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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
Ref: 163/2005
Date: 13 December 2005
Time: 13:30 GMT
The PNA Is Required to Protect the CEC Offices
Armed groups of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah movement have stormed offices of the Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC) in the Gaza Strip and Nablus. They opened fire and ordered the CEC staff to leave and close these offices. These attacks have been launched in protest to the way the candidates of Fatah movement for the upcoming parliamentary elections were selected.
The pre-election stage is an integral part of the electoral process, and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is responsible for ensuring protection for all stages of the electoral process. However, armed groups of Fatah movement, the governing party of the PNA, have stormed offices of the CEC offices, impacting the electoral environment.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 12 armed masked persons, who introduced themselves as members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, broke into the CEC office in the northern Gaza Strip and ordered the staff to leave and close the office. When the staff members attempted to discuss the matter, the armed groups turned off the computer sets and prepared their guns for shooting. The staff members were forced to leave the office. When some leaders of Fatah movement in the northern Gaza Strip intervened, the gunmen opened fire into the air and left the area. The CEC office in the northern Gaza Strip is still closed. It is worth noting that this attack is the second of its kind on the CEC offices in less than 24 hours.
At approximately 12:35, 6 gunmen, including 4 masked ones, who introduced themselves as members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, stormed the CEC office in Rafah. They forced the staff to leave the office.
At approximately 12:50, a number of gunmen, who introduced themselves as members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, stormed the CEC office in Khan Yunis and held the staff inside. Less than 15 minutes layer, the Palestinian police and security forces intervened. A number of the gunmen got onto the roof of the office and exchanged fire with the police. They also threw a hand grenade at the police. The CEC staff members were forced to leave the office, which is still closed.
At approximately 13:00, dozens of gunmen from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades stormed the CEC office in Gaza City. They exchanged fire with the policemen guarding the office. Three policemen were injured. The gunmen then broke into the office and opened fire inside. Windows were broken. The gunmen ordered the staff to leave the office. The gunmen are still controlling the office.
At approximately 13:45, a number of gunmen from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade stormed the CEC office in Deir al-Balah and ordered its coordinator to close it. This attack is the second against the same office in 24 hours.
In the West Bank, at approximately 12:45, an armed group of Fatah movement stormed the CEC office in Nablus. They destroyed its equipment. The staff members were forced to leave and close the office.
The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades issued a statement calling for “postponing the legislative elections until internal elections of Fatah movement, and the sixth conference of the movement area held.” The statement, which was distributed in Rafah, asserted that “any electoral list of candidates of the movement, which is not led by Marwan Barghouthi, does not represent the movement and is not acceptable.”
PCHR strongly condemns these latest attacks on the CEC offices in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and:
1. Warns of intentions of some people to obstruct the upcoming legislative elections, which will be held on 25 January 2005.
2. Reiterates its call upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney General, to investigate these attacks and search for, and bring their perpetrators to justice.
3. Calls upon the PNA to provide full protection for CEC offices throughout Palestine to ensure that free and fair elections can be held.
4. Expresses its full support to the CEC’s efforts in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections and hopes that these elections will be held as planned on 25 January 2005.
5. Calls upon all political factions and their armed wings to show respect for the CEC offices and keep them away from partisan differences.
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