Human Rights Day: A Call for
International Observers
it
is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have
recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and
oppression, that human rights should be protected by the
rule of law,
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
December 10th
marks the date fifty-three years ago when the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed, with its vision
of a world in which everyone might enjoy all rights and
freedoms without discrimination. On this occasion, the
Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG) urgently
calls upon the international community to send international
observers to the occupied Palestinian territories in order
to protect human rights and ensure that the rule of law is
upheld.
We are gravely
troubled by the recent escalation of violence and the
blatant disregard for the principles of human rights being
exhibited by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the
United States. Israeli aggression against civilian
Palestinian targets has been allowed to continue unchecked
in recent weeks, and there are strong indications that the
Israeli government will respond to the most recent suicide
bombing in Haifa with more violence against the Palestinian
population. We strongly condemn the acts of violence last
week in which Israeli civilians lost their lives, and
encourage the Palestinian Authority to act against the
perpetrators of these crimes within the framework of the
law. In the past, the Palestinian Authority has conducted
politically motivated arrests with complete disregard for
due process, and individuals have been illegally detained
without official charges. We are concerned that the recent
arrests of Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists may become an
extension of this illegal practice.
It is the
position of the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group
that the principles of human rights must be upheld at all
times. We believe that the pressure being applied by Israel
and the United States makes it virtually impossible for the
Palestinian Authority to conduct these arrests in a manner
consistent with international law. In doing so, Israel and
the United States are acting in a manner inconsistent with
the principles of democracy they claim to support and
uphold.
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