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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
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Ref: 171/2004
Date: 05 December 2004
Time: 01:00 GMT
PCHR Calls upon the PNA to Complete Procedures Related to the establishment of an Election Appeal Court
PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to complete the procedures related to the establishment of an election appeal court and decide its official location and branches in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Since the date for holding the Palestinian presidential election was decided, President of the PNA Rawhi Fattouh issued a decree on 24 November 2004 establishing an election appeal court. The decree nominated a chairperson and 4 judges for the court. On 29 November 2004, Mr. Fattouh issued another decree substituting one of the judges with another judge. According to article 35 of Law (13) of 1995 on elections, this court will consider rejections and appeals to cancel or amend decisions taken by the Palestinian Central Election Commission and will consider cases for rejections and appeals, which are allowed according to the law.
This decree is a basic step in the context of preparations for holding the Palestinian presidential election on 9 January 2005. However, the procedures for establishing the court have not been completed even though the election process started with the registration of candidates on 20 November 2004, and a preliminary list of the candidates was declared on 4 December 2004. The amended list of the candidates will be declared on 6 December 2004, and objections to the list will be open for 3 days according to article 39-1 of Law 13 of 1995. The official location and branches of the election appeal court in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have not been declared, according to the Palestinian Central Election Commission, who was contacted by PCHR. The PEC stated that it has no information regarding the official location and branches of the court.
In light of the above, PCHR calls upon the PNA to clarify theses matter because time is limited – 9 December is the deadline for appeals against decisions taken by the Palestinian Central Election Commission.
Public Document
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