NAM demands release of Palestinian political detainees in Israel

The deep concern expressed by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa about Palestinian political prisoners including children in Israeli jails, perhaps could be better represented by what Lord Alf Dubs said in the British Parliament on May 4, 2011: 

"In the (Israeli) court we visited we saw a 14 year-old and a 15-year-old (Palestinian children), one of them in tears, both looking absolutely bewildered. What shocked me as much as anything was to see that these young persons-children-had chains or shackles around their ankles while sitting in court. They were also handcuffed as they went into court. Although the handcuffs were taken off while they were in court, they were put on again as they left the court."

"I do not believe that this process of humiliation represents justice. I believe that the way in which these young people are treated is in itself an obstacle to the achievement by Israel of a peaceful relationship with the Palestinian people. I think that the Israelis should apply proper standards of human rights to the way in which they treat them," concluded Lord Dubs, British Labour party politician and former Member of Parliament when raising the issue of Palestinian child detainees following a visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) in April 2011, according to "Defense For Children International" - Palestine Section on its website. 

In his speech at the 16th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Nusa Dua, Bali, on May 27, Minister Marty Natalegawa stated that holding the Palestinian political prisoners was unjust and against the Fourth Geneva Convention. 

Marty believed the issue of Palestinian political prisoners had been a stumbling block in efforts to achieve a just solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"Many of the prisoners are Palestinian officials and members of the legislative council, who in the mainstream of the Palestinian political process should work with Israeli counterparts to negotiate the way forward," he said.

Minister Marty stated the Fourth Geneva Convention on foreign occupation must be applied in this context and the Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel occupying power must be immediately released as it is a blunt violation of the Convention. 

He stated NAM member states must never stop supporting the Palestinian struggle until the problem is solved comprehensively in line with the relevant UN international resolutions.

A similar concern was also voiced by Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Nabil Al-Araby, who is also the NAM chairman for 2009-2011, at Nusa Dua, on May 25, 2011.

The problem of Palestinian political prisoners must be given a priority attention by the international community, the United Nations Security Council and the Human Rights Council

He called for a just solution to the Palestinian problem and unconditional release of all Palestinian political prisoners being kept in Israeli jails and detention facilities.

The Grouping strongly condemns the inhuman practices against the Palestinian political prisoners and the systematic tortures which have caused at least 200 Palestinian detainees` deaths so far, Al-Araby said.

NAM has repeatedly told the UN Security Council and The Human Rights Council that the holding of Palestinian political detainees is clearly a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

An international criminal investigation must be immediately carried out and those responsible for the illegal and inhuman detention must be brought to the court.

NAM praises the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) for trying to stop the sufferings of the Palestinians in Israeli prisons, and for checking the detainees` condition.

"We urge Israel to give full access to ICRC to visit them in jails and detention facilities," Minister Al-Araby said. 

The Movement also called for the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Resolution issued in May 2010 on the need to send a fact finding mission including by ICRC staff to see the health conditions of the Palestinians in Israeli jails. 

The attitude of Marty and Al-Araby was well reflected in the NAM Declaration on Palestine, Declaration on Palestine Political Prisoners, the Bali Commemorative Declaration and the 127-page Final Document.

The NAM meeting which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Movement, on May 25, 2011, adopted the "Bali Commemorative Declaration" which reaffirmed the Movement`s support for an independent state of Palestine. 

The ministers of the 120-member NAM said they would remain at the forefront of support for the Palestinian people to realize freedom, peace and justice, in line with the long-standing international consensus recognizing the Palestinian people as a nation.

In a joint statement, the ministers "reaffirmed the longstanding international consensus recognizing the Palestinian people as a nation and recognizing their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in their state of Palestine, with east Jerusalem as its capital".

"The issue is a central one and a practical and effective benchmark in the construction of a just peace in the region," the statement said.

"The ministers stressed that the release of a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners... could constitute a positive step towards fostering the climate of mutual trust necessary for the resumption of permanent status negotiations."

Addameer (Arabic for Conscience) Prisoners` support and human rights association, a Palestinian NGO, said as quoted by the Palestinian Monitor that some 7500 Palestinians are currently being held as political prisoners by Israel, including around 344 Palestinian children, 115 Palestinian women, and 10 legislators. 

The prisoners are denied of family visits and lawyers. During the interrogation processes , a detainee is often subjected to some form of torture ranging in extremity, whether physical or psychological. In some instances, detainees have died while in custody as a result of torture. 

The location of prisons within Israel and the transfer of detainees to locations within the occupying power`s territory are illegal under international law and constitute a war crime. 

The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly states that "Protected persons accused of offenses shall be detained in the occupied country, and if convicted they shall serve their sentences therein" (Article 47). 

April 17th is the International Day in Solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners. It is marked by demonstrations through out the Occupied Territories with families demanding the release of prisoners. 

Since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967, over 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel. This forms approximately 20% of the total Palestinian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), according to IfAmericansknew website

Source: ANTARA