Prominent Palestinians Call to fight PA Following is a call by 20 prominent Palestinians form the PA areas (Gaza and West Bank of Jordan) to fight the Palestinian Authority and its Oslo agreements peace which they call a big lie. No doubt it is a significant and brave step by these people who stand today in front of Arafat's repression (see also the call to stop the prosecution of the signatories). Best regards Assaf Adiv / WAC- ODA ODA - Organization for Democratic Action [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.odaction.org/oda The Homeland Calls Us! Hurt by what transpires on the land of Palestine with the weakening and disparagement of the people together with the forgoing of their rights, we, as ordinary people driven by our national identification and concern, address you on behalf of working together to correct the situation we have arrived at. After the Oslo agreements, the Palestinian leadership spoke of a state with Jerusalem as its capital, the return of the refugees and the displaced, the dismantling of settlements, the liberation of prisoners, and the preparing of the economic groundwork to become the Singapore of the entire region. Some were deceived, and celebrated in the streets by what they claimed was victory. Yet, after six years of Oslo, more lands are robbed while settlements expand, the conspiring against the issue of refugees accelerates behind the scenes, and Palestinian jails close their doors to our own sons and daughters. Jerusalem has not returned, and Singapore has not arrived. The people were divided into two groupings: that of the select who rules and steals, and that of the majority which complains and searches for someone to save it. It is a frightening sequence of deception and lies which will be deeply harmful and ruinous in the final settlement negotiations. In addition to this, the Palestinian Authority has followed a horrifying policy of corruption, humiliation and exploitation of the Palestinian people, as though the Oslo agreement was a trading of the homeland for the affluence of the corrupted in the Palestinian Authority. The president of the PNA has widely opened the doors for opportunists to spread corruption throughout the Palestinian community. Economic conditions have deteriorated, community relations have weakened and moral and ethical standards have loosened. Health, education and judiciary institutions have been brought to ruin. The danger bell must sound in every village, city and refugee camp, in every bend and corner, and even in every shop, house and office. The homeland is being sold and the people are being let down and crushed Let us stand together against this tyranny and corruption. The injustice cannot be stopped but by the collective efforts of the deprived. And the oppressor cannot be stopped but by the tenacity of believers [in change]. Dr. Abdul Sattar Qassem (Arrested) Bassam Shaka'a (Home Arrest) Ismat Shakhshir (Interrogated) Waheed Alhamdalla (Home Arrest) Dr. Yaser Abusafiyya (Arrested) Dr. Abdulrahim Kittana (Arrested) Ahmad Katamesh (Arrested) Dr. Adel Samara (Arrested) Dr. Afif Sulaiman Judah (Arrested) Fakhri Turkuman, PLC Abduljawad Saleh, PLC Mo'awiya Al-Masri , PLC Hussam Khader, PLC Hasan Khreesha , PLC Dr. Ali Abu-Reesh, PLC Rawya Al-shawwa , PLC Ra'fat Alnajjar, PLC Adnan Odeh Zahran Abu-qbeita Ahmad Shaker Doodeen (The translation is by Sergio Yahni - Information Resource Unit The Alternative Information Center http://aic.netgate.net) >29 November 1999 >9:00PM GMT +3 > >9 Palestinian Academics Detained by Palestinian Authority in Regards >to Petition Distributed on 27 November 1999 > >On the morning of 28 November 1999 and continuing through 29 >November 1999, 9 Palestinian academics in Nablus and Ramallah were >detained by the Palestinian Authority in regards to a petition >signed by 20 individuals, including 9 Palestinian academics, 9 >members of the Palestinian Legislative council, and two previously >elected mayors of Nablus and Anabta. The petition was critical of the >activities and the corruption of the Palestinian Authority after >the Oslo Agreements. > >On 28 November 1999, Dr. 'Ismat A-Shakhsheer, a professor of >Chemistry at An Najah University, was asked to come to the police >station in Nablus, without any indication as to why she was being >summoned. She and her husband arrived at the station at 6pm, where >'Ismat was told that she was being detained in regards to her >signature on the petition. She refused to stay overnight at the >prison, and was released on bail of $12,500 US, on condition that >she return to the police station the next morning. As of the >writing this press release, Ismat remains at the Nablus police >station, and it is unsure whether or not she will be made to stay >overnight. > >Dr. Yasir Abu Saffiyeh, a physician from Nablus was also detained by >the Palestinian police and Dr. Abdel Sittar Qassem, Professor of >history at An Najah University, Nablus and Dr. Abdel Rahim Qittaneh, >also a physician from Tulkarem, were arrested by the Palestinian >General Security Services in Nablus. All three were arrested >yesterday and have remained in detention since that time. > >In Ramallah, Dr. Adel Samara, a writer and editor of Kan'an >magazine, from Beit 