Mon May 20 2013
Departments
International Issues

Give them ten minutes please!!!
by Mary Yoder
January 26, 2003

Mary Yoder is a Columbus native and member of the Columbus Mennonite Church. She currently serves as a member of the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) in Hebron. CPT reports from around the world are available on this website

  School patrol is part of CPT’s daily routine. From 7-8 AM 2000 children from K-8th grade descend on Tariquibnziad Street, going to various schools. At 11:00 AM another 2000 students descend the streets. Since IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) took over 3 large schools, including a brand new, state the art facility, Palestinian children on “T” Street are crowded into small spaces and have a shortened day for split sessions.

The army closes these schools approximately twice a week We are never told the reason. Some soldiers will say its for “security”. This past Spring, 2000 school computers in the West Bank were either smashed or stolen by IDF.

This past Saturday’s school patrol started with two soldiers harassing teachers and telling them to go home. At 7:30AM, 2000 students were entering the school yards when the IDF drove down the street at neck breaking speed. Children started screaming and running in all directions. Loud sound grenades were detonated. The screams became louder.

Next, I watched in horror, as a thick white cloud moved down the street toward my “look out” post. (tear gas) Children were running in the school yard but teachers were frantically trying to get them to run home. They were screeaming and running in circles. Some were overcome by noxious fumes, since they had been gased from two different directions.

Minutes later, I spotted an army jeep close to the school intersection. I covered my nose with Kleenex and ran into the cloud of gas toward the jeep. I planted myself in the middle of the intersection with legs and arms spread out. The jeep revved its engine and came right at me but stopped short of hitting me.

CPTer, Christine Anderson, ran to the jeep and pleaded with the soldiers to give the children ten minutes to clear the streets. I waited several minutes, then walked to the drivers side of the jeep. I was shaking and overcome with anger so that I could hardly speak. Finally I screamed, “GIVE THEM TEN MINUTES!!!”

Flippantly the soldier who was driving replied, “OK, ten minutes and we’ll be back.”

The street was silent in just five minutes. When the soldiers did returned, the only children still lingering were the ones in my mind, eyes bright red from the gas and wet with many tears.  

Geneva convention IV: Articles 63,69,72-79: The occupying power must not hinder the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children.




Recent International Issues Articles

Wal-Mart Invades, and Mexico Gladly Surrenders
  December 9, 2003
  Tim Weiner

Love, American Style
  November 20, 2003
  Daniel Patrick Welch

U.S. Trade Officials Unlikely to Succeed at Miami Ministerial
  November 19, 2003
  IRC Americas Program

Nobody  wants this to happen
  September 21, 2003
  Mark Sashine, OpEdNews.com

The WTO Must Be Reorganized to Meet Today's Global Challenges
  September 10, 2003
  IRC Staff Tom Barry and Laura Carlsen

The World Is Waiting For Americans to Take Back America, To Rescue Her. But you Don't Enable Co-Dependents
  August 27, 2003
  Rob Kall

Report from Palestine
  August 17, 2003
  Karl in Palestine

Still Crazy
  July 29, 2003
  Daniel Patrick Welch

An International Tribunal Must Be Established for East Timor: A Statement from U.S. Religious Leaders and Organizations
  May 28, 2003
  John M. Miller

More than Ninety Religious Leaders and Organizations Representing 15 Faiths Call Indonesian Court on East Timor 'Not Acceptable'
  May 27, 2003
  John M. Miller

India Pakistan Thaw: is peace possible in South Asia
  May 15, 2003
  Ali Ahmed Rind

The Missing and the Right to Know
  May 3, 2003
  Neve Gordon

Time to change the Israeli Government's Policies Against Palestinian Civilians
  March 20, 2003
  Dr. César Chelala

Give them ten minutes please!!!
  January 26, 2003
  Mary Yoder

Nigeria: President expresses remorse for army massacre
  January 4, 2003
  Global Information Network

Government air attack condemned by French forces
  January 4, 2003
  Global Information Network

Exiled Ugandan strongman Idi Amin wants to come home
  January 4, 2003
  Gabriel Packard

Togo: Africa's longest-serving leader won't have to step down
  January 4, 2003
  Gabriel Packard

Nestle drops $6 million demand from Ethiopia
  January 4, 2003
  Global Information Network

South African broadcaster to keep CNN but may add Al-Jazeera
  January 1, 2003
  Global Information Network




Read International Issues Articles by Year:
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000



FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE


Donate to the Free Press Election Protection Fund to help us investigate and monitor election fraud in this year's election.


Donate to The Free Press The Free Press Store

FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook


SEARCH THE FREEPRESS




1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer