Palestinian Authority: Thugs, Police Abuse Peaceful Protesters

[oberliner]

(Ramallah) - The Palestinian Authority should open criminal investigations into members of its security services who apparently beat, kicked, and sexually molested protesters in Ramallah, Human Rights Watch said today. The US and European Union, which provide direct support to the Palestinian security services, should suspend such aid pending concrete steps by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to end a culture of impunity for security service abuses, including torture, Human Rights Watch said.

The violence on February 5, 2011, was the third instance since January 30 in which Palestinian security officials have harassed, interrogated, arbitrarily detained and viciously beat peaceful demonstrators.

"The PA has repeatedly responded to peaceful demonstrations with violent attacks, even as its security services enjoy impunity for systematic torture," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "What further evidence could the US and the EU possibly need that they should not hand over even more money to Palestinian security agencies until they are held accountable?"

Since January 2009 Palestinians have filed more than 360 complaints of torture against Palestinian security agencies with the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR), the official ombudsman for human rights abuses by Palestinian authorities, according to information provided to Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch has recently documented several cases of alleged torture by PA security services. No PA security official has been convicted of torture or other abuses.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/02/16/palestinian-authority-thugs-police-abuse-peaceful-protesters

[LeftishBrit]

1. I hope there is a crackdown on such practices

Perhaps the thuggish officials could take pause by observing what's been happening in neighbouring countries when people finally get sick of violence and oppressive practices by their rulers.

[oberliner]

2. Doubtful

Not a lot of accountability there.

[azurnoir]

3. Elections if Abbas actually allows them could go a long way

in changing the PA's actions in the OPT

[shaayecanaan]

4. Shameful...

serious reforms are needed.