PA police crush new Ramallah demo
Published yesterday (updated) 01/07/2012 21:56
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=500441

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Palestinian protesters said security forces used brutal
force Sunday during the second demonstration in as many days protesting
Palestinian Authority policy.

Police attacked protesters with batons, beating and injuring at least seven
people. Another seven protesters were taken to a police station along with
at least two journalists, a Ma'an correspondent said.

Protesters shouted against police brutality, and the police responded by
beating them. Journalists were also attacked for the second day in a row,
the correspondent reported.

The reporter said Reuters photographer Saed al-Hawari was attacked and
photographer Ahmad Musleh was arrested. A camera belonging to journalist
Ahmad Ouda was confiscated.

Another Palestinian journalist told Ma'an that a police officer tried to hit
his camera, and when he defended himself, grabbed him by the neck. While the
police officer was removed by colleagues, he warned the journalist: "I will
see you another day."

"It was more crazy than yesterday, you can't imagine -- they hit girls and
were laughing like they don't care about Palestinians," the journalist said.

Near the headquarters of President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, a violent clash
broke out as police tried to prevent protesters from crossing a line of
security forces, the correspondent reported.

A spokesman for the Palestinian security services said 10 people were
hospitalized, and several arrested, without providing the number of
detentions.

Adnan Dmeiri said fighting only broke out when protesters tried to reach the
presidential headquarters, which police are required to stop as protesting
there is forbidden.

He said police were investigating who was behind the protest, saying the
"agendas of those unknown movements are to create chaos and harm security
and attack Palestinian police."

Dmeiri said protesters had shouted at police without being provoked and
vowed to punish those who "violate" police officers.

Rally dispersed Saturday

The protest was called after security forces dispersed a rally in Ramallah
on Saturday, injuring at least six protesters.

Dmeiri said later that seven people were taken into custody after they
approached President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters and refused orders to
change their route.

Those detained were later released on orders from President Mahmoud Abbas,
he said. Dmeiri said neither riot police nor special forces were involved,
but rather it was handled by civil police.

More than ten officers and demonstrators sustained bruises as a result,
according to Dmeiri.

Youth had gathered to condemn an announcement that Abbas would meet with
Israeli vice premier Shaul Mofaz for talks in the city.

The talks were called off after plans to protest the event were announced,
but Israeli and Palestinian officials gave conflicting accounts of why. A
Fatah leader cited public opinion while Israeli media speculated Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu played a role.

'Right to express opinions'

The forceful reaction to the protests drew criticism from some Palestinian
officials who said the police were under standing orders not to intervene.

At a PLO executive committee meeting ahead of Saturday's march, officials
reiterated their opposition to any interference against the protest, two
officials told Ma'an.

One of them, PLO leader Hanan Ashrawi, said that "We did not expect or
approve of anybody interfering with the protesters in any way ... We were
all quite adamant about respecting the right to protest."

She added: "We felt it was a good thing that people have an opinion (about
the talks with Mofaz). Anyway the people have a right to express their
opinions without interference."