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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
Ref: 161/2005
Date: 12 December 2005
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns Attack on CEC Office in Deir al-Balah
An armed group, calling itself the “al-Aqza Martyrs Brigades – al-Yasser Brigade,” stormed the office of the Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC) in Deir al-Balah on Monday morning. The group demanded the staff to close the office, in protest to the way in which candidates of Fatah movement for the Palestinian parliamentary elections were selected.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:15 on Monday, 12 December 2005, 10 armed persons broke into the CEC office in Deir al-Balah and ordered the staff to leave and close the office. They handed a leaflet signed by “al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades – al-Yasser Brigades” to the staff. The leaflet criticized the way in which candidates of Fatah movement in Deir al-Balah for the parliamentary elections were selected, referring to the nomination of the candidates by the Central Committee of Fatah movement rather than through primary elections in the movement.
It is worth noting that this attack is the first of its kind in the Gaza Strip. The CEC office in Deir al-Balah was subject to a similar attack. On 8 May 2005, an armed group claiming to be from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah movement, stormed the CEC office in the Deir al-Balah, which serves the central Gaza Strip. The group requested the director of the office and his staff to close the office and all election registration centers throughout the central Gaza Strip. The director was forced, following contact with the CEC in Ramallah, to close the office and registration centers for one day. On 14 November 2005, the CEC office in Rafah was also subject to a similar attack. An armed group, calling itself the “Islamic Army”, stormed the office of the CEC office in Rafah. The group demanded the staff to close the office, and handed a leaflet signed by the “Islamic Army” to the staff and fled quickly.
It is worth noting that the CEC is an independent, neutral commission that organizes the whole electoral process of the Palestinian Legislative Council, including receiving candidature applications until 14 December 2005. It has no relation with internal problems of Palestinian parties.
PCHR strongly condemns this attack on the CEC office in Deir al-Balah, and:
1. Calls upon the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), represented by the Attorney General, to investigate this attack and search for, and bring its perpetrators to justice.
2. Calls upon the PNA to provide full protection for CEC offices throughout Palestine to ensure that free and fair elections can be held.
3. Expresses its full support to the CEC’s efforts in preparation for the next parliamentary elections and hopes these elections will be held as planned on 25 January 2005.
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