NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #26/NN_1992_26.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/8211

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-08 | 3.9 KB

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From: ugun2a![e-mail]
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: Palestinian prisoners hunger strike
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Date: 7 Nov 92 22:22:09 GMT
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URGENT APPEAL:

ACCORD WITH PALESTINIAN PRISONERS ON HUNGER STRIKE NOT
RESPECTED BY ISRAELI PRISON AUTHORITY

Some 5000 Palestinian prisoners took part in a hunger strike between Sept. 27
and 11 Oct 1992, to demand an improvement of the intolerable conditions under
which they are held.  The strike, reported in the international press, was
interrupted on October 11 in order to negotiate with the Israeli authorities.
Discussion led to an accord, bringing about the end of the strike. In addition
to accepting the prisoners' 28 demands, the accord set October 20 as a date
for a further meeting of prisoner delegates and the Central Prison Authority
(CPA) at Jneid prison, in order to formally seal the accord. The CPA also
agreed to send representatives to each prison in order to verify living
conditions and formulate recommendations for improvement.

However, according to the Jerusalem Mandela Institute [for Human Rights,
U.S] (PO Box 19543, tel: [phone]),  as of October 26, the accord has
not been respected. Not only did the meeting of Oct. 20 fail to take
place but many of the promises made by the CPA have not been adhered
to, according to lawyers working for the institute.

For example, at al-Khalil (Hebron) prison,
-the duration of family visits has not been extended,
-children on visit to their fathers are not permitted to cross the barrier.
-living conditions have not improved.
-a meeting scheduled for Oct. 18 was not held.

At Beer-Sheba prison,

-the 5 West Bank minors have not been transferred to other prisons (which
leaves 10 minors in the adult criminal section where they are subject to
humiliations and beating.

-nothing has been done to bring conditions prevailing in the sections of
isolation to the level of those in the ordinary sections.

-equipment to facilitate television reception of stations in Jordan, Syria
and Egypt had been promised. The authorities now claim that the antennas
must be bought by the prisoners' families.

At the same time, demands for extension of visiting periods and permission
or children to be in physical contact with their fathers has been satisfied.

At Nablus and Ramallah prisons, none of the promises made has been met,
despite a visit by the CPA.

One should keep in mind that the prisoners' original demands can in no way
be called 'extraordinary'. Improvement in nutrition, sanitation, the
complete cessation of harassment, torture and other illegal practices,
longer visits etc... all fall within the realm of basic human rights,
subject to international conventions. The fact that the prisoners had
to resort to a hunger strike in order to have their demands heard,
testifies in and of itself to the utter lack of concern shown by the
prison authorities in Israel.

At the same time, Israel, particularly now, is susceptible to international
pressure. This is why WRITING LETTERS OF APPEAL IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME.

The Geneva-based International Coordinating Committee for Non-Governmental
Organizations on the Question of Palestine (ICCP) has provided the following
addresses.

PLEASE WRITE OR FAX URGENTLY!!

MOSHE SHAHAL
Minister of Police
P.O.Box 2001
Jerusalem 91020
FAX [phone]

PROF. M.K. DAVID LIBAI
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Salah Al-Din st.
E. Jerusalem

GABRIEL AMIR
Director of the General Prisons' Services
 5, Histadrut st.
Jerusalem
FAX: [phone]

YITZHAK RABIN
Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
P.O. Box 187
3, Kaplan st.,
Jerusalem 91919
FAX: [phone]