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Iraq Crisis |
Hunger strikers protest attacks on Iraq
Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 24, 1998 This is the third day of the hunger strike of a group of Lebanese students protesting the American-British aggression on Iraq and the actions of the American Ambassador in Lebanon. Yesterday, the protestors wrote this appeal for solidarity with the people of Iraq in order to send to as many people as possible. Please help them by distributing this letter and by informing us of any support actions. Please send emails to the following address: fawares@softhome.net and visit our homepage below. Appeal On December 22, a group of Lebanese students went on a hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Iraq and the Arab peoples against the American-British aggression, and the embargoes on Arab countries. Currently, 11 young men are carrying on with the strike taking place in front of the American University of Beirut. They demand the unilateral withdrawal of Lebanon from the embargo on Iraq. They consider the hunger strike an expression of solidarity with peoples facing daily oppression by the US, which also constantly shifts UN resolutions to fit its goals. Those goals which do not intersect with the goals of peoples represented in the United Nations. The hunger strikers, call on all Arab and international organizations to act in solidarity with the causes of the strike, each in the way they deem suitable. They hope that they also get notified of all suggestions to coordinate between different actions around the world. Beirut, December 23 UPDATE END OF DAY 2 The protesters began their third day of the hunger strike. Around 20 supporters are usually present at one time. On Wednesday, the strikers set up a tent to protect themselves from the rain and the cold weather. Later that day, they were contacted by Internal Security who asked them to remove the tent because they do not have a camping permit. After negotiating with the station chief, they were allowed to keep the tent for the night. On Thursday, Internal Security came back and forced them to remove the tent cover even though it was starting to rain. The strikers fear that this is a tactic since it is expected to rain tonight and tomorrow morning. Some supporters contacted the Lebanese Prime Minister, Salim Hoss, to ask for help. Mr. Hoss told them that he could not make an exception because then "tents will be set up all over the place." Currently, the strikers are distributing a petition for their three demands:
The rain continued Thursday night and throughout Friday. Thursday night, Christmas eve, at midnight, around 120 supporters of the hunger strike gathered near the tent and lit candles for those killed in Iraq. A few minutes prior to that, one of the strikers fainted and was taken to the hospital. He was released a few hours later and chose not to continue with the strike. On Friday, the strikers complained about the Lebanese Red Cross's indifference to their situation. The LRC was contacted at the beginning of the strike and has visited the strikers three times only after many phone calls. One of the main concerns of the supporters of the strike is the apathy of many political and youth groups. The Union of Democratic Youth (Communist Party) threatened to expel its striking members. The Lebanese government is yet to make any official contact even though the strikers had contacted the Prime Minister twice and ensured him that their actions were not directed against the newly elected government. Many of the strikers had campaigned for the Prime Minister's ticket during the 1996 parliamentary elections and the ticket he supported for the Beirut municipal elections last Summer. For daily updates please visit: http://www.greencedars.com.lb/wpf/fawares.
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