<html>
<body>
<font size=3><br>
Striking Prisoners Call Prison Clinics "Fruit and Vegetable
Stands" <br>
August 30, 2004 <br>
By Mandela Institute for Human Rights <br><br>
Advocate Buthaina Duqmaq visited the Eischel isolation section at <br>
Beer Shiva' Prison on Thursday 26 August 2004. She met with Imad <br>
Na'im Sheriff and Jihad al-Room, two Palestinian prisoners <br>
incarcerated at Eischel. They affirmed the administration brought an
<br>
army force of 50-60 soldiers strong. The force, included female <br>
soldiers, was supposed to search holding cells. The administration <br>
threatened to use force if the prisoners refuse to get out of their
<br>
cells. This is the first time Beer Shiva's administration use female
<br>
soldiers in raiding cells and to perform the daily count. The prison
<br>
authority placed 'Abed 'Abed, a Palestinian from Gaza, in solitary <br>
confinement. <br><br>
Additionally, both prisoners affirmed the Eischel section <br>
administration confiscated all personal effects from the cells <br>
including pillows, hygiene material, salt, bottled liquids and <br>
electrical appliances. It also closed down the public Laundromat and
<br>
shortened the exercise time from 3 hours to one. <br><br>
The administration transferred 40 infirm prisoners to Ha Liqdar <br>
Section. Through loudspeakers, prison officials called upon the <br>
prisoners to break their hunger strike and tried scare them of <br>
serious consequences like hair loss, rheumatism and renal failure <br>
should they continue the strike. In a blatant attempt to sow <br>
dissension, prison officials claimed the Palestinian people are <br>
eating well and did not care for the prisoners and their hunger <br>
strike but care only about who will be the next Super Star of the <br>
Arabs. <br><br>
In yet another desperate move to break the strike, the <br>
administration placed loads of fruit and vegetables inside the <br>
prison clinic. Prison doctors used the fresh produce to tempt <br>
inmates into breaking their strike in return for medical care. <br>
Prisoners affirmed the prison clinic resembled a farmer's fruit <br>
stand. <br><br>
They were confident the Palestinian people will not spare any form <br>
of solidarity with the prisoners and vowed to continue the strike. <br>
Ms. Duqmaq described the prisoners with high spirits and strong <br>
resolve despite the psychological warfare conducted by the prison.<br>
<br><br>
As published on MIFTAH<br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 863-9977<br>
</font><font size=3><a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">www.freedomarchives.org</a></font></body>
</html>