Al Mezan demands investigation of the kidnapping of Kate Burton; failure of PNA to bring kidnappers to justice will cause more criminal conduct

Following the release of Kate Burton 31st December 2005, the International Coordinator at Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) have not yet disclosed any information regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motives or the conditions of the crime.
Al Mezan Center believes the PNA's failure to bring the perpetrators of a chain of kidnappings in the Gaza Strip to justice encourages kidnappings in the future especially with the PNA usually surrenders to the kidnappers' demands.
Even when the perpetrators were identified, they were not brought to justice.
Days after the end of kidnapping of Kate Burton and her parents, who are now safe; Al Mezan center announces its intention to do all what in its power to follow up this case until the conditions of the crime are exposed to the public and the kidnappers brought to justice.
The abduction of Ms.
Burton is contrary to the authenticity and honesty of the Palestinian people; but rather has a counter effect on their pursuit of their internationally recognized rights and deforms the image of the Palestinian cause.
In this respect, Al Mezan reiterates its calls upon the PNA to initiate an effective, sound investigation of all cases of kidnapping in the OPT and make the findings public.
Previous calls remained unanswerable until today.
Affirming the harmful result of the PNA’s failure to effectively pursuit and bring to justice the kidnappers, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights warns about even more escalation of such criminal conduct.
The Center therefore will not overlook the recent kidnapping of Kate Burton and her parents until perpetrators are brought to justice.
Further, the Center reaffirms that the PNA is under an obligation to take all the appropriate procedures to bring to an end the state of security chaos which must not be allowed to continue.
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