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[Hour by hour news & analysis... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] [Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: joe hill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 4:46 AM Subject: [mobilize-globally] Direct Report from Ramallah - PBNB 4/5/02 Peoples Bark News Berkeley readers; Urgent news! no peace without justice, john vance, editor/publisher/coordinator Peoples Bark News Berkeley http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeoplesBarkNewsBerkeley/messages A First Amendment Center http://www.freezepeach.cjb.net Berkeley, Ca READ BELOW THE LINE ======================================= From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: curner@ qwest.net Subject: Direct report from Ramallah Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 19:39:17 -0800 dear Friends on WILPF listserve, Some of you might be interested in reading through this detailed report sent April 4 direct from Ramallah under siege. Quakers continue to have strong concerns and close contact with Ramallah because we have schools and a Meeting house there and both a local and international Friends presence. ********************** Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 Subject: [Quaker-P] Fw: UPDATED APPEAL FROM THE SIEGE OF RAMALLAH The Following Statement is cut and pasted from an email we received... in response to an email I sent...[to someone named Bradley, who had written, apparently before the update:] I am an American fellow Capella learner now residing in Ramallah... I have lived here for 4 years and have lived and worked in both Israel and Palestine and can only say that, upon my arrival and to this day, my shock and horror was/is more than profound when I realized the extent to which I had been brainwashed by my own media and government concerning the realities of this region/conflict/situation. I know many Americans who also live and work here, and all of them feel the same.... Bradley has sent us an up dated appeal. Please use it in your correspondance with your U.S. Senators and Represenatives. From: "Lori Anderson-Finwall" <ltaaf@ scc.net> [a Quaker (graduate student?) in Minneapolis/St.Paul] Dear Lori, Greetings! You were right I was without electricity from last night until a few minutes ago, which is why I haven't yet responded to your kind inquiry, or to your postings to Capella and to Senator Wellstone. I am in Ramallah, which is currently under 24-hour curfew and constant bombardment by the occupying forces, thus resources are scant. However, I am fine. I'll write more about this when I am not racing against the clock in fear that the elec will go again! I just wanted to thank you for your interest in my situation, and in the situation here, and for helping to circulate the appeal. I am attaching to this message an updated appeal, written yesterday and today. The conditions in the first appeal still stand, and the second serves to build upon it though neither document really does justice to the reality! Incidentally, I work for the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture here, which is a partner organization of the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) in Minneapolis and I think that CVT has already been in touch with Senator Wellstone on behalf of our Center -- what a coincidence! Anyway, thanks very much again for your interest and efforts. Again, I will write more once things normalize a bit. All the best, Bradley (incidentally, although there is no way for anyone to glean this from my name, I am, in fact, a woman!). Bradley Bingham UPDATED APPEAL FROM THE SIEGE OF RAMALLAH, 4 April 2002, Thursday This document serves as an update to the Appeal sent on March 30 from members of the international and Palestinian community trapped in the siege of Ramallah. All aspects of the general situation described in that document still prevail (the original appeal is online at www.oznik.com), and what follows are only some of the more recent developments. This document focuses on the situation in Ramallah only, as we have been unable to collect any systematic information from other occupied Palestinian cities (six now, in addition to numerous villages). However, reports we are receiving from friends and colleagues in these places indicate a similar situation to the one in Ramallah --and in some of the more isolated areas the level of Israeli violence seems to be even higher, due to the lack of media coverage and international presence. Background: On early Friday morning, 29 March 2002, tens of thousands of Israeli troops re-invaded the city of Ramallah in tanks and armored personnel carriers and remain to this time. The Israeli forces continue to occupy Ramallah completely. President Arafat is besieged in his own compound with dwindling food and medical supplies. There are no indications when the re-occupation will be over. Continued Curfew: All of Ramallah's 250,000 inhabitants remain under 24-hour curfew. They are under the threat of being shot on sight should they leave their homes for any reason. Tuesday morning, for example, a woman who left her home to take her young son to the hospital was shot dead in her car by an Israeli sniper. On Wednesday, a number of foreigners in Al-Bireh were shot at even though they were announcing via megaphone that they were unarmed and trying to get supplies from their office. These are only two examples of many. Ambulances, doctors and humanitarian agencies are still unable to move. Wounded are need of medical attention. Doctors have been asked to remove many bodies from downtown buildings, but they cannot reach the buildings due to tank positions and continued firing. The bodies have been decomposing and there is fear of an epidemic breaking out. There is no current capacity to respond to an outbreak if it occurs. Tuesday afternoon, after five and a half days of total curfew during which the population could not leave their homes to obtain food, water or any needed medical supplies or treatment, the Israeli forces announced a lifting