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http://www.alternativenews.org PA Violently Suppresses Palestinian Rally in Support of Egyptian People For the second time this week, the Palestinian Authority security forces prevented a peaceful demonstration from taking place. On Tuesday, 2 February, police used violence to disperse a demonstration in support of the Egyptian revolution, that was taking place in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Police punched, kicked, and detained participants in the demonstration, as well as at least two journalists, reported a Human Rights Watch research assistant. Protesters began arriving in Manara Square in downtown Ramallah at 9 p.m. Messages had been sent out earlier via Facebook and SMS encouraging the solidarity demonstration to show support for protesters in Egypt. Around 150 people chanted slogans such as, "Long live Egypt!" and "Mubarak, Mubarak, Ben Ali is waiting for you.” The demonstration was entirely peaceful when police began beating participants without warning, using batons and teargas to disperse the crowd. "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, in response to the police brutality. "The PA should take action against the responsible police officers or the US and EU should find another use for their taxpayers' money." On Sunday, 30 January, Palestinian security forces also prevented a solidarity demonstration from taking place in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Ramallah, contending it was a “closed security area”. The Palestinian Authority prevented conduct of a similar demonstration in solidarity with the uprising in Tunisia last week. According to Palestinian law, the authorities must be notified 48 hours prior to holding a demonstration. The police stated that all Palestinian organizations reached agreement not to conduct rallies or demonstrations without permits. According to Human Rights Watch, he European Union gave the Palestinian Authority more than €230 million (US$315 million) last year, including for a police training program called EUPOL COPPS, which has its headquarters in Ramallah. The US provided $350 million for security and program assistance, primarily to the National Security Forces, and an additional $150 million to the PA in direct budgetary support in 2010. The security money seems not to require democratic participation. The PA police are known for brutality, and the Palestinian Authority continues to cancel municipal elections. In December 2010, the Palestinian Supreme Court negated a decision by the Palestinian Authority cabinet to postpone municipal elections that were set to be held 17 June 2010. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine welcomed the High Court ruling as a “victory for law, democracy and national rights of Palestinians.” Human Rights Watch calls on the Palestinian Authority to stop security forces' arbitrary interference with peaceful demonstrations.
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