PRESS RELEASE RELEASED @ 2:00 GMT 6^TH MAY 1998The Palestinian Center for Human Rights

will participate in local monitoring of the by-election for the Gaza constituency

Complementing its role in the local monitoring of the Palestinian General Elections of January 1996, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights has decided to monitor the by-election for the Gaza constituency scheduled to be held 29 May 1998 to elect a successor to Dr. Haidar Abdel Shafi, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council who resigned on 30 March 1998.

In his letter of resignation, Dr. Abdel Shafi criticized the Palestinian Executive Authority, which according to him, “turned its back on constitutional coordination and cooperation.” In addition, he criticized the Executive for delays in promulgating the Palestinian Basic Law, an indication according to Dr. Abdel Shafi that the Authority does not pay the least attention to constitutional principles. Dr. Abdel Shafi further expressed his regret for the fact that the Office of the Speaker of the Council has not stood firmly against the practices of the Executive and its non-compliance with constitutional principles.

According to Palestinian Election Law (1995), a by-election to choose a new member of the council shall take place within 60 days of the appearance of a vacancy. The Palestinian Electoral Commission has already taken measures to hold the by-election on 29 May 1998.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights is currently involved in pursuing all aspects of the electoral process on a daily basis. A special monitoring team has been founded and its members have been accredited by the central electoral commission as local monitors. In the following days, the PCHR will issue special releases on the most recent development of the electoral process and will produce a comprehensive report about the election.