of the curfew in some areas for two hours to allow a few shops to open so that people could get provisions. Due to the demand, the shops that did manage to open had to ration their goods to a limited amount per family. The announcement of the lifting of the curfew was made in some areas while in others people left their homes at their own risk. As people ventured into the streets, however, Israeli snipers continued to open fire, terrifying those in the streets and causing injuries. We managed to confirm two injuries, one a 14-year old boy who is still in hospital. There are unconfirmed reports of others, but it is impossible to receive a comprehensive idea of events in the current situation. The curfew was re-imposed at 6:00pm, now for an indefinite period of time. The Israeli army informed diplomatic missions that internationals in Ramallah would be allowed to leave the city through the two checkpoints during this two hour period: Qalandia and the DCO. However, individuals were expected to make their own way to the checkpoints. A miniscule number managed to evacuate, as many do not have cars (either because they do not own cars or because their cars were destroyed by Israeli tanks on the streets). Even those with cars did not feel at all safe attempting to travel under continued gunfire. In fact, anyone reaching a checkpoint came under direct Israeli fire. For this reason, and for reasons of solidarity, most of Ramallah's international community remains in the city. Terrorisation of the Population: Ramallah is constantly filled with the sounds of heavy caliber gunfire, tank shell explosions and helicopter gunships circling above, even when the general situation is calm and there is no Palestinian resistance. This is taking a heavy toll everyone's nerves, and children are particularly affected. All families live under the constant fear of having their homes invaded (or re-invaded) by Israeli troops. Early morning Tuesday, the Israeli forces started an offensive against the Preventive Security headquarters, with 400 desperate and terrified policemen, women and children inside. The non-stop, intense attack involved the use of Apache helicopters and tanks from about 1:30 am throughout the morning, and sporadically until noon. The sounds of non-stop helicopter machinegun and pounding rocket fire, as well as repeated tank shells could be heard all around Ramallah for the entire night. In areas throughout Ramallah, windows and mirrors continued to shake during the onslaught. Residents in the Beit Hanina neighborhood in Jerusalem also couldn't sleep from the sounds of the intensity of the attack. The electricity was cut off in some neighborhoods, making it difficult for residents to know where the attacks were occurring, creating a sense of panic. Shortage of Water Supplies: The water situation in Ramallah has become dire. The water supply to Ramallah Hospital has been completely cut off. Some areas of the city have also lost their water supply and residents are forced to collect rainwater. This is extremely dangerous to the public health situation, as safe drinking water becomes unavailable and general hygiene deteriorates. The four water pumps in the Beitunia area (responsible for providing water for a large part of Ramallah) were severely damaged in the shelling and the subsequent Israeli occupation of the pumping station. Two of the water pumps can be fixed. The other two pumps are thoroughly damaged and cannot be fixed without spare parts. Needless to say, such spare parts are not available. The water company repair teams are not allowed free access to the pumps. In some instances, these teams have been shot at by the occupying forces. The teams have been able to gain some access when accompanied by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) personnel. The ICRC, however, are understaffed. Even if the pumps are repaired, the water pipe network has been extensively damaged in the bombing and also needs repairs. The water company is attempting to fix some, but its staff regularly comes under Israeli fire. Lack of Electricity: Of the nine electricity-feeding stations in Ramallah, six are inoperative. Attempts to fix the damaged ones are facing the same constraints as the efforts to fix the water infrastructure i.e., any attempt by workers to repair the damage is met by Israeli gunfire In addition, a large number of electrical poles are damaged, and are inaccessible to repair crews due to the curfew. Israeli Forces Using Human Shields: Israeli soldiers are still occupying a large number of private residences and detaining the residents (often in large numbers) collectively in single rooms. This includes foreign nationals. Often these detainees are not allowed to speak to each other for periods of hours or days. We also have confirmed reports of Palestinian children being forced to stand in the windows of their homes to protect the Israeli intruders from any possible Palestinian sniper fire. A doctor at the Arabcare Medical Hospital was held at gunpoint in front of Israeli soldiers as they searched the hospital on three separate occasions. When the doctor asked them not to contaminate the surgery, he was physically roughed-up. Some 60 civilians were arrested Tuesday night and were to be used during the attack on the Preventive Security headquarters. The civilians were put in front of the Israeli forces to prevent the Palestinians from shooting back at the advancing tanks, until they were finally removed and detained in a single room. No Access to the City: Diplomatic missions are being barred daily from entering Ramallah. An EU convoy composed of Consul-Generals was turned back on Tuesday. A UN convoy carrying medical and food supplies to the Ramallah Hospital was repeatedly fired on by Israeli forces and one UN staff member was arrested and is still detained. Fortunately, the convoy managed to get through. However, no other international relief efforts have been allowed passage into the city. Food Resources Limited: During the lifting of the curfew on Tuesday, only a small number of shops could open. It was