|
|
|
|
|
TITLE: Arafat Promises Independent Judiciary |
AUTHOR: Ibarahim Barzaq |
PUB: AP |
DATE: March 10, 2001 |
|
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat promised an independent Palestinian judiciary Saturday. Palestinian human rights activists have accused the Palestinian Authority of various human rights abuses, including interfering with the judicial process. "There is no one above the law, from me to the smallest person," Arafat said at the Palestinian Legislative Council's first full plenary session since fighting with Israel broke out five months ago. Trials in the Palestinian autonomous zones are often conducted in military courts that administer swift justice. Defendants do not have the right to name their own counsel and cannot appeal. Since the latest round of fighting began, the courts have issued death sentences for several Palestinians convicted of collaborating with Israel, with executions typically carried out the same day. Such quick trials have also been held in cases having nothing to do with Israel. In one case, a Palestinian colonel was executed two hours after being convicted of raping a child. The Palestinian Prisoners' Support and Human Rights Association has called for civilian courts, saying the military court system "contravenes all internationally accepted standards of human rights and the rule of law, and does not fulfill the conditions of a fair trial." Arafat also promised that elections would be held for the civil governors who administer the various districts of the Palestinian autonomy, something the Palestinian public has been demanding for years. However, the elections cannot be held until Israel lifts its blockade of the Palestinian areas, he said. The 88-member parliament had been unable to hold a full session until Saturday because of the blockade. END |