Election Update No.17

Date: 22 January 2006

Violations of Electoral Campaigns Regulations

Security Vehicles Utilized in Electoral Campaigns

PCHR observers noticed on the first day of voting by Palestinian security forces, Saturday, 21 January 2006, that some security vehicles were used by security services during campaigning activities for Fatah.  Electoral posters and banners for Fatah were stuck on the bodies of security vehicles, while some security officials were also seen raising Fatah flags. 

These activities violate Election Law No. 9 of 2005, whose article 59-3 prescribes that "the Executive Authority and all the bodies affiliated thereto shall maintain an impartial position during all of the phases of the election process and shall not perform any electoral or campaign activity that might be construed as favoring one candidate or electoral list over another."

PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority and its security services to stop such activities and commit to the electoral campaigns regulations. 

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893

email: pchr@pchrgaza.org      website: www.pchrgaza.org