Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the Executive Force's (EF) suppression of a peaceful march organized by PLO factions in Gaza today morning.
The EF tried to prevent the media from covering the march.
The organizers called the demonstrators to disperse just after reading their statement out of fear that violent clashes would erupt between the demonstrators and the EF.
The march was organized to protest a decision by the EF prohibiting demonstrations without a prior permission from the EF.
The decision was announced yesterday, 12 August 2007.
Al Mezan's fieldworker, who was present at the scene, reported that hundreds of people gathered before the Palestinian legislative Council (PLC) building in Gaza at approximately 11am on Monday, 13 August 2007.
According to the organizers, the march aimed to protest against the current political and living conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) as well as the infringements upon citizens' freedom and wellbeing.
As people started to gather, the EF deployed many of its members, who carried rifles and sticks, and attempted to prevent them from reaching the PLC's court.
Moreover, EF members prevented journalists and cameramen from covering the event.
It assaulted Muhammad Al Sawalhi, the cameraman of Abu Dhabi satellite TV.
They also attacked the crew of Ramattan News Agency and seized a camera and two cassettes from them.
They also warned journalists of seizing their cameras if they took pictures or footage of the march.
It was also reported that EF members assaulted a leader of a political faction and seized Palestinian flags that were raised by the demonstrators.
In the same context, the EF broke in to the office of the Alarabiya-MBC TV in Gaza City, which is located in the 12th floor of Al Shurouq Building.
They forced the office director, Riham Abdul Kareem, to surrender a video camera and took it with them.
Al Mezan condemns the violent suppression of the peaceful march and the assaults on citizens and journalists, and the seizure of their equipment, by the EF.
These conducts represent serious breaches of the Palestinian law and human rights standards, which protect the right to peaceful assembly, to a free press and to freedom of expression.
Al Mezan views with much concern the decision prohibiting organizing marches and gatherings without a prior permission from the EF.
This decision breaches the Rule of Law as it is inconsistent with the Palestinian Basic Law and the Law on Public Gatherings No.
12 Year 1998.
The latter law provides protections and measures that guarantee citizens' right to organize peaceful gatherings, without a prior permission.
It places one condition on the organizers: to submit a written 'notification' to the Director of the Police or the Governor at least 48 hours before the gathering is held.
The law determines that the purpose of the notification is to ensure the Police protection of the gathering and ensure that its route does not affect the traffic.
In case the organizers do not receive a written approval to their submission, they then have the right to hold the gathering in the fixed appointment.
In addition, Al Mezan views the EF's decision as contrary to article 26(5) of Palestinian Basic Law, which recognizes Palestinians' rights to participate in the political life freely, to convene private meetings without the presence of the police, and to organize public gatherings within the limitations of the law.
It also breaches article 2 of Law on Public Gatherings, which provides that citizens have the right to organize pubic gatherings, seminars and marches freely; and that no restrictive measures on such activities may be imposed, except those stipulated in this law.
Al Mezan reminds that on 29 February 2000 the then Director General of the Police published an announcement in Palestinian newspapers, in which he prohibits organizing public gatherings or peaceful demonstrations without a prior permission from the Police.
Human rights NGOs as well as all the political factions protested against that decision.
Al Mezan therefore calls the EF to revoke this decision and to stop implementing it immediately.
Al Mezan emphasizes that the respect of the rule of law requires genuine protection of the fundamental freedoms, notably the right to peaceful assembly.
Al Mezan also calls for a prompt investigation into the assaults by EF members against demonstrators and journalists.
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