To All Living Things
Last Week's Column

Amnesty Action:
Legal Concern and Fear of Torture in South Lebanon
Kathy Gay

his week’s action from Amnesty International concerns a secondary school student who was arrested three weeks ago in South Lebanon at a road block set up by the Israeli Defense Force. The six others arrested with him were later released, but he was reportedly taken to the Khiam Detention Center by members of the South Lebanon Army (SLA). To date, his family has had no access to him.

Amnesty International is very concerned that this young man is at risk of torture and prolonged detention without charge or trial.

Background Information

Khiam Detention Center, located in the "security zone" of South Lebanon, is the main detention and interrogation facility of the SLA. About 300 people are currently detained there, many having been held without charge or trial for as long as 12 years.

Torture of detainees during interrogation has been systematic at Khiam. Former prisoners have told of being subjected to severe beatings, whippings and electric shocks. Between 1987 and 1995, detainees held there were not allowed access to their families or the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Israel frequently denies that it has any authority over Khiam Detention Center. However, Israel controls the "security zone" and oversees, trains and funds the SLA.

How you can help

Please send a letter to the Prime Minister of Israel as soon as possible, but no later than July 30, 1997. You may use the sample letter linked below or use it as a model to write your own letter. If you choose to use the sample letter, please cut off or delete all website information at the very top of the letter. If you choose to write your own letter, make sure that it is politely worded and non-partisan (i.e., not used as a vehicle for political expression). Care must be taken to ensure that nothing is written that will cause harm to this young man or anyone else detained at Khiam. Be sure to include both your name and address, as well as the date, on your letter.

U.S. airmail postage to Israel is 60 cents.

Questions?

If you have any questions, just post a message to me (Kathy Gay) on the Pub, and I will respond as soon as I can. I greatly appreciate your interest and support.

To see the sample letter for this action, click here.

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Kathy Gay is a vegan, and has been a member of Amnesty International for nearly 10 years, where she has worked on numerous campaigns. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a business analyst for a leading California bank.

Kathy's column, To All Living Things, is a regular feature of VegSource On-Line Magazine.