"Wanted activists" from Tulkarem complain about PA's mistreatment

Date: 16 / 06 / 2009 Time: 17:16

[Ma'anImages]

Tulkarem – Ma’an – Former Al-Aqsa Brigades fighters across the West Bank continue to wait as their amnesty deals remain unresolved, leaving large numbers of men in limbo.

Last week in a Tulkarem café, three former fighters in various stages of the amnesty deal sat down with Ma’an’s reporter to discuss grievances against the Palestinian Authority, who they say is not doing enough to resolve their cases.

Part of the issue is that those offered amnesty have been offered an array of different deals. In exchange for having their names removed from Israel’s “wanted” list, fighters all signed declarations saying they would renounce violence and handed in their weapons. That is where the consistency ends, however, as some have remained in PA protective custody and other remain in their homes; some were promised jobs in the PA police or security services but have not received salaries; others were promised reimbursement for their weapons and did not receive it.

For many, amnesty has been only partially delivered and former fighters are unable to continue with their lives.

All complain that they are being treated as “troublemakers” by PA security forces, even though it is the forces that are in charge of the former fighters because, as one man said, they are now “committed to the PA’s directives.”

During the conversation the fighters mentioned the cases of others, like Issa Al-Ashqar from the town of Sayda north of Tulkarem, who has reportedly been detained in solitary confinement and deprived of visits even though he has received “partial amnesty,” just like the men sitting around the table.

Another case that highlighted the uncertainty of the amnesty cases, was that of former fighter Bakr Sanyura, who had been detained, held and had not been reimbursed for his expensive weaponry which he willingly handed in when he accepted the amnesty deal.

The men said members from within Fatah have “attempted several times to interfere and bring to an end our suffering,” but the requests to the security services under the PA to deal more promptly with their cases have fallen on deaf ears.

The former fighter also said local governor of Tulkarem Talal Dweikat, who they “consider their coordinator,” has done his best to work out a solution, but without success.

“Wanted activists are our children and it is our duty to protect and embrace them,” Dweikat said, “since the Israeli occupation is still after them.”