Human rights situation in southern Lebanon – CHR – NGO letter (North-South XXI)

QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND

FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD

Written statement ¹ submitted by North-South XXI, a non-governmental

organization in special consultative status

The Secretary-General has received the following written statement, which is circulated

in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

[20 December 1999]

THE SITUATION IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

1.   One hundred and forty-four Lebanese political prisoners are imprisoned in Khiam camp, set up in 1985 by the Israeli army occupying southern Lebanon, for acts of resistance against a foreign military force occupying the national territory since 1978.

2.   These Lebanese prisoners have not been allowed the benefit of any legal procedure or trial by the State of Israel, which claims to be the “only democracy” in the Middle East.

3.   Requests for their release or simply for a visit from lawyers, sent to Mr. Barak, the head of the Israeli Government, have gone unanswered.

4.   The group of French and Israeli lawyers representing prisoners held in Khiam stress that their clients are subjected to “harsh torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment”.

5.   There are therefore grounds for requesting that the relevant special rapporteur should study conditions in Khiam camp and that everything possible should be done to obtain the release of those illegally imprisoned there.

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