Ref: 23/2008
Date: 13 March 2008
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Is Deeply Concerned Over Storming the Headquarters of Ramattan Press Agency by the PSS in Ramallah
PCHR is deeply concerned over storming the headquarters of Ramattan Press Agency in Ramallah by members of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service (PSS) and arresting a journalist on Wednesday. PCHR believes that this attack constitutes an assault on press freedoms and the right to freedom of expression, and stresses that the rights to freedom of expression and to receive and impart information are ensured by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights instruments.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:00 on Wednesday, 12 March 2008, armed members of the PSS, accompanied by 3 officers in civilian clothes, stormed the headquarters of Ramattan Press Agency in al-Wehaidi Building in al-Masyoun neighborhood in Ramallah. They requested Nawaf Ibrahim al-‘Aamer, 48, an editor, to accompany them. However, he asked them to show an arrest warrant, and they showed a warrant issued by the Attorney General’s office allowing entering the headquarters and arresting him. Members of the PSS confiscated all belongings of al-‘Aamer and a computer set. They also broke into the dormitory of the agency’s staff and confiscated all documents in the room where al-‘Aamer lives. They then arrested him.
In his testimony to PCHR, journalist Nawaf al-‘Aamer stated:
“… They took me in a military vehicle to the headquarters of the PSS in Ramallah. They took my personal data and photographed me. They then moved me to the headquarters of the PSS in Bitounia town. They interrogated me in 6 sessions. They asked me about my e-mail and wanted to have my password. They wanted to check my e-mail claiming that there are materials related to Palestinian security. I refused to open my e-mail without the presence of my director or the President of the Union of Journalists, but they insisted. At approximately 23:00, I agreed to open my e-mail on a private computer. They allowed a relative of mine to come and bring a laptop. I opened my e-mail, and the interrogators downloaded all messages. At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 13 March 22008, they released me after Ramattan Press Agency and other people had mediated. However, they requested me to come to the headquarters of the PSS at 14:00 to continue the interrogation.”
PCHR is deeply concerned over storming the headquarters of Ramattan Press Agency and arresting the journalist and forcing him to reveal his personal data, and:
1) Stresses that this assault constitutes a violation of the Amended Basic Law whose article 32 prescribes: “Each aggression committed against any personal freedom, against private life of human being, or against any of rights or freedom, which have been guaranteed by the law or by this basic law, shall be considered as a crime. Criminal and civil case resultant from such infringement shall not be subject to any status of limitation.”
2) Expresses utmost concerns over the recurrence of assaults against the right to freedom of expression, and calls for providing protection to journalists and media institutions and take necessary measures to allow them to work freely.
3) Asserts that the right to freedom of expression is ensured by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights instruments.
4) Calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to arrest the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice.
