(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly disturbed to learn that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) continues to impose its closure order against the Bethlehem-based Al-Roa’ TV. CPJ last wrote to His Excellency Yasser Arafat on 24 May 1999, expressing alarm about the 17 May closure order against the station imposed by Palestinian Preventive Security Services (PSS), […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly disturbed to learn that the Palestinian National
Authority (PNA) continues to impose its closure order against the
Bethlehem-based Al-Roa’ TV. CPJ last wrote to His Excellency Yasser Arafat
on 24 May 1999, expressing alarm about the 17 May closure order against the
station imposed by Palestinian Preventive Security Services (PSS), urging
that it be reversed immediately. CPJ did not receive a reply to that letter.
**Updates IFEX alert of 25 May 1999**
CPJ noted in its 24 May letter that the Palestinian security authorities
ordered Al-Roa’ TV to suspend broadcasting in response to a 13 May broadcast
of a play titled “Natrin Faraj,” which authorities claimed incited
“prejudice” between Christians and Muslims. According to staff at Al-Roa’
TV, officials from the PSS verbally informed them of the closure on 17 May
and they received an official closure order, signed by PSS chief Jabril
Rajoub, on 19 May.
The closure is but the most recent example of a long-standing pattern of
official harassment and censorship against Al-Roa’ TV in response to its
independent news coverage and programming. Most notably, on 16 February
1998, the station was suspended indefinitely when more than 100 police
officers surrounded its headquarters and forced it off the air after it had
broadcast news about pro-Iraqi demonstrations in the West Bank during
tensions between United Nations weapons inspectors and Iraq. The ban
remained in force for nearly five months.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to His Excellency Yasser Arafat:
of
the right to free expression, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
individuals
to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers”
Al-Roa’
TV be reversed immediately and that the station be allowed to resume
broadcasting without interference from Palestinian authorities
Appeals To
His Excellency Yasser Arafat
President
Palestinian National Authority
Al-Muntada, Gaza
Fax: +972-7-282-2365/6
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
