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Ref: 46/2010
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns
statements made by Ihab al-Ghussein, Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, as
reported in the media, in which he directed vague and ambiguous accusations of
collaboration with the Israeli occupation forces to figures described as
“leaders” in civil society organizations. PCHR sees in these accusations, and the way
they were covered by Hamas-affiliated media, a campaign of distortion and
defamation of the work of civil society organizations in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. PCHR demands that
the government in Gaza clarify its position regarding these statements made by
a government official, which are reminiscent of the slanderous political
discourse and tabloids that were sponsored by the Palestinian National
Authority against civil society and human rights organizations in the mid 1990s.
In its issue no. 1096, published on 10 June 2010, Palestine Daily
quoted the Mr. Al-Ghussein, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior in a press
conference on Wednesday, 9 June 2010 as saying: “Influential figures in
non-governmental organizations gave up to security services in response to the
deadline specified by the Palestinian government in the context of efforts of the
national campaign against collaboration with the occupation.” Mr. Al-Ghussein added: “We were
surprised as a number of these figures assume leadership and important
positions in non-governmental and civil society organizations.” “A
number of veteran collaborators who were not suspected gave up to security
services.”
Previously, Palestine Daily published in its issue no. 1078 of
23 May 2010 an article by journalist Mustafa al-Sawwaf titled “Be Lenient
with [Palestinian] Human Rights Centers.” The article was then published later on many websites close to Hamas. In his article, al-Sawwaf accused human
rights centers of submitting to funding conditions. He explained that if these centers do not
submit to funding conditions, they “will not receive financial support
which constitutes the lifeline for these centers. Such support does not only constitute the
lifeline for these centers, but it also ensures high level luxury in spite of
the slogans of social justice, equity and fighting of corruption they are
calling for.” He further made other politicized and unprofessional
accusations.
PCHR condemns statements made by the Spokesman of the
Ministry of Interior and reported by Hamas-affiliated media, and:
1- Takes these vague and ambiguous
statements seriously and considers them as part of a derogatory campaign directed
against civil society and non-governmental organizations. PCHR notes that these statements coincide
with allegations made by official parties against non-governmental
organizations for different motives, including the recent closure of seven
organizations by the Internal Security Service in Gaza and Rafah in late May;
2- Demands the government in Gaza clarify
its position towards these official statements made by the Ministry of Interior
and to officially apologize to civil society organizations for these slanderous
statements;
3- Notes with concern increasing sentiments
issued by entities close to the government in Gaza slandering non-governmental
and human rights organizations and denying their role in the struggle to defend
Palestinian national and human rights. This
campaign of slander is unfortunately reminiscent of previous campaigns directed
against non-governmental and human rights organizations led by Khalil al-Ziben.
which aimed at prejudicing the public toward civil society actors and
distorting its image;
4- Strongly rejects these unprofessional
statements, especially the ambiguous generalization adopted by the Ministry of
Interior, which characterize non-governmental and human rights organizations as
sanctuary for collaborators. These
statements are completely unacceptable and must be withdrawn. PCHR demands the Ministry of Interior publish
the available data regarding the identity of persons alleged to collaborate
with the Israeli occupation forces in accordance with the applicable legal
standards and to bring those persons to justice. PCHR further stresses that it rejects and
condemns the generalized accusations practically and legally;
5- Stresses that non-governmental
and human rights organizations play a leading role in the struggle for the
legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, the end of the occupation
and self-determination. PCHR also
stresses that civil society organizations play a leading role in promoting the
principles of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights within the
Palestinian society. PCHR notes that the
civil society organizations have struggled for years in order to promote these
principles;
6- Reminds that non-governmental and
human rights organizations have confronted, for fifteen years, with political
arrests, imposition of restrictions on the freedom of opinion and expression,
closure of non-governmental organizations and suppression of public freedoms by
Palestinian security services. In spite
of this, they have defended democracy and elections. PCHR asserts that even the hint of denying
these roles is disappointing and a distortion of the history;
7- Renews its firm position regarding
the duty of the Palestinian Authority to prosecute collaborators, bring them to
justice and hold them accountable in accordance with the provisions of the law. Collaborators are an integral part of the occupation
and one of its most dangerous tools implanted in the body of the Palestinian
people.
