28.11.07. Palestinian police and security forces attacked two peaceful marches in the West Bank towns of Ramallah and Hebron on 27 November 2007. They beat many marchers and opened fire at them killing one person. They also attacked journalists who were at the scenes to cover the protests, which were called for by community figures to demand 'upholding Palestinian fundamental rights' and protesting against Annapolis meeting in the USA. Many armed men in civilian wear joined the police. Al Mezan also condemns the continued proliferation of armed men in civilian wear who support the police and security personnel in dispersing demonstrations. This practice must be stopped immediately.
According to information retrieved from Al Haq human rights organization in the West Bank, Palestinian police forces attacked two peaceful marches. Local and international TV stations broadcast pictures showing the police violently attacking them. The first march was attacked in the Al Manara Square in the center of Ramallah. Beating demonstrators, the police pushed them to flee towards the nearby Al Quds Street where large police and security forces were waiting. The second march took place in Hebron, south of the West Bank. The police unjustifiably assaulted thousands of demonstrators using cudgels and firearms to disperse them. One citizen, 37-year-old Hisham Al Barad'i from Hebron, was killed and dozens of demonstrators and policemen were injured, as a result. In addition, 22 demonstrators were arrested.
The police also attacked journalists who were covering the events and beat many of them severely. Among those were the general manager of the Watan Television, Mr. Mo'amar Orabi, and the correspondent of Al Jazeera, Wael Al Shiyukhy. Members of the Preventive Security apparatus confiscated the ID and the camera of the Al Haq's media officer and forced him to delete images he captured before surrendering the camera to him. His ID is still held by the security.
Moreover, the security forces arrested dozens of those who participates in the marches. Among the arrested was Professor Jamal Jum'aa, the Director of the Popular Campaign against the Wall, one of the organizers of the march. Jumaa was released later yesterday evening.
Prior to the marches, the security forces attempted to obstruct them by closing main streets and the vicinities of mosques. They broke into yard of the Jamal Abdul Nasser Mosque in Al Beera town to disperse a gathering that was organized by the Al Tahreer Party, whose members protested against the Annapolis conference. The police assaulted them and arrested dozens of them.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the employment of unjustifiable violence against citizens practicing their right to peaceful assembly, which is guaranteed by law and human rights standards. The Center also condemns the arrests of and assaults on many journalists and the confiscation of materials and equipment crucial to their work, which also affected the work of the media officer of Al Haq human rights organization. These violations of, and restrictions on, public freedoms cannot be justified. The police and security officers who ordered and/or exercised such illegal violence must be brought to justice.
Al Mezan also condemns the continued proliferation of armed men in civilian wear who support the police and security personnel in dispersing demonstrations. This practice must be stopped immediately.
As Al Mezan condemns the conducts of the Palestinian security in Ramallah and Hebron, it reaffirms its strong rejection of the use of violence and lethal force as acceptable options to maintain order. The Center calls the Attorney General to initiate an investigation into these events, in which a citizen was killed and many injured, and to ensure that those who were involved be brought to justice in accord with the law.
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