|
|
|
EOHR condemns Sinai bombings and calls for the holding of an international counter-terrorism conference
9/10/2004
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) strongly condemns the three bombings in Taba, southern Sinai, which - according to Egyptian state security sources - have left 5 Egyptians and 23 Israelis dead, and injured 135. Thirty people are still unaccounted for. EOHR calls for the holding of an international counter-terrorism conference which will examine the problem of terrorism - which has caused heavy human and material losses.
These bombings are perhaps a reaction to Israel's inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people. Mass detention, torture, imposition of curfews, random destruction of towns and villages, deliberate targeting of civilians and youth leaders, use of heavy weaponry against citizens and horrific massacres such as that committed in Jenin - in addition to Israel's construction of its "apartheid" wall of separation - are routine Israeli practice. While the causes and actors involved are different the situation in Iraq does not differ greatly from that in Palestine. The net result of all this is that the region has been dragged into a circle of violence and counter violence within which Israeli and US interests have become the target of terrorist attack.
In this context EOHR makes the following demands:
1. An international counter-terrorism conference must be convened as soon as possible. Such a conference must firstly provide a clear definition of terrorism and, secondly, put in place global mechanisms based on international cooperation. Such mechanisms must confront terrorism while simultaneously granting occupied peoples their right to self-determination and holding in check occupation forces' excessive use of force against civilians. The international community must also deal with acts of terrorism committed by individuals and war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the military forces in occupied countries in the same way.
2. The Egyptian government must annul the state of emergency whose inability to deter terrorist acts has now been established and which is justified on the pretext that it is used to fight terrorism. The Emergency Law must be replaced with ordinary criminal legislation which is able to fight acts of terrorism.
3. The Egyptian government must pass new anti-terrorism legislation which protects citizens' human rights. Law 97 [1992] currently in force, known as the Counter-Terrorism Law, grants broad powers to security forces, severely limits legal rights and imposes restrictions on freedom of thought and expression.
It also narrows the margins within which political parties can legitimately operate.
4. Egyptian security forces must track down and bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist acts while at the same time ensuring respect for human rights and dignity. Combating armed violence and protecting citizens is of paramount importance, but respect for human rights and standards of justice can and must form an integral part of the counter terrorism efforts and security investigations of all states. The fight against terrorism will only succeed where there exists full respect for human rights.
|
|
Copyright © 2002 EOHR. All rights reserved. 