not possible to move from one area of town to another as tanks were stationed on main roads and intersections, and many shopkeepers could not open their shops. Some of the shops were looted by Israeli soldiers and were out of many supplies. There were long queues in front of shops that could open, and some basic provisions ran out. As a result, there remains a large shortage of basic provisions, especially for infants. Even if the curfew is lifted again, provisions in shops are now limited or non-existent since they are not being allowed to be replenished. No food supplies have been allowed to enter the city. Prisoners Being Taken: Israeli forces continue taking Palestinians prisoner in house-to-house attacks and collective roundups. All males between the ages of 16 and 40 are subject to arrest for no reason other than their age and sex. Until Monday night, the number of prisoners was 700 according to Israeli figures. It is impossible to ascertain the exact number. The ICRC still does not have access to these prisoners to ensure adherence to international law, and specifically the Geneva Conventions. Reports indicate that these prisoners are being held in deplorable conditions. Some prisoners are being released. They are being dropped either at the center of Ramallah or at distant checkpoints, and are expected to make their own way to their homes under the curfew and the shoot-on-sight policy. Many are forced to take refuge in abandoned buildings where they have no provisions, or among families in these neighborhoods, where they have to share these families already meager supplies. Arrests have also targeted medical and relief workers. We have confirmed reports of five medical workers arrested from the Palestinian Red Crescent hospital, as well as a human rights worker from the al-Haq organization. As of writing this update, we have seen armored personnel carriers approaching the Red Crescent headquarters, heard explosions and now are hearing reports that it is being raided. Gratuitous Vandalism and Destruction: There are numerous reports of soldiers stealing from residents and gratuitously destroying property. In one such confirmed instance, soldiers stole gold from a familys apartment, took 400 shekels (approx. $100) and destroyed packaged food and furniture. Another confirmed report involved a group of Israeli soldiers occupying the apartment of a lone female resident they ransacked the premises, harassed her verbally, helped themselves to her dwindling food supply and crushed her car with their tank when leaving. There are a number of reports of soldiers making sexually inappropriate comments to Palestinian and foreign women during houseraids and when driving by to enforce curfews. Disproportionate and Unnecessary Use of Violence: Israeli tank shells and machine-gun fire continue to be heard constantly throughout Ramallah, even though there is generally little or no Palestinian resistance. Explosives are being used to knock down doors, and anti-aircraft guns have been repeatedly used against buildings with people inside. We, the besieged people of Ramallah, continue to appeal to all people of good conscience around the world to mobilize immediately and not allow the continuation of the siege to breed complacency. We appeal to the people of Israel, in whose name these actions are being taken, to make their voices heard. This is the time for you to tell Palestinians that they still have partners for peace. Your silence now is the death warrant for the prospects of peace. We urgently appeal for food and drinking water, and for the general access of all humanitarian agencies. The situation is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster. We appeal for the safety of all individuals. We appeal for the immediate and total withdrawal of the occupying forces from all Palestinian towns and villages. We appeal for medical supplies and access to medical treatment, electricity, water, phone lines and other necessary facilities. We appeal for freedom of movement within the city and outside access to the city. We appeal for the immediate end to vandalism, looting, humiliation, and gratuitous violence and destruction. >We appeal for access of humanitarian agencies, including the ICRC, to all >detainees, prisoners and hostages, including Palestinian President Yasser >Arafat, to ensure their well-being. WE APPEAL FOR THE SIEGE TO BE LIFTED. This appeal has been made to you by Palestinians, as well as nationals of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jordan and other nationalities. Due to fear of retribution, the names and contact information of those authoring this appeal have not been included. For their contact information, please contact Michael (972-52-266-208). International Committee of the Red Cross: Jer. (972-2) 582-8845, Tel Aviv (972-3) 524-5286 UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): (972-2) 589-0401 ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 Subject: [Quaker-P] PALESTINIAN CHILDREN TARGETED ... PALESTINIAN CHILDREN TARGETED BY ISRAELI MILITARY SIEGE: DCI/PS CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION [Long memo with statistical fact sheet on child casualties, & with Update posted 5 April, containing late reports from Ramallah and other cities, of which the Ramallah ones are:] ...With its headquarters under siege in Ramallah, the staff of Defence >for Children International/Palestine Section is working from their homes to >gather information concerning the effects of the siege on Palestinian >children. Given the situation on the ground, comprehensive details >regarding child rights violation are difficult to obtain and verify, as are >exact figures of children killed and injured in the past six days. It is clear, however, that over the last few days shocking cases of Israeli abuse of Palestinian children have occurred. The following cases ... - Yesterday, 3 April, during a three-hour lifting of the curfew on residents of Ramallah, Israeli troops fired randomly at Palestinian civilians who were attempting to buy food, water and essential goods. A 