Pal. NGOs Hit By Occupation Administration Body

Source:

Ref: 82/2011
Date: 16 August 2011
Time: 08:00 GMT

PCHR Is Shocked by Declaration of the Ministry of Interior in Gaza Regarding Travel of Representatives of Programs and Projects of NGOs and Institutions

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is shocked and strongly denounces the declaration issued by the Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza regarding the travel of representatives of programs and projects of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and institutions to the West Bank or abroad.  PCHR believes that this trend, as a part of a series of decisions recently taken by the government in Gaza, is an unprecedented and unacceptable intervention in NGOs work, which implies imposing restrictions on NGOs and activists and dealing with them on security basis. 

As a result, the foundations of the relationship between NGOs and the government, which is regulated by the Basic Law and all other laws in force, are threatened to be undermined.  PCHR calls upon Isma'il Haniya, the Prime Minister in Gaza, to immediately and personally intervene to ensure respect for the law, the relationship with NGOs and their role, and to ensure their independence. 

On 10 August 2011, the General Department of Public Affairs and NGOs in the Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza posted a declaration on its website regarding the travel of participants through NGOs' programs and activities:

"The General Department of Public Affairs and NGOs in the Ministry of Interior and National Security announces that each person of those wishing to travel through NGOs' programs or projects to the West Bank or abroad has to refer to the General Department of Public Affairs and NGOs not less than two weeks from the date of travel.  He/she also has to inform us of the following:-        
The destination-        
The period of travel-        
The purpose of travel, in addition to identifying the program-        
The target group (a list of names and data of all participants)-       
The hosting body

Oh, did I neglect to inform you that Israel is not involved?

And yes, Hamas occupies Gaza.


^