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Protesters call for UN action outside Ramallah office
Published Wednesday 09/05/2012 (updated) 10/05/2012 10:30
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RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A group of protesters blocked the entrance to the United Nations office in Ramallah Wednesday morning, slamming the UN for not intervening to save hunger-striking prisoners.

Around 50 Palestinian youth began the sit-in outside the UN compound at 9 a.m., carrying banners accusing the UN of collusion with Israeli government policies.

Protesters told Ma'an they would remain until 5 p.m. to disrupt a full day's work, and will continue the action until the UN takes a stand against Israel's violation of international law.

Aqsan Barghouthi said the sit-in was the first in a series of planned non-violent activities against international organizations in Palestine.

"We are highlighting the importance of implementing all the prisoners' demands, especially as some hunger-strikers have now reached a dangerous medical condition," she said.

A group of youth activists called Palestinians for Dignity sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, urging him to take a "firm and vocal position in opposition to Israel’s abuse and violation of Palestinian prisoners' rights."

The letter added: "We note with disappointment your silence ever since this protest movement began in December 2011 with Khader Adnan’s arbitrary arrest and subsequent hunger strike."

"This stands in stark contrast to your vocal and persistent remarks in support of formerly incarcerated Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit."

Adnan reached a deal for his release after 66 days on hunger strike. On Monday, Israel's Supreme Court rejected appeals against the administrative detention of two men on hunger-strike for 71 days, Thaer Halahla and Bilal Diab.

In Nablus, the chairman of a committee for defending Palestinian refugees, Hussam Khader, on Wednesday applauded President Mahmoud Abbas' earlier vow to take the case of Palestinian prisoners to the United Nations.

“Such a step has great importance and (will play a) key role in de-escalating all Israeli practices since prisoners on hunger strike have entered a dangerous medical stage”, Khader said.

He called on the Palestinian government to follow up with the prisoners with the assistance of Arab, Israeli and international legal assistance.

Hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails joined a group of hunger-strikers on April 17 protesting detention without charge. Around 2,000 are now taking part in the strike, rights groups say.
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1 ) BestWay / ToSaveThem
09/05/2012 15:51
Tell them to eat. Or, tell the Israelis that you approve of forced feeding, which actually can be done simply and safely by strapping them down and feeding them by IV. Or better yet, get the PA to return to the negotiating table, sign a peace treaty, and they can all go free (although I personally think that convicted Palestinian terrorists who killed civilians should never go free).
2 ) Simple Truth / NO Actions
09/05/2012 16:03
The "Protesters can call for UN action outside the PA's Ramallah office", and
The PA leaders can even call for UN action outside the UN's New York office,
but NO ACTIONS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN (or even be can be taken)
by the UN, or any other outside entity, so the choice is entirely up to the prisoners of whether to be hospitalized or die, from self-imposed starvation,
and violent resistance will NOT help them, but it will hurt the protestors !!!!

3 ) Mel / USA
09/05/2012 16:16
As long as the UN functions to serve Western hegemony & is headed by weak US-servants,instead of serving ALL international rule of law & global humanity,EQUALLY,across the planet,not just US-favored(strategic)nations/states,then the UN remains a court eUNuch! Merely an extra arm of US(colonial)Foreign Policy,which has already proved itself(since Korea)to be a blundering,ill-informed,manipulative & criminally selfish MESS,based on earlier USG ignorance of the rest of the planet,outside of WAR!?!
4 ) Malone / Hfx
09/05/2012 18:41
The only ones that can save the hunger strikers...are the hunger strikers. Other than a few activists,relatives,etc.,no one seems to really care,do they?Everyone is responsible for their own actions...in the real world.
5 ) observer / palestine
09/05/2012 19:20
do you want to know how much ma'an cares about palestinian prisoners on hunger strike? ma'an is holding a song show called new star in bethlehem tonight,,,, in other words, they say to the prisoners: toz!
6 ) Sherri Munnerlyn / US
09/05/2012 21:11
To Malone, We all are responsible for our own actions, we oppose Injustices like Israel unlawfully detaining Palestinian prisoners or we support the Injustice that is the Occupation and Israel unlawfully detaining prisoners without their due process rights respected. And one day, we will all answer to God for our choices. And those Palestinian hunger strikers will be rewarded for their acts of self sacrifice and pouring out their own lives for others, they are Today's Gandhis.
7 ) Arnold / Canada
09/05/2012 21:49
April 25 2012- "Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, one of 14 men in prison for leading an uprising last year, is serving a life sentence for expressing support for Bahrain becoming a republic. He has been fasting for 77 days." Where is the outcry from Bahrainis.
8 ) Arnold / Canada
09/05/2012 21:53
The United Nations Human Rights organization has already said that hunger strikers have the "right" to do so. They cannot be forced fed if they do not want to be and they have the right to their dignity.
9 ) Arnold / Canada
09/05/2012 21:56
July 21 1980. News story " The British government refuses to negotiate with their jailed Irish hunger strikers "
10 ) Ramallah is an isolated island / Palestine
10/05/2012 01:10
Could you have misidentified the source of the quote from Nablus? Hussam Khader is currently in Administrative Detention for nearly one year, following his arrest at home at 2 am on June 2, 2011
11 ) Tissa / Sri Lanka
10/05/2012 09:33
UN is deaf, dumb and blind when it come to third world countries.They are active if they want to send the so called observers who later become invadors.Palestinians acn forget about UN
12 ) Oh Really / They need to learn
10/05/2012 22:43
Israel is a Zionist abhorrent terror state. The UN always condemns this & that when the Zionist gov't whines to them. But when it comes to the Palestinians & what's being done against them.... where's the UN in condemning the Zionist terror state of Israel in it's absurd practices & violations??
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