Ramallah hunger strikers resent Abbas reneging on promise

[ 11/04/2011 - 06:30 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Youth holding a sit-in at Manara Square downtown Ramallah expressed resentment after Palestinian de facto president Mahmoud Abbas reneged on a deal to free political prisoners held by the Palestinian Authority security agencies.

The protesters said they would continue with their hunger strike until their demands are met or until they meet their death. Their key demand is that Abbas ensures the freedom of detainees ruled as free men by the Palestinian Supreme Court, and puts an end to a concurrent media incitement campaign.

One of the protesters said Abbas promised during a meeting with the youths to free those political prisoners within 48 hours, but eight days has passed since then.

The families of political prisoners committee in the West Bank has lauded the strikers' "courageous stand", saying they will never be forgotten by the prisoners or their relatives.

The committee said in a fresh statement that Abbas's failure to respond after repeated promises concludes that the West Bank security services are in violation of law, as civilians are still court martialed and dozens of Palestinian Supreme Court rulings are left unimplemented.

According to the committee, the number of detainees in the PA security prisons is at 420, including more than 300 who had been been previously detained and 100 who have received sentences.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian