Al Mezan Calls for Facilitation of the Work of the Central Elections Committee, Increased Impartiality, Avoidance of Political Conflict

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced that the opening of voter registration offices in the Gaza Strip, scheduled to open Tuesday, 3 July 2012, will be delayed.
  This delay is due to the Hamas government’s decision to temporarily suspend voter registration.
  The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights received an email copy of a press release published by Hamas’ Gaza Strip spokesman, Dr.
Sami Abu Zuhri, in which he stressed the cooperation of Hamas and Gaza’s government with the CEC in the registration of voters in the Gaza Strip, though in fact the process of voter registration has been stalled since the last election in January 2006.
  This stalling is a residual effect of the geographical, administrative, and political divide between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
  However, throughout this period of stalling, the voter registry has been updated in the cities of the West Bank.
  This point is emphasized by Abu Zuhri as a reason supporting Hamas’ decision to temporarily delay the CEC’s work in the Gaza Strip, with the exception of registration for a fraction of citizens without Palestinian identification cards or any other form of identification to facilitate their registration.
  This decision is politically motivated and not at all related to the CEC’s work.
  The CEC previously explained the election monitoring process to the relevant organizations.
  It is the right of every Palestinian to be registered to vote, including receipt of personal identification documents such as travel documents or a temporary identity card from Gaza’s Ministry of Interior.
  The CEC took all measures available to ensure that Palestinians have the opportunity to realize their right to register to vote, even if they are missing identity documents.
  Furthermore, the CEC informed the public that Palestinian law grants both husband and wife the right to vote.
  Therefore, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights repeats its call for facilitation of the CEC’s work to register voters, increased impartiality and professionalism, and the end of instigation of political conflict.
  Al Mezan places particular emphasis on the following points:   Most of the reasons given to justify the delay of the CEC’s work do not relate to their work itself, but rather are an extension of the political conflicts that exist between Hamas and Fatah.
  Any observations or concerns regarding the work of the CEC should be discussed with the CEC, particularly issues involving a voter’s lack of proper identification.
  This is especially significant because the CEC has acknowledged this requirement, both by declaring identification a prerequisite for registration and by requiring proof of citizenship, as the CEC has publicized through various means including political parties, journalists, and NGOs.
Hamas’ objection to the CEC’s recruitment work in the Gaza Strip is based on Hamas’ accusation that the recruitment process is nontransparent and unfair.
  The recruitment process must be monitored in coordination with the CEC through access to all its phases, including the points at which positions are first publicized, applications are screened, and interviews are conducted.
  If there are still accusations of corruption or denial of due process, this issue can be addressed through the joint efforts of the CEC and Hamas.
Any stance relating to the prevention of the CEC’s work must be the official position of Gaza’s government and not the Hamas movement.
  The political parties may come to agreements on basic ideals, and such agreement is necessary to end the present political division.
  However, facilitating or complicating the work of the CEC because of disagreement on the ground is a problem that is to be resolved by the government of Gaza, as it is the ruling party over the entire Gaza Strip.
  This is not the role of the Hamas movement, even if it perceives its role this way.
  Furthermore, this issue should be addressed and resolved through proper and professional channels, not through the media.
Imposing on the CEC responsibility for violations of the human rights of Palestinians committed by the Ramallah government in the West Bank is in contravention of the law, especially as regards violations of personal freedoms and civil liberties, and, most recently, the police brutality targeting peaceful protesters in Ramallah opposing Mofaz’s meeting with Mahmoud Abbas at the end of June.
  These are issues that the CEC plays no role in and has no political control over, just as it plays no role in influencing the decisions of the Gazan government.
The registration of voters and the updating of voter registration is a technical process that does not necessarily need to be followed up by an election - rather, this is a procedure undertaken regularly to preserve the rights of those Palestinian citizens who meet the conditions required to participate in elections.
  This also includes their right to participate in the elections by submitting a blank ballot on election day.
  Forestalling updating of the registry has deprived 250,000 new voters, who have reached the age of 17 and will be 18 by the date of the election, of their right to participate.
  In contrast, the voter registry in the West Bank is updated regularly.
  The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights emphasizes the importance of elections and the vital role human rights organizations assign them in providing for the peaceful transition of political power.
  Electoral participation is also one method by which citizens can take part in the political process, civil engagement, and the managing of national affairs.
  In addition, because participation in elections and the election process is the right of the citizen, it is protected by the Palestinian Basic Law.
  However, Al Mezan stresses that every election in Palestine must meet the basic conditions that serve as fundamental safeguards to ensure that elections reflect the will of the voters and guarantee to the candidates and political parties equal opportunities to win the trust of the voters.
  Therefore, Al Mezan emphasizes the importance of elections and their important role in the democratic system, in the peaceful transfer of power, in upholding basic human rights, and as a tool available to citizens to help them hold their government’s officials and political parties representing them accountable.
  Furthermore, Al Mezan stresses that these goals cannot be achieved without national consensus between the different components of civil society, political groups, and the society at large.
  Al Mezan also stresses the distinction between unification of the political system and national consensus, because the latter can be achieved even in times of political division.
  There is plenty of evidence of this national consensus in the service sector, including utilities, education, healthcare, youth activities, recreation, civil affairs, and education.
  Al Mezan stresses that the updating of the voter registry does not alone determine the outcome of the election, and the purpose of updating the registry is to protect the right of the voter to participate in elections.
  The compilation of a registry that is accurate, comprehensive, and effective is standard in free and fair elections.
  This process reaffirms the belief that lack of consensus will result in the transfer of power without elections at the expense of freedom and integrity.
  The elimination of a major component of what establishes the integrity and freedom of an election cannot be permitted, particularly when it relates to the promotion of rule of law, freedoms of opinion and expression, the right to peacefully assemble, etc.
  Therefore, elections are not a final goal, rather they are means for reaching the goals of establishing the peaceful transfer of power and encouraging political participation as a vital individual right.
  In light of this understanding and based on the human rights standards that constitute Al Mezan’s frame of reference, Al Mezan calls for the facilitation of the work of the CEC with respect to updating of the voter registry in the Gaza Strip; educating citizens on issues concerning elections, and all activities related to the work of the CEC in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; action to preserve its neutrality; strict focus on its professional duties; and preventing political conflict resulting from the Palestinian political division without interfering in these conflicts.