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<font size=3><br>
</font><font face="verdana" size=3><a href="http://www.arabs48.com/display.x?cid=11&sid=166&id=20168">http://www.arabs48.com/display.x?cid=11&sid=166&id=20168</a><br>
Dear all,<br>
</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>The Committee to Defend Hussam Khader issued
a statement criticizing <br>
Palestinian officials and leaders of some prisoner support groups
for<br>
making announcements which were either inaccurate or reflected an
overstepping<br>
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. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>First, the committee emphasized that the
struggle of the prisoners is first<br>
and foremost a political and national struggle and issue and not merely a
humanitarian<br>
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.<br>
</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>The committee emphasized that the decision
was to SUSPEND not END the hunger strike.<br>
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.<br>
</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>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.<br>
</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>Finally, the committee blamed Palestinian
officials for overstepping their rights and for contributing to the state
of confusion amongst the solidarity movement. <br>
</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>The statement ended by calling on ALL
SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES to continue strong and as planned and for<br>
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.<br>
</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>Musa</font> <br>
<font face="verdana" size=3>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. <br>
------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
"Here we shall stay. Do your worst!<br>
If we get thirsty, we'll squeeze the rocks.<br>
If we get hungry, we'll eat dirt.<br>
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<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>
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