Situation in the OPT/Detainees – PLO letter – Letter from Tunisia

Letter dated 9 April 1987 from the Permanent Representative of

Tunisia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of April 1987, I have the honour to forward herewith a letter dated 9 April 1987, addressed to you by Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Alternate Permanent Observer for the Palestine Liberation Organization at the United Nations (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would arrange for this letter and the annex thereto to be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly under items 38 and 76 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Mahmoud MESTIRI

Ambassador

Permanent Representative of Tunisia

Chairman, Group of Arab States

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     * A/42/50.

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ANNEX

Upon the instructions of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, I am requested to bring the following to your urgent attention:

Four thousand Palestinian detainees in Israeli gaols have been on hunger-Strike since 25 March 1987 in protest over the inhuman conditions to which they are still being subjected and in particular against the use of torture by the Israeli prison authorities.

Among their other complaints are the problems of overcrowding, inadequate ventilation as a result of prison authorities' blocking windows with asbestos sheets, inadequate and poor food and lack of proper medical care. The deteriorating health of some of the prisoners on hunger-strike is causing their families grave concern.

In addition to protesting the conditions under which they are being detained, Palestinian prisoners are also raising the issue of Israelis repressive "iron-first" policy in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Since Wednesday, 8 April 1987, a general strike has been in effect in Jerusalem, Ramallah and El-Bireh in support of the Palestinian detainees on hunger-strike and against Israel's "iron-fist" policy in the occupied Palestinian territories. Demonstrations and protests have spread throughout the occupied territories and Israeli occupation troops have responded with violence. Live ammunition and tear-gas have been fired at unarmed Palestinian protestors and several injuries are roported.

We are bringing the aforementioned to your attention so that you may be kept apprised of the deteriorating situation in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

(Signed) Mr. M. Nasser AL-KIDWA

Alternate Permanent Observer

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