Ramallah –
Participants in a meeting organized by
the Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (Aman), yesterday at
its headquarters in Ramallah, highlighted the necessity of the
security apparatuses to develop bylaws and procedures to regulate
their work and prepare their budget according to as the provisions
of specified in the Public Budget Law (09) for 1998 and its
amendments. In addition, budget implementation should be subject to
due legal oversight compliance, and unifying the legal reference for
the military establishment.
This workshop, entitled “Security
Agencies Protect the Rule of Law and are Subject to it”, was held
under Aman’s program for enhancing transparency and accountability
in the public sector. It was attended by a number of official
representatives from the security apparatuses, Public Oversight
Bureau, and a number of relevant agencies.
Dr. Azmi Shu’aibi, Aman’s General
Commissioner for Combating Corruption, presented the draft study
that aims to review the working environment of the security
apparatuses as public institutions governed by the provisions of the
Palestinian law. The study also examines the extent of their
commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability
systems and the integrity values in the conduct of their personnel.
Dr. Shu’aibi stressed the importance of
avoiding violations in the security establishment arising from the
absence of rule of law or its enforcement and the lack of a unified
reference for the security apparatuses. Problems also occur in the
appointment and promotion of public personnel and their salary
disbursement mechanisms of payment. Such a policy, maintains the
General Commissioner, has led to significant inflation in the
preparation of affiliates to security apparatuses whose numbers
jumped in 2007 to approximately 82,000 employees allocated about 40%
of PNA general public expenditures.
“The way of addressing these issues in
the past have brought us to a very difficult position”, says Dr.
Shua’ibi. “Controls and standards are virtually nonexistent and the
resulting financial burden on the public budget unbearable. It is
imperative to resort to the Basic Law since the security apparatuses
personnel are also public sector employees.
The opening remarks by Aman’s Executive
Director, Ms. Ghada Zughayer, reiterated the important role of these
apparatuses in enforcing respect for the rule of law and protection
of property of citizens. "No Palestinian would rejoice for a weak
security institution". Indicators point out to a positive shift
towards the reconciliation between the security apparatuses and the
Palestinian public. “There is a long way to go that requires taking
a number of steps and procedures to overcome difficulties
exemplified by the multiple references,
weak institutionalization, and individual decisions which by their
very nature provide a suitable environment for the spread of
corruption”. She also reiterated Aman keenness on cooperation with
all sectors and deepening their relationships with public and civil
institutions to strengthen the rule of law and commitment to its
application without discrimination. Therefore, the Executive
Director clarified that it is within this approach that Aman
convened this workshop and other efforts.
The workshop featured a number of
interventions by security apparatuses’ representatives who
emphasized the importance of adherence to the law governing their
work, stressing at the same time that the apparatuses should not be
held accountable today for their chaotic and undisciplined
performance in the past. At present, the security apparatuses are
showing signs of actual development and real reform in their
functions.
Mr. Mahmoud Aboud, the Director General
of Military Financial Oversight Directorate, pointed out that a
report is being prepared on the new phase where the past problems
are being addressed and overcome. He stressed that financial
management in carried out in accordance with the provisions of the
law, whether in the areas of procurement of supplies, tendering and
bidding, salary disbursement, and recruitment of personnel. He added
that spending is made against a budget approved by the government
and inconstant communication with the Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Faed Al-Sous, the Procurement and
Supplies Director, confirmed that monitoring officer provide reports
on storage and supply operations on a daily and weekly basis and
that all offenders are held accountable to the law.
Mr. Ahmed Kanaan, the Human Capital
Director in the Planning Unit at the Ministry of Interior presented
the administrative and financial reforms being undertaken by the
security apparatuses especially in the areas of personnel promotion,
appointment, position descriptions and organizational structures.
Mr. Sufian Al Muhtasab, the Finance
Director at the Intelligence, confirmed the existence of a law
governing the apparatuses’ functions as well as good administrative
and financial system which prepares and submits financial report to
the President of the Palestinian National Authority.
Shehada Alawneh, the representative of
the Financial and Administrative Oversight Bureau revealed that the
Bureau’s has teams operating at the security apparatuses. He added
that the public budget law does not exclude the security apparatuses
but it is not implemented by them. This is in addition to a number
of administrative deficiencies that must be addressed.
It should be noted that the draft study
presented during the workshop offered a set of recommendations the
most important of which suggest that the Council of Ministers should
assume responsibility for and supervision of all security
apparatuses, including leaders of the military.
The Council should issue the bylaws and
regulations for applying the public service law to the security
forces, particularly those relevant to appointment, promotion, and
penalties. It is important to revise the basis on which promotions
are decided and issue regulations for enforcement as soon as
possible. The complaint system needs to be activated, opened for the
public, and followed up effectively. Finally, an effective system of
control is needed to be set up and a codes of conduct be established
for the heads if security apparatuses, personnel and officers in
addition to developing the managerial capacities of the
administrative and financial personnel in each apparatus.
