International Checkpoint Watch - Daily Observations

Date:   05/03/02                            Time: 10.30-11:30, 16:00
Place Observed:  Surda  

Number of Soldiers Present:  1 army digger, 1 apc with 3 visible soldiers

Soldiers Names, ID #’s, License Plate #’s, Etc:

Events Witnessed:

10.30am ICW volunteer arrives.  She has been told by Birzeit University that the army issued a warning for all owners to return to their cars and remove them from near the checkpoint, or they would be damaged.  On arrival, army digger is lifting earth from the verge, with apc onlooking.   The digger is dropping dirt across the road  to create a barrier.  Cars are trying to cross to avoid being trapped between the trench and the new blockage.  One driver gets out of car and walks to apc and requests being let out.  Soldier in apc shouts to soldier in digger to remove the dirt to allow 3 cars out and replaces dirt with 2 concrete blocks. Again another driver requests and is let out.  Digger precedes to make 2 meter mound, seemingly unconcerned that people are trying to walk over the mound.  On a couple of occasions, it nearly drops its load on pedestrians which include a  mother and her children in a pushchair, who have to be lifted over the mound by passers-by.  On 3 three ocasions, elderly women have to be steadied to climb down over the mound.