Ref: 20/2007

Date: 09 April  2007

PCHR and Sharek Organize a Public Meeting on Security Chaos and Kidnapping Journalists

PCHR and Sharek Youth Forum in Rafah organized a public meeting entitled “Security Chaos and Kidnapping Journalists” today in Rafah. The meeting was held in the Rafah Municipality Public Library with the participation of activists, civil society figures, journalists, and interested individuals.

Jaber Weshah (PCHR’s deputy director) opened the meeting by stressing the importance of such events in light of the prevalence of security chaos, and the escalation in kidnapping journalists, in a way that tarnishes the image of the Palestinian people and their just cause.

During the meeting, BBC office director in Gaza, Fayed Abu Shammalah, pointed that kidnapping journalists is a general issue despite targeting a limited number of people. He also talked about abducted BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, who lived in Gaza for 3 years, and covered Israeli crimes and the suffering of Palestinians objectively and bravely. Abu Shammalah stressed that the result of abducting journalists is the isolation of the Gaza Strip and emptying it of journalists, which damages the interests of the Palestinian people.

Dr. Mohammad Hejazy (PLC member), stated that the ongoing security chaos has attached many negative characteristics to the Palestinian people in a way that tarnishes them. He pointed to the use of arms and spread of militias and authorities as the cause behind this security chaos. He pointed that the role of the PLC in this regard lies in monitoring the performance of the executive authority with regards to working against security chaos and summoning ministers and leaders of security apparatuses for questioning. He also pointed to the fact that Israeli occupation forces have kidnapped a number of PLC members, which has hindered the PLC in fulfilling its mandate.

Fatima El-Khatib (President of the General Union of Palestinian Women branch in Rafah) stated that Palestinian women are the most vulnerable sector of society to security chaos. She pointed to various results of security chaos against women such as increased violence against women, increased divorce rates, and increased domestic problems. She called for taking serious steps to put an end to security chaos. These steps include unification of efforts by civil society and security forces, increasing awareness of women about their roles and responsibilities, working through the PLC to impose the rule of law, and for the executive authority to put a practical plan to combat security chaos.

Hamdi Shaqoura (director of PCHR’s Democratic Development Unit) stated that there are two main variables the Centre uses to assess security chaos incidents: 1) the involvement of public servants, community leaders, and security forces in these incidents; and 2) the seriousness of the executive authority in pursuing and prosecuting the perpetrators of these incidents. He pointed that law-enforcement personnel are frequently involved in violations of the law. And he pointed that the PNA, especially the Attorney-General, has failed in prosecuting perpetrators of these crimes. Thus, he pointed, this encouraged further deterioration in the security chaos situation. Shaqoura pointed that the abduction of journalists is a clear example of the failure of the authority to take serious legal action against kidnappers, which encourages further crimes.

Ayman Jaber from the United Association in Rafah pointed that civil society has an important role to play in increasing public awareness on the issue. He pointed to the importance of involving the public in civil society action to ensure effective pressure on responsible parties.