The expiring of the legal period of the appointed Acting Council of the Bar Association in Palestine

 

Ref.,: 58/2000

Date: 11^th May, 2000

On 9 May 2000 the legal period of the appointed Acting Council of the Palestinian Bar Association expired, according to Law Three of 1999. The Acting Council’s legal period expired without having taken the necessary steps to hold an election for the Head and Council of the Bar Association. Nonetheless, the Acting Council is continuing its attempts to bypass the law with the aim of extending the legal period of its jurisdiction without any logical or legal basis.

On 10 May 2000 a local newspaper published an announcement issued by the Acting Council in which the council declared it would continue to operate until an election was held.

The Acting Council’s decision to extend its period is further evidence of the council’s disrespect both for the law and for the will of the members of the Bar Association. This has been evident since the establishment of the Acting Council. On many occasions the council has acted in contradiction to the law and the will of the members. This includes not calling the Annual Meeting of the General Assembly of the Bar Association to be held on the due date, and the refusal of the council’s Head and members to leave their positions in accordance with the law.

PCHR expressed its deep concern at these violations of the law by the very people who should be defending and actively promoting the rule of law. Moreover, PCHR warns that these violations have potentially grave consequences. In addition, PCHR calls upon all lawyers to take all necessary measures to protect the Palestine Bar Association against these actions, and to preserve the legacy of the Bar Association in defending Palestinian rights. Palestinian lawyers are called on to fight for a democratic Bar Association that affirms the rule of law and that will allow lawyers to carry out their role in leading the struggle to affirm and assert the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, as set out in the relevant international conventions.

“END”