14-year old boy, Kindi Qutteineh, who lives in the center of the city, was shot in his leg by live ammunition fired from an Israeli tank. An eyewitness to the shooting told DCI/PS, I was walking up the street to buy some food when Israeli soldiers shot randomly at people walking in the street. Kindi was near his house and was clearly shot for amusement by Israeli soldiers positioned in a tank. It took around one hour before an ambulance could reach Kindi and take him to hospital ... -The PCC also reported another hotline call from a family in Ramallah whose home was invaded yesterday by Israeli soldiers, who destroyed virtually everything in the house. Clothes were removed from closets and ripped apart. The childrens toys were destroyed. There are three children in the house, ranging in age from 6 years to 10 years. The mother of the family called PCCsaying that they had run out of food and needed immediate help. The mother also asked for advice on what to tell her six year old daughter who kept asking for an explanation as to why the soldiers had ripped the head and hands off her favorite doll. - Israeli troops have been conducting an indiscriminate arrest campaign targeting all Palestinian males. According to information from Addameer, Prisoner Support and Human Rights Organization, around 700 Palestinians have been arrested in Ramallah alone over the last few days. Around 20% of that number are children. DCI/PS is extremely concerned about these child detainees as no information about their whereabouts is currently available. Before this latest arrest campaign, around 160 Palestinian children were being held as political prisoners inside Israeli jails. DCI/PS's experience with child detainees indicates that virtually all of these children face some form of torture such as beating, having scalding and freezing water poured on them alternatively, tied in painful positions for long periods of time, sexually harassed, and are subject to physical and psychological threats by Israeli interrogators. - Late Sunday night Israeli soldiers overtook a 5-story building next to the Preventive Security Compound in Beitunia in the Ramallah area. They gathered nine families from the building and placed these 60 people in one apartment. Included in this group were 22 children below 15 years of age. They were kept in this apartment for at least 2 days without food and used as human shields as Israeli forces bombarded the Preventive Security Compound with helicopter missiles and tank shells only 50m away. - Israeli tanks and bulldozers have deliberately severed water lines in numerous areas of the West Bank. In the Ramallah area, residents are facing a severe water shortage. Compounding this problem, according to information provided by the electric company, around 120,000 people in the Ramallah area are without electricity at present. Moreover, six of nine electrical feeding stations are down. The Israeli military has occupied the building housing a main water pumping station in Beitunia and no water is being pumped to local residents. At this point, Ramallah and Al Bireh residents are utilizing water from the reserves on the roofs of their houses. Some have already run out and many residential areas have no running water. The lack of water is a particularly serious problem for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that sewage cannot be pumped properly. Medical sources are fearing the onset of epidemic diseases if refuse and sewage are not disposed of properly in the coming days.... DCI/PS has repeatedly warned the international community of the disastrous effects of Israel's non-compliance with its obligations under international law, in particular, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The State of Israel willingly signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It entered into force in Israel on 2 November 1991. According to article 2 of the Convention, States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind. In the period since the CRC's entry into force, Israel has not only failed to comply with the provisions of the Convention, it has consistently and systematically engaged in gross violations of Palestinian children's rights. ... DCI/PS emphasizes that Palestinian children, as the most dependent sector of Palestinian society, are severely affected by Israel's measures of collective punishment. ... DCI/PS calls on the international community to intervene and demand an immediate halt to Israel's siege on the occupied territories and an end to the Israeli occupation. ... Thank you for the suggestions. I forwarded them to some of my fellow Graduate students at Capella and posted them on a University web board. Most people at the University seem to find me to be a "pain" because of my peace actvities. I feel very strongly that you can't have mental health without meeting the basics of ... safety, food, shelter, Clothing etc. There are many students who simply do not want to know the our goverment and media does not always tell us the truth. There are even a few who simply do not talk to me. The reality that a fellow student is in Ramallah working for Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC) may bring these issues closer to home. one can only hope that future psychologists would be able to think beyond their own small worlds. thanks Lori ... here is where Bradley works... E-mail: trc@ jrol.com Website: Established: 1997 (in operation since 1983) Director(s): Dr Mahmud Sehwail,psychiatrist Contact person(s): Dr Sehwail; Karam Abu Hadeed; Bradley Brigham From: "Lori Anderson-Finwall" <ltaaf@ scc.net> ------------------------------------------------ in peace, Carol Urner 7322 Bright Avenue, Unit E Whittier CA 90602 USA Voice: (+1) 562 696 5215 Email: curner@ qwest.net To SUBSCRIBE, send a blank message (nothing needed in the subject or the body) to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4. No Minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/XgSolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! 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