[News] Palestine: the decision was to SUSPEND not END the hunger strike

[News at freedomarchives.org]

<http://www.arabs48.com/display.x?cid=11&sid=166&id=20168>http://www.arabs48.com/display.x?cid=11&sid=166&id=20168
Dear all,

The Committee to Defend Hussam Khader issued a statement criticizing
Palestinian officials and leaders of some prisoner support groups for
making announcements which were either inaccurate or reflected an overstepping
of duty and rights. The statement is consistent with criticisms leveled by 
Hussam Khader himself a few days ago, and which he passed to his lawyer.

First, the committee emphasized that the struggle of the prisoners is first
and foremost a political and national struggle and issue and not merely a 
humanitarian
one. The recent events had proven that the Captive Movement is not only 
part and parcel of the Palestinian national liberation movement; it is the 
vanguard of that movement and the struggle for liberation. Moreover, active 
solidarity with the prisoners should continue until the prisoners are 
freed. In other words, the issue of the prisoners is not a seasonal one, 
nor should actions in solidarity with the prisoners be seasonal either, 
i.e. when they go on hunger strikes.

The committee emphasized that the decision was to SUSPEND not END the 
hunger strike.
It criticized Palestinian governmental and nongovernmental officials for 
going infront of the media and announcing the victory of the prisoners and 
the end of the hunger strike. Those declarations were premature and contain 
inaccuracies. The Committee lays some of the blame on an Israeli campaign 
of disinformation.

However, the Committee blamed the leadership of the prisoners in Asqalan 
for hurting the hunger strike and for creating a state of confusion within 
the solidarity movement. The confusion was not rectified by the decision of 
the Asqalan prisoners to resume their hunger strike. The damage was already 
done.

Finally, the committee blamed Palestinian officials for overstepping their 
rights and for contributing to the state of confusion amongst the 
solidarity movement.

The statement ended by calling on ALL SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES to continue 
strong and as planned and for
all not to announce anything until the leadership of the prisoners itself 
issues further information and directions. For ONLY the prisoners and their 
leadership have the RIGHT to announce the suspension or resumption or 
ending of the hunger strike. As for those who are acting in solidarity with 
the prisoners, they must assume the role of soldiers prepared to act in 
support of the prisoners in their battle.

Musa
p.s.-- On a personal note, I should have listened to friends who advised 
that I should have  waited before forwarding the statements issued by the 
Palestinian Prisoner Society, which is considered to be one of the most 
credible of groups working on behalf of the prisoners in Palestine, and 
whose leader, Issa Qaraqi' is in regular contact with the prisoners.
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"Here we shall stay. Do your worst!
If we get thirsty, we'll squeeze the rocks.
If we get hungry, we'll eat dirt.

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