in preparation for parliamentary elections that will be held on 17 July 2005.  This process is expected to continue for two weeks.  The armed group claimed that the CEC employed individuals who are not impartial.  It is worth noting that this attack came in the context of an atmosphere of tension that has spread over several areas in the Gaza Strip following the second stage of elections of Palestinian local councils, which was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005.  These elections are organized and supervised by the Higher Committee for Local Elections not the CEC.  Fatah movement has raised doubts about the impartiality of the Higher Committee for Local Elections and its district committees, especially in Rafah. 

PCHR issued a preliminary evaluation of the second stage of local elections, concluding that the electoral process was fair and transparent.  PCHR pointed out that its observers documented many violations during the polling and counting of votes, but these violations did not damage the essence of the electoral process nor did they affect its results.  PCHR also highly appreciated efforts made by the Higher Committee for Local Elections to ensure fairness of the electoral process, and hoped that the Committee would declare the official results without being influenced by any pressure, reflecting impartiality and neutrality of the Committee. 

In light of the above:

1)      PCHR strongly condemns the attack of the CEC office in Deir al-Balah and calls for investigation it and bringing its perpetrators to justice.

2)      PCHR condemns the use of violent means by any party and calls upon factions to operate within the law, including resorting to the judiciary, which has the authority to consider electoral appeals.

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org