Press Release

Press Release issued by PINGO

Date: 9 February 2000

The following is a translation of a press release issued on 8 February 2000 by the Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organisations.

“The Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (PINGO) received with optimism the establishment of the Palestinian Ministry for Non-Governmental Organisations Affairs, and its role in accordance with the Presidential decree of 9 July 1999. Furthermore, PINGO responded positively to the initiative of the Palestinian Minister for NGOs Affairs, which we believed reflected sincere intentions and actual efforts to secure a healthy environment for the work of non-governmental organisations. Particularly since this initiative came in the context of a very tense environment created by Al Nashara magazine through its sustained campaign of defamation against Palestinian non-governmental activities including attacks on individuals and institutions whose records are spotless and whose national and professional history are lengthy.

Despite the previous agreement to end the policy of defamation, and the pledge made by the Minister to guarantee this, Al Nashara did not commit itself to the agreement nor to the Minister’s pledge. We were shocked to find that the most recent issue of Al Nashara, of January 2000, published inflammatory lies and falsifications against the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and its staff.

In response, the member organisations of PINGO continued to support the efforts of the Minister, even after the breach of the agreement by Al Nashara. These organisations responded positively to the Minister’s reassurance that the campaign of defamation and accusation be stopped, whilst the right of all to freely express their opinions in a democratic manner be reserved. Once again however, the people behind this defamation campaign persist in their inflammatory methods, even after the most recent agreement and the pledges of the Minister. This is clearly aimed at damaging the Minister’s efforts to end the crisis, and at creating an atmosphere of tension.

We, at PINGO, while reasserting the right of all to freely express their opinions and criticisms in a democratic and civilized manner, condemn strongly all forms of defamation and express our absolute objection to these inflammatory tactics. We further express the following:

1. Our objection to dealing with the people behind this inflammatory campaign, and our refusal to attend any meeting in which they participate.
2. PINGO and its members reserve their right to take legal action, as they see fit.
3. We demand that the Palestinian Minister for NGOs Affairs fulfil his pledges and commitments and his responsibilities to take necessary measures against those who violated the agreements sponsored by him. We believe that the continuation of this kind of campaign insults the Minister and undermines his efforts to achieve the Ministry’s first priority of creating a healthy and democratic atmosphere for the work of Palestinian NGOs.”

 

 PINGO

Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organisations

Gaza