Hundreds protest negotiations in Ramallah
Published today (updated) 03/07/2012 20:44
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=501119

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in Ramallah on
Tuesday calling on the Palestinian Authority not to negotiate with Israel.

Protesters gathered in Manara square, chanting "The people want to bring
down Oslo," referring to the 1993 agreement that established the PA as a
5-year interim administration to govern until a final treaty was reached.

Demonstrators headed to President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters, the Muqata,
carrying Palestinian flags and denouncing talks with Israeli vice premier
Shaul Mofaz.

Abbas had been scheduled to meet Mofaz in Ramallah, sparking protests on
Saturday, but the meeting was canceled.

Palestinian police violently shut down Saturday's protest, leading to a
second protest Sunday against police brutality, which police also violently
suppressed.

Tuesday's protest ended peacefully. Security forces in civilian clothes took
photos of protesters and police and presidential guards were stationed at
the Muqata but forces did not intervene in the demonstration.

A government source told Reuters that police were under orders on Tuesday to
allow the protesters to take their message to the gleaming stone walls of
Abbas's compound, which is also the burial place of previous president,
Yasser Arafat.

"The streets are open to us today, and that's the result of a political
decision. They realize the violence before made them look bad," said Ali
Nakhle, a student who joined approximately 400 other, mainly youthful
protesters in downtown Ramallah.

Activists demand accountability

As well as demanding an end to negotiations with Israel, activists also
called on the PA to end its security coordination with Israel which was
established in the Oslo Accords.

In a statement, the Palestinians for Dignity group which participated in the
protests called for a new strategy of resistance to achieve Palestinian
independence.

The group also demanded the formation of an independent committee to hold
security forces accountable for attacks on protesters over the weekend.

"We remind the Palestinian Authority that we still toil under the yoke of
Israeli occupation, and that it is unacceptable under any circumstance to
brutally repress the rights of people at a time when we are facing Israeli
aggression all around us," the group said.

"We call upon the Palestinian Authority to return to the masses and to arm
itself with the power of its people for the people are its source of
strength and legitimacy."

The PA cabinet, meanwhile, reaffirmed its commitment to protecting freedom
of opinion and expression in accordance with the law, ministers said after a
meeting Tuesday.

In a statement, the cabinet noted that PA Minister of Interior Said Abu Ali
said Monday he would form a committee to investigate the violence at the
demonstrations.

The cabinet said it would also submit its recommendations to ensure such
events are not repeated, and hold responsible those found to have violated
the law.

"This comes to reaffirm the continued unity of our people," the statement
said.