Election Update No.3

Date: 18 January 2006

Violations of Electoral Campaign Regulations

Palestinian Ministry of Health Employs its Resources for the Electoral Campaign

PCHR observers have obtained a document proving that a number of staff members distributed blankets from the Ministry's warehouse to staff members who are on low salaries in order to ensure that they would vote for a specific electoral list in the upcoming legislative elections.  According to a letter sent by Dr. 'Abdul Rahman al-Barqawi, Director General of the Ministry, to a senior official at the Ministry, 6350 blankets were taken  from the Ministry's warehouse and were distributed to employees who are on low salaries.  Dr. al-Barqawi considered that this "irresponsible behavior" would impact the public interest and the fairness of elections. 

According to article 59-3 of Elections Law No. 9 of 2005, "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."

Consequently, PCHR calls upon the Ministry of Health to investigate this case, stop such offences immediately and to be committed to the Executive Authority's impartial position in all of the phases of the election process and not to intervene in favor of any party. 

             ***************

For more information please call: +972 (0)- 8 - 2824776 – 2825893.* 

*Office Hours are between 0800 – 1600 hours (0500 GMT – 1300 GMT) Sun – Thurs.

……………………………………………………………

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