[News] Striking Palestinian prisoners call Prison Clinics "Fruit and Vegetable Stands"

[News at freedomarchives.org]

Striking Prisoners Call Prison Clinics "Fruit and Vegetable Stands"
August 30, 2004
By Mandela Institute for Human Rights

Advocate Buthaina Duqmaq visited the Eischel isolation section at
Beer Shiva' Prison on Thursday 26 August 2004. She met with Imad
Na'im Sheriff and Jihad al-Room, two Palestinian prisoners
incarcerated at Eischel. They affirmed the administration brought an
army force of 50-60 soldiers strong. The force, included female
soldiers, was supposed to search holding cells. The administration
threatened to use force if the prisoners refuse to get out of their
cells. This is the first time Beer Shiva's administration use female
soldiers in raiding cells and to perform the daily count. The prison
authority placed 'Abed 'Abed, a Palestinian from Gaza, in solitary
confinement.

Additionally, both prisoners affirmed the Eischel section
administration confiscated all personal effects from the cells
including pillows, hygiene material, salt, bottled liquids and
electrical appliances. It also closed down the public Laundromat and
shortened the exercise time from 3 hours to one.

The administration transferred 40 infirm prisoners to Ha Liqdar
Section. Through loudspeakers, prison officials called upon the
prisoners to break their hunger strike and tried scare them of
serious consequences like hair loss, rheumatism and renal failure
should they continue the strike. In a blatant attempt to sow
dissension, prison officials claimed the Palestinian people are
eating well and did not care for the prisoners and their hunger
strike but care only about who will be the next Super Star of the
Arabs.

In yet another desperate move to break the strike, the
administration placed loads of fruit and vegetables inside the
prison clinic. Prison doctors used the fresh produce to tempt
inmates into breaking their strike in return for medical care.
Prisoners affirmed the prison clinic resembled a farmer's fruit
stand.

They were confident the Palestinian people will not spare any form
of solidarity with the prisoners and vowed to continue the strike.
Ms. Duqmaq described the prisoners with high spirits and strong
resolve despite the psychological warfare conducted by the prison.


As published on MIFTAH

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