Text of report by Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam on 28 April

Several policemen attacked eight Palestinian journalists who were covering the visit of [Palestinian Authority] President Mahmud Abbas, Abu-Mazin, to the Police Headquarters at the Passports Building [in Gaza].

Eye-witnesses among the journalists stated to Al-Ayyam : A number of policemen rushed towards the journalists and beat them, brought some of them to the ground, and damaged their cameras and equipment without reason.

Eyewitnesses said the journalists - who were covering the visit of President Mahmud Abbas, Abu-Mazin - were searched thoroughly before their entry, and after that there were attempts to prevent them from carrying out their work. They were assaulted when they tried to take photographs of the president during the visit.

Journalists whose equipment was damaged include Mahmud Ubayd, a photographer for the Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite television channel; Wisam al-Ashi, a photographer for the Iranian Al-Alam satellite channel; Najib Abu-al-Jubayn, an AP photographer; and Isma'il al-Za'nun, a photographer for the Palestinian Ramtan news agency. Muhammad Shana'ah, a Reuters photographer; Jamil Abu-Nahl, from the Mayadin media establishment; Hamdi al-Khawr, from a Turkish satellite television channel; and Muhammad Shabbat and [Isma'il] Al-Za'nun from Ramtan were beaten up.

After the incident, the journalists withdrew from the place, and announced they would boycott the proceedings of the president's visit to the police headquarters in protest at what they had been subjected to.

Several journalists protested in front of the president's headquarters, Al-Muntada, where they met with Al-Tayib Abd-al-Rahim, secretary general of the presidency, who listened to them relating what happened, and who contributed to resolving the matter and promised that what happened would not be repeated.

Zakariya al-Tilmis, member of the board of directors of the Journalists Association in the Gaza Strip, who followed the developments of the problem from its beginning, said that what happened is unacceptable.

In statements to the press, he said the secretary general of the PNA presidency promised that such incidents would not be repeated.

In a statement issued after the incident, the Journalists Association announced that "journalists will boycott all the activities of the presidency, the premiership, and the police for one week, until those involved in the wrongful assault are brought to task."

After condemning the "painful assault" the Journalists Association asked all the sides concerned, particularly President Abu-Mazin, Interior and National Security Minister Maj-Gen Nasr Yusuf, and Chief of Police Brig-Gen Ala Husni "to investigate the incident that took place during the president's visit to police headquarters, and to hold to account those responsible for what happened".

The Journalists Association said in its statement that it cannot remain silent in the face of continued attacks on its members and those who work in the media and the press. It pledged to continue its efforts to defend the right of those who work in the media and the press to have access to the sources of news in order to guarantee the freedom of publishing and speech.

The Journalists Association called on journalists, media and press establishments to abide by the boycott, until it issues a further notice.

Source: Al-Ayyam, Ramallah, in Arabic 28 Apr 05 pp 1, 17

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