'Our, Ramallah, and Ahmad Qattamesh, also a >writer from Ramallah, who spent 6 and a half consecutive years in >administrative detention in Israeli prisons, were detained by the >Palestinian police yesterday. At 3:30 p.m. today, they were both >transferred to the Jericho prison and are awaiting the arrival from >Gaza of General Prosecutor of the State Security courts, Khalid Al >Qidreh. > >On 29 November, the three remaining academics who signed the >petition, Dr. Adnan Odeh, researcher for the Union of Parliamentary >Researchers from Nablus, Dr. Afif Suleiman, a physician >from Nablus, and Ahmad Shaker Dudin, a school teacher from >Hebron were arrested by the Palestinian police. In addition to these >detentions, two of the signatories were placed under house arrest, >including Bassam Ashaq'a, former mayor of Nablus, and Wahid Al >Hamdallah, former mayor of Anabta. > >The majority of the detainees were not issued arrest warrants, are >being held without charge or trial, and are currently being denied >legal counsel. However, the director of Addameer, while trying to >visit both Ahmad Qattamesh and Dr. Adel Samara with two lawyers from >the center, was able to sit with the two informally for >approximately two hours. It was learnt that the two were asked to >appear at the police station and remain under detention by the >direct orders of General Ghazi Jabali, head of the Palestinian >Police. Furthermore, Addameer has recently learned that there is a strong >possibility that the two will be tried this evening in the state >security court, whose trials normally take place in the middle of >the night. > >Addameer reaffirms the basic right of individuals to freedom of >expression, and deplores the suppressive response of the Palestinian >Authority to the execution of this basic right. The foundation of a >democratic society based on the rule of law is dependent upon >individual freedoms, and the right to voice one's beliefs. Arbitrary >arrest, and in particular the use of the state Security courts for >cases such as this, threatens the development of a democratic >society, and creates a climate of fear within the community. >Addameer calls for the immediate release of the detainees and asks >the international community to voice their concern to the >following: > >President Yasser Arafat >Palestinian Authority >Al-Muntada >Gaza, Palestinian Authority >Faxes: +972-7-822365 ADDAMEER - Prisoners' Support and Human Rights Association PO Box: 17338, Jerusalem. Ramallah, West Bank. Tel: +972-2-2960446 Fax: +972-2-2960447 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL: http://www.addameer.org/
Prominent Palestinians Call to fight PA Following is a call by 20 prominent Palestinians form the PA areas (Gaza and West Bank of Jordan) to fight the Palestinian Authority and its Oslo agreements peace which they call a big lie. No doubt it is a significant and brave step by these people who stand today in front of Arafat's repression (see also the call to stop the prosecution of the signatories). Best regards Assaf Adiv / WAC- ODA ODA - Organization for Democratic Action [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.odaction.org/oda The Homeland Calls Us! Hurt by what transpires on the land of Palestine with the weakening and disparagement of the people together with the forgoing of their rights, we, as ordinary people driven by our national identification and concern, address you on behalf of working together to correct the situation we have arrived at. After the Oslo agreements, the Palestinian leadership spoke of a state with Jerusalem as its capital, the return of the refugees and the displaced, the dismantling of settlements, the liberation of prisoners, and the preparing of the economic groundwork to become the Singapore of the entire region. Some were deceived, and celebrated in the streets by what they claimed was victory. Yet, after six years of Oslo, more lands are robbed while settlements expand, the conspiring against the issue of refugees accelerates behind the scenes, and Palestinian jails close their doors to our own sons and daughters. Jerusalem has not returned, and Singapore has not arrived. The people were divided into two groupings: that of the select who rules and steals, and that of the majority which complains and searches for someone to save it. It is a frightening sequence of deception and lies which will be deeply harmful and ruinous in the final settlement negotiations. In addition to this, the Palestinian Authority has followed a horrifying policy of corruption, humiliation and exploitation of the Palestinian people, as though the Oslo agreement was a trading of the homeland for the affluence of the corrupted in the Palestinian Authority. The president of the PNA has widely opened the doors for opportunists to spread corruption throughout the Palestinian community. Economic conditions have deteriorated, community relations have weakened and moral and ethical standards have loosened. Health, education and judiciary institutions have been brought to ruin. The danger bell must sound in every village, city and refugee camp, in every bend and corner, and even in every shop, house and office. The homeland is being sold and the people are being let down and