The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Special Human Rights Defenders Appeal Case PAL 151096.l Follow up of case PAL 151096 The International Secretariat of OMCT/SOS-Torture requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in The Palestinian Autonomous Areas. Brief reminder of the Situation The International Secretariat of OMCT was informed, by various reliable sources, of the threat to human rights group LAW: the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment. The Palestinian Authority threatened the restrict LAW's human rights monitoring and protection activities in the Palestinian Autonomous Area (Areas A). The threat was issued during a meeting between Ahmed Safi Director of Public Relations for the Non-Governmental Organizations Department in the Palestinian Interior Ministry and the Executive Director of LAW. Mr. Safi informed LAW that the Palestinian Authority requires NGOs to register with Palestinian Interior Ministry. Registration under the Palestinian Authority, which operates under a legal system which appears to offer no protection of the rights of persons engaged in the defence of human rights, and appears to be subject to ambiguity presenting serious dangers for an NGO concerned with maintaining its independence and documenting human rights abuses. Mr. Safi stated that if LAW refused to register as an NGO under the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, then the Authority would prevent LAWE from providing legal aid and monitoring human rights abuses in the Palestinian Autonomous Area (Area A). New information: According to a joint statement of human rights organizations , legislative council members, and activists in the field of Palestinian human rights, the chief of one of the security services telephoned Mr. Khader Shkirat General Director of LAW, accused him of working in a disreputable organization. He threatened Mr. Khader Shkirat and assured him that he would forbid LAW from visiting detainees. It is believed that this threat came as a result of the persistence of Mr. Khader Shkirat to pursue the case as the legal attorney of Omar Dabour (see case PAL 040297), who has been detained by the Palestinian Intelligence (Mukhabarat) in Jericho since 18 January without any official charge or trial. Action requested Please write to the Palestinian Authorities urging them to i. to publicly assure the rights of all human rights groups including LAW to carry out its monitoring and protection activities and guarantee the freedoms of all organisations as well as of all the other persons engaged in the protection of human rights to operate in all the autonomous areas. ii. assure the liberty of all persons engaged in human rights defence and take all measures to guarantee their psychological and physical integrity. iii. ensure the respect of human rights and fundamental liberties throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international standards. Addresses : Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Khadra Building, Omar al-Mukhtar Street, Gaza, via Israel. Fax : + 972 7 822 365/6 ( if voice, say "fax, please). Freih Abu Meddein, Palestinian Authority, Minister of Justice, Abu Khadra Building, Omar Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Khadra Building, Omar al-al-Mukhtar Street, Gaza, via Israel. Fax : + 972 7 822 236. Khalid al-Qidrah, Attorney General, Palestinian Authority, Attorney General Building, Yarmouk, Gaza, via Israel. Fax : + 972 7 824 503. Major-General Nasr Yussef, Commander of the Police Force, Al-Sarrayeh Building, Gaza, via Israel. Fax : + 972 7 822 803. Geneva, 10 February 1997 Kindly inform us of any undertaken action quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. Ben Schonveld Projects Manager OMCT-SOS-Torture Fax 4122 733 1051 Ph 4122 733 3140 OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture http://www.omct.org/