Press Release

1 April 1996

UNEXPLAINED FATAL SHOOTING BY PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES

At approximately 12:00 a.m. on 1 April in Ramallah, Palestinian security forces driving in a white jeep opened fire on a Palestinian car, killing one passanger and wounding another. The Palestinian police signaled the car to stop by sounding its horn, and the driver came to a stop at the intersection behind the El Bireh municipality park. The security forces then, from a distance of 3-5 meters, opened fire on the car, killing 22 year old Taysir Ahmad Mustaffa Lowzi and injuring 19 year old Raed Mohammed Saleh in the head. The other three passengers were unhurt. All stated that there was no indication why the police opened fire on their car.

22 year old Lowzi was the eldest child of his family of six, and was the only wage-earner in the family. The police have thus far failed to give an explanation for the shooting.

PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES CLASH WITH STUDENTS DURING RAID OF

AN NAJAH UNIVERSITY IN NABLUS

On 30 March, a large number of Palestinian security forces raided An Najah University in Nablus, fired their weapons into the air, shot tear gas at students and journalists, and wounded twelve.

Students from all major political parties at the An Najar University had organized a press conference to draw attention to the number of students imprisoned by both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli authorities. About 70 students are currently imprisoned from this university. During the press conference, plain-clothed and armed security forces raided the university, began shooting in the air and beating panicking students with clubs. The police also beat at least one journalist, and confiscated the cameras of several others. Security forces shot tear gas into the crowd, injuring 10 people. Two students were injured from the gunfire.

No reason has been given for this violent raid, and students have demanded an investigation. Witnesses speculate that the reason behind the raid was to interfere with the press conference.

LAWE views this invasion of a university of 7000 students on the part of the Palestinian security forces with grave concern. This action creates an unsuitable climate of fear for the students, impedes on their freedoms of expression and congregation, and constitutes a serious violation of the freedom of the press in the violence used against journalists and the confiscation of their cameras. LAWE adds its condemnation of this raid, and calls for an investigation of the incident and for the Palestinian Authority to publish their findings.