US, EU Should Suspend Security Assistance to PA Unless Abuses are Addressed
"(Ramallah) - The Palestinian Authority should end police violence against peaceful demonstrators, the latest instance being an attack against demonstrators at an evening rally on February 2, 2011, in Ramallah in support of the Egypt protests, Human Rights Watch said today. Police punched, kicked, and detained participants in the demonstration, as well as at least two journalists and a Human Rights Watch research assistant.
"The Palestinian Authority should immediately make clear that its ‘state-building' training of security forces does not include beating peaceful demonstrators," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The PA should take action against the responsible police officers or the US and EU should find another use for their taxpayers' money."
Protesters began to arrive at Manara Square in downtown Ramallah at 9 p.m. in response to messages sent out earlier in the day via Facebook and SMS asking people to demonstrate in solidarity with protesters in Egypt. The number of protesters swelled to around 100 to 150 people, who chanted slogans such as, "Long live Egypt!" and "Mubarak, Mubarak, Ben Ali is waiting for you," a reference to the ousted Tunisian president. Human Rights Watch observed as Palestinian Authority (PA) police gathered at the side of the square.
"(Ramallah) - The Palestinian Authority should end police violence against peaceful demonstrators, the latest instance being an attack against demonstrators at an evening rally on February 2, 2011, in Ramallah in support of the Egypt protests, Human Rights Watch said today. Police punched, kicked, and detained participants in the demonstration, as well as at least two journalists and a Human Rights Watch research assistant.
"The Palestinian Authority should immediately make clear that its ‘state-building' training of security forces does not include beating peaceful demonstrators," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The PA should take action against the responsible police officers or the US and EU should find another use for their taxpayers' money."
Protesters began to arrive at Manara Square in downtown Ramallah at 9 p.m. in response to messages sent out earlier in the day via Facebook and SMS asking people to demonstrate in solidarity with protesters in Egypt. The number of protesters swelled to around 100 to 150 people, who chanted slogans such as, "Long live Egypt!" and "Mubarak, Mubarak, Ben Ali is waiting for you," a reference to the ousted Tunisian president. Human Rights Watch observed as Palestinian Authority (PA) police gathered at the side of the square.
The demonstration had been peaceful when regular police and "special forces" police, identifiable by their uniforms, began beating demonstrators without warning. Police used teargas and batons to disperse the protesters. A police officer told Human Rights Watch that "all the security forces were present tonight," including police detectives and officers from the Preventive Security agency and General Intelligence Service, all in street clothes.
Human Rights Watch saw police continuing to beat protesters after they were arrested while taking the protesters to the police station. Police grabbed participants by the neck, punched them in the face, and hit them in the legs and torso with their knees........
The US and the EU should suspend aid to Palestinian Authority security forces unless the Palestinian authorities take appropriate measures to end such abuses and allow Palestinians to enjoy their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, Human Rights Watch said."
Human Rights Watch saw police continuing to beat protesters after they were arrested while taking the protesters to the police station. Police grabbed participants by the neck, punched them in the face, and hit them in the legs and torso with their knees........
The US and the EU should suspend aid to Palestinian Authority security forces unless the Palestinian authorities take appropriate measures to end such abuses and allow Palestinians to enjoy their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, Human Rights Watch said."
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