[News] Press Statement on Palestinian Prisoners Strike

[News at freedomarchives.org]

Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 2:18 PM

http://www.mandela-palestine.org/en_strike2004/press.htm

Press Statement 46

2 September 2004
For Immediate Release

In an interview with Mandela's lawyer Buthaina Duqmaq at Ha Darim Prison on
2 September 2004, inmates Houssam Khader and Samir Qanttar affirmed
negotiations with the Israeli Prison Authority have actually begun on day
one of the hunger strike contrary to what Israeli media has been reporting.
They asserted the popular and organized solidarity movement with the
prisoners forced Israeli authorities into negotiations with the striking
prisoners. Both inmates emphasized the prisoners' high spirits to challenge
the status quo and their coalescence with the committee leading the strike
coerced the Israeli side into marathon-like negotiations to lessen the
negative impact of the strike on Israeli image. Khader and Qanttar affirmed
the committee is made of the following prisoners:
Sheikh Mohammad Abu-Tair, Tawfic Abu-Na'im, Houssam Khader*, Samir
Qanttar**, Walid Daqqa, Yahia Senoir, Hassan Maqadmah, Younis Ershaid, Rouhy
Mushtaha, Wael Fannouna, Taher Zayyoud and Abdul-Khaleq Natsha.

On 21 August 2004, Israeli prison authorities placed Tawfic Abu-Na'im,
Houssam Khader and Mohammad Abu-Tair in solitary confinement at Ovik Prison.
Their cells lack the basic minimum standards for human life. Other members
of the committee were placed in two poorly-ventilated rooms and shed heavy
spotlights at
them.

Mr. Khader and Mr. Qanttar informed Ms. Duqmaq that Mr. Gibson, Head of
General Security in the Israeli Prison Authority, Mr. Itzaq Jabay, Director
of Prison Intelligence and the Commander of the so-called Southern
Command -known as Nazim- and began negotiations with the prisoners'
committee. No agreements were reached. The Israeli authorities transferred
the leadership committee to Jalama Prison.

Director of the Israeli Prison Authority, deputy and wardens of Israeli
prisons came to meet the leadership committee at Jalama on 31 August 2004.
The meeting lasted from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. An agreement was reached
whereby the Israeli side agreed to the prisoners' demands regarding
improvement of humanitarian conditions. The Israelis promised to examine
other demands which they consider of security
nature two weeks after the end of the hunger strike.

The Israeli Prison Authority agreed to transfer every committee member that
was placed in solitary confinement back to the prison he was originally in
to brief the prisoners of the outcome of negotiations. Accordingly, this
part of the deal was executed on Wednesday 1 September 2004.

Following the transfer of inmates Khader and Qanttar to Ha Darim Prison,
prisoners there decided to adjourn their hunger strike until Sunday 5
September 2004 but will continue o take liquids only. This decision applies
to all Israeli prisons except Beer Shiva' as its representative Tawfic
Abu-Na'im and the Beer Shiva' administration had failed to agree on certain
issues during their meeting at Jalama prison. The HaDarim administration
allowed Mr. Qanttar to telephone Tawfic Abu-Na'im to discuss the disputed
issues. No agreement regarding adjournment of the strike at Beer Shiva' was
reported.

Following is a letter from inmates at HaDarim Prison to the Arab and
Palestinian masses engaged in popular and organized solidarity activities
with the striking prisoners.

"The spirit of challenge and steadfastness which characterized our masses on
the outside and the prisoners' movement on the inside had proved that the
prisoners' will could overcome the policies of oppression and tormenting we
had faced for years. We strongly declare that we did not stop our hunger
strike but only adjourned it in order to start negotiations to improve the
prison conditions and to ensure dignified living for our colleagues. We hope
to reach a genuine understanding with the prison authority and close several
files which if left open could trigger more strikes and could let an
atmosphere of tension prevail".





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