PCHR Expresses Concern Over Statement by Governmental Source in Gaza

[oberliner]

against Independent Commission of Human Rights

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses its concern regarding statements made by the Government in Gaza against the Independent Commission of Human Rights. These statements imply a threat to the Commission and its work in the Gaza Strip. PCHR calls for the cessation of the government’s campaign, which was launched in response to the Commission's criticisms of security services in Gaza, and calls upon the Government to investigate such criticism and handle it in the context of the law.

<snip>

1. PCHR calls upon the Government in Gaza to stop the campaign against the Independent Commission of Human Rights and to take all necessary steps to protect it and ensure the continuation of its work and activities without restrictions.

2. PCHR calls upon the Government in Gaza to take the positions of human rights organizations, including the Commission, seriously, to investigate acts that motivate such positions and to publish the results of investigations.

3. PCHR stresses that criticism by human rights organizations of the performance of the Government and the agenda of security services in Gaza doe not mean turning a blind eye of the performance of the Government and security services in the West Bank, and confirms that human rights organizations, including the Independent Commission of Human Rights, are mandated to criticize all violations of human rights, whether they occur in the West Bank or Gaza.

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2009/98-2009.html