Recent CO Action alerts

Again refuseniks have been imprisoned in Israel. At present, a total of 12 conscientious objectors is in military prison.

Jonathan Ben-Artzi (ISR12371) was sentenced to additional 28 days on last Sunday (10/11/02). This fifth prison term brings the total time of imprisonment up to 126 days. He was last sentenced to 21 days in prison on 21 October. He was sentenced to 21 days imprisonment in Military Prison No 4 on 1 October, to 28 days imprisonment on 8 August, and again on 4 September 2002.

Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Bal was tortured in military prison in Adana. His lawyer reported that he was captived on his legs and arms. In order to prevent him from getting out of his prison uniform, he was even kept captived while in his cell. According to his lawyer, his joints are sore. Although his lawyer protested against this, this practice wasn't changed. Yesterday (12 November), Mehmet Bal was brought to the military court in Adana, where he is charged with "repeated refusal of orders". As soon as chains were taken away, he started to undress.

War Resisters' International learned today that Turkish conscientious objector Mehmet Bal, who was imprisoned on 24 October, is on hunger strike.

War Resisters' International learned today that Yigal Bronner (ISR12723), who was sentenced for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories on 28 October 2002 (see ISR12666-12723to12727-301002, http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/30102002b.html), has been picked out for exceptionally harsh treatment. Possibly in "retribution" for his outspoken "Letter to a general" (see below), Yigal Bronner is being subjected to systematic ill-treatment and humiliation.

War Resisters' International learned today that Armenian conscientious objector Vagan Bayatyan was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a court in the Erebuni and Nubarashena district on 29 October. Vagan Bayatyan, a Jehovah's Witness, wrote a formal letter declaring his refusal to perform military service before this year's autumn call-up in September. Soon afterwards he was arrested. According to a report by PRIMA News Agency, presiding judge Anan Petrosyan called Bayatyan a "persistent draft dodger".

War Resisters' International learned that six more refuseniks were imprisoned in Israel, bringing the total to 15 refuseniks in prison.

Yuval Daphny (ISR12666) was sentenced to 28 days in Military Prison No 6. This is his second prison term. He was sentenced to 21 days in prison on 3 October, and was released from prison on 21 October, only to be imprisoned again shortly after.

Yigal Bronner (ISR12723) has been sentenced to 28 days for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories on 29 October 2002. His prison address is not yet known.

This week two more conscientious objectors were sentenced to their 3rd and 4th term of imprisonment in Israel.

Jonathan Ben-Artzi (ISR12371) was sentenced to 21 days in prison on 21 October. This is his 4th prison term. He was sentenced to 21 days imprisonment in Military Prison No 4 on 1 October, to 28 days imprisonment on 8 August, and again on 4 September 2002.

Dror Boimel (ISR12373) was sentenced to 14 days in prison on 23 October. This is his third prison term. He was sentenced to 28 days in Military Prison No 6 on 26 September, and was sentenced first on 5 September 2002.

Turkish conscientious objector Mehment Bal presented himself to the army on Thursday, and was arrested immediately. Today he was transferred to the military prison in Adana. War Resisters' International is concerned about his safety, and therefore calls for protest faxes to the military prison in Adana. Adana 6. Kolordu Askeri Cezaevi
Adana, Turkey
Tel. +90-322-322 83 67
Fax: +90-322-322 81 36

Israeli conscientious objector Haggai Matar (ISR12701), 18, reported to the military yesterday, where he was arrested and sentenced to 14 days in Military Prison No 4. This is his first prison term, and it has to be expected that he will be arrested again after his release. Haggai Matar is one of the founders of the "Shministim" movement - the movement of high school students who declare their refusal to serve in the Occupied Territories. This years' "Seniors' letter" (which can be found at http://oznik.com/petitions/020917.html) was signed by more than 210 high school students.

War Resisters' International learned today that six new refuseniks have been imprisoned in Israel during the last week. A further refusenik - Haggai Matar (ISR12701) -, one of the organisers of the Shministim movement, which organised the letter of the seniors (high school students in their last year), is likely to be imprisoned tomorrow. Haggai Matar wrote in his statement:

German total objector Sascha Hübner, who was called up for military service on 1 October 2002, was arrested by the German military police (Feldjäger) on Wednesday, 9 October 2002. He then was brought to the Freiherr-v.-Boeselager barracks in Munster. Sascha Hübner called the commander of the barracks on 4 October, and declared: "I was called up to serve in the German Bundeswehr from 1 October 2002 on. I won't start this service, as I oppose both, military and civilian service, as a forced service.

Five refuseniks have been again imprisoned in Israel, three of them for the second or third time.

Jonathan Ben-Artzi (ISR12371) was sentenced to 21 days imprisonment in Military Prison No 4 on 1 October. This is his third prison term. He was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment on 8 August, and again on 4 September 2002.

Uri Ya'acobi (ISR12376) was sentenced to a third term in prison too, this time to 7 days (on 1 October). On 14 August he was sentenced to 14 days, and on 1 September he was sentenced to 28 days in prison. He spent his last term of seven days in Military Prison No 4.

Greek conscientious objector Lazaros Petromelides, who was arrested on 17 September 2002 (see GR12008-180902 - http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/18092002a.html) was sent to the Navy Military Court on 19 September, and then released on bail for €1,000. The trial for his second draft evasion - illegal under the European Convention of Human Rights - will take place in the Military Court in Thessaloniki, but a date was not set yet.

War Resisters' International therefore still requests to send letters to the Greek authorities, as mentioned in the earlier co-alert GR12008-180902.

Andreas Speck

Five more refuseniks have been jaild in Israel last week.

Staff Sgt. Amit Brook (ISR12044), 25, a reservist, was sentenced to 14 days at Military Prison No 6 on 18 September for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories. He already spent 28 days in prison in April 2002 (http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/25042002a.html)

Cpl. Noam Levy (ISR12596), 19, a conscript in the artillery corps, was sentenced to 28 days in Military Prison No 4 on 12 September, for refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories.

Druse conscientious objector Salman Salameh, who was imprisoned early in September, and presently is imprisoned in Military Prison No 4, will face trial on charges of desertion on 1 October 2002. At present details are not clear. He already got 14 days suspended sentence for 'desertion', and then tried to get someone at the induction base to talk to him about possibilities of being discharged. He waited and waited without anyone paying attention to him, and finally left - which is seen as 'desertion' again. He turned himself in early in September.

War Resisters' International was informed by it's Georgian section today that two more Jehovah's Witnesses, who refuse to perform military service, have been arrested recently. Artur Kazaryan (ARM12593) was sentenced to one year's imprisonment on 18 September 2002. Hratch Tatoyan (ARM12594) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on charges of "refusing the call-up to military service" on 11 September. This brings the total number of Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service to 23.