International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date: February 02, 2002                  Time:  13:00                      
Place Observed:  Surda Checkpoint  

A Palestinian tells a soldier to 'get lost'.  Three soldiers run after the man who heads towards to Ramallah.  They are not quick enough and lose him.  They then pick an unrelated guy and take him to the circular post and close the door .  I  go to the 10 policeman who are sitting in jeeps about 20metres away and say that we are concerned that the Palestinian man is being mistreated.  He says that it is the army's responsibility and speaks on his walkie talkie.  After 10 minutes, the Palestinian man is led out and is directed by the soldiers to talk with the police.  After looking at the Palestinians' ID, he is led to the soldiers tent and is made to sit down.  I ask the captain of the police unit what he has done and eventually tells me that he was throwing stones at the soldiers the day before and that it is none of my business.