crushed Let us stand together against this tyranny and corruption. The injustice cannot be stopped but by the collective efforts of the deprived. And the oppressor cannot be stopped but by the tenacity of believers [in change]. Dr. Abdul Sattar Qassem (Arrested) Bassam Shaka'a (Home Arrest) Ismat Shakhshir (Interrogated) Waheed Alhamdalla (Home Arrest) Dr. Yaser Abusafiyya (Arrested) Dr. Abdulrahim Kittana (Arrested) Ahmad Katamesh (Arrested) Dr. Adel Samara (Arrested) Dr. Afif Sulaiman Judah (Arrested) Fakhri Turkuman, PLC Abduljawad Saleh, PLC Mo'awiya Al-Masri , PLC Hussam Khader, PLC Hasan Khreesha , PLC Dr. Ali Abu-Reesh, PLC Rawya Al-shawwa , PLC Ra'fat Alnajjar, PLC Adnan Odeh Zahran Abu-qbeita Ahmad Shaker Doodeen (The translation is by Sergio Yahni - Information Resource Unit The Alternative Information Center http://aic.netgate.net) >29 November 1999 >9:00PM GMT +3 > >9 Palestinian Academics Detained by Palestinian Authority in Regards >to Petition Distributed on 27 November 1999 > >On the morning of 28 November 1999 and continuing through 29 >November 1999, 9 Palestinian academics in Nablus and Ramallah were >detained by the Palestinian Authority in regards to a petition >signed by 20 individuals, including 9 Palestinian academics, 9 >members of the Palestinian Legislative council, and two previously >elected mayors of Nablus and Anabta. The petition was critical of the >activities and the corruption of the Palestinian Authority after >the Oslo Agreements. > >On 28 November 1999, Dr. 'Ismat A-Shakhsheer, a professor of >Chemistry at An Najah University, was asked to come to the police >station in Nablus, without any indication as to why she was being >summoned. She and her husband arrived at the station at 6pm, where >'Ismat was told that she was being detained in regards to her >signature on the petition. She refused to stay overnight at the >prison, and was released on bail of $12,500 US, on condition that >she return to the police station the next morning. As of the >writing this press release, Ismat remains at the Nablus police >station, and it is unsure whether or not she will be made to stay >overnight. > >Dr. Yasir Abu Saffiyeh, a physician from Nablus was also detained by >the Palestinian police and Dr. Abdel Sittar Qassem, Professor of >history at An Najah University, Nablus and Dr. Abdel Rahim Qittaneh, >also a physician from Tulkarem, were arrested by the Palestinian >General Security Services in Nablus. All three were arrested >yesterday and have remained in detention since that time. > >In Ramallah, Dr. Adel Samara, a writer and editor of Kan'an >magazine, from Beit 'Our, Ramallah, and Ahmad Qattamesh, also a >writer from Ramallah, who spent 6 and a half consecutive years in >administrative detention in Israeli prisons, were detained by the >Palestinian police yesterday. At 3:30 p.m. today, they were both >transferred to the Jericho prison and are awaiting the arrival from >Gaza of General Prosecutor of the State Security courts, Khalid Al >Qidreh. > >On 29 November, the three remaining academics who signed the >petition, Dr. Adnan Odeh, researcher for the Union of Parliamentary >Researchers from Nablus, Dr. Afif Suleiman, a physician >from Nablus, and Ahmad Shaker Dudin, a school teacher from >Hebron were arrested by the Palestinian police. In addition to these >detentions, two of the signatories were placed under house arrest, >including Bassam Ashaq'a, former mayor of Nablus, and Wahid Al >Hamdallah, former mayor of Anabta. > >The majority of the detainees were not issued arrest warrants, are >being held without charge or trial, and are currently being denied >legal counsel. However, the director of Addameer, while trying to >visit both Ahmad Qattamesh and Dr. Adel Samara with two lawyers from >the center, was able to sit with the two informally for >approximately two hours. It was learnt that the two were asked to >appear at the police station and remain under detention by the >direct orders of General Ghazi Jabali, head of the Palestinian >Police. Furthermore, Addameer has recently learned that there is a strong >possibility that the two will be tried this evening in the state >security court, whose trials normally take place in the middle of >the night. > >Addameer reaffirms the basic right of individuals to freedom of >expression, and deplores the suppressive response of the Palestinian >Authority to the execution of this basic right. The foundation of a >democratic society based on the rule of law is dependent upon >individual freedoms, and the right to voice one's beliefs. Arbitrary >arrest, and in particular the use of the state Security courts for >cases such as this, threatens the development of a democratic >society, and creates a climate of fear within the community. >Addameer calls for the immediate release of the detainees and asks >the international community to voice their concern to the >following: > >President Yasser Arafat >Palestinian Authority >Al-Muntada >Gaza, Palestinian Authority >Faxes: +972-7-822365 ADDAMEER - Prisoners' Support and Human Rights Association PO Box: 17338, Jerusalem. Ramallah, West Bank. Tel: +972-2-2960446 Fax: +972-2-2960447 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL: http://www.addameer.org/
