Vanunu to Face Numerous
Restrictions After Prison Release
By Yossi Melman
Ha'aretz, April 14, 2004
Shin Bet security service officials will visit Mordechai Vanunu at
his cell in Ashkelon's Shekma Prison this week to brief the former
nuclear plant technician about restrictions he will face after his
release from jail next Wednesday.
The restrictions are based on clauses 108-109 of the State of
Emergency statute passed in 1945 under the British Mandate.
Under the regulations, Vanunu will be allowed to choose his town of
residence, but will be forbidden to leave city limits unless he
reports his intentions to the local police force.
In addition, Vanunu will not be allowed to approach any border
terminal, including Ben-Gurion International Airport, the country's
ports, or borders with the Palestinian Authority, as stipulated in a
list of crossing points to be given to him by security officials.
Also, Vanunu will not be allowed to be in contact with foreigners -
whether in face-to-face meetings or by telephone, fax, or email -
including foreign citizens residing in Israel.
Vanunu also will not be allowed to approach foreign embassies and
divulge details to anyone regarding the Dimona plant where he worked
or the circumstances of his being kidnapped and transported to Israel.
Vanunu will be informed that he will not have passport privileges,
and therefore, cannot leave the country.
Security officials will tell Vanunu that these restrictions will be
in effect for six months. During that time, his behavior will be
reviewed: if he does not try to circumvent the prohibitions, the
restrictions might be lifted. The officials will warn Vanunu that
should he try to violate the restrictions, he could be placed on
trial.
Vanunu will be given a few days to appeal the restrictions.
After having cut off relations several months ago with his long-time
attorney, Avigdor Feldman, Vanunu has asked the Association for Civil
Rights in Israel (ACRI) to represent his legal interests. Vanunu
recently informed relatives who are allowed to visit him in prison
that he does not want ACRI officials to handle his affairs until he
is released from prison.
For more information, please check out:
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space:
http://www.space4peace.org
ISRAEL'S PLAN TO GAG NUCLEAR WHISTLEBLOWER AFTER PRISON CONDEMNED:
MORDECHAI VANUNU COMPLETES 18 YEAR SENTENCE ON APRIL 21
The restrictions that the Israeli government intends to impose on
Prisoner of Conscience Dr. Mordechai Vanunu, a candidate for the
Nobel Peace Prize, after his release, as have appeared in the Israeli
press [Ha'aretz, April 14, 2004], constitute an intolerable,
unjustified and arbitrary violation of basic human rights, including
freedom of movement and freedom of expression.
Felice Cohen-Joppa, of Tucson, Arizona, Coordinator of the U.S.
Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu and now in Israel with 90
internationals from 10 countries preparing to greet Vanunu upon his
release on April 21, said: "With these restrictions, the Israeli
government is building a special prison just for Mordechai Vanunu.
This is an outrageous injustice not fitting for a democratic nation."
The restrictions would keep Vanunu in Israel and require permission
to leave the town of his residence. He would be prohibited from
approaching any borders or embassies, and barred from any
communication with foreigners, even those residing in Israel.
The restrictions and prohibitions which the Sharon-Lapid government
intends to impose characterize tyrannical regimes, and it is not
surprising that the order was signed by the Homeland Defense
Commander, based on the draconian State of Emergency Regulations, the
legacy of the British Mandate. We wish to remind the public, that
former Prime Minister Menachem Begin and two former Justice
Ministers, Yakov Shimshon Shapira and Dov Yosef, denounced the
regulations as being Nazi in nature.
Dr. Mordechai Vanunu, who was kidnapped nearly 18 years ago in a
terrorist act of the Israeli government, should not have spent one
day behind bars. He fulfilled his civil duty when he revealed, by
means of the free press, information about the manufacture of nuclear
weapons in Israel, information that was and is of importance to every
citizen. By doing so, Vanunu exercised the democratic principle of
the public's right to know.
However, once Vanunu completes the entire prison term to which he was
sentenced, his rights as a free citizen must be respected. The
restrictions which the Israeli government intends to impose on Vanunu
- including a prohibition on leaving the country, severe travel
restrictions even within Israel, and no contact with any foreign
citizens - are a continuation of the mistreatment that began at the
moment he was kidnapped.
We strongly denounce and protest the continued harassment of Dr.
Mordechai Vanunu by the Israeli Authorities and call on all people of
conscience, in Israel and around the world, to join the struggle to
lift all of these restrictions.
We hope, that judges who are committed to human rights are to be
found within the Israeli justice establishment, who will declare
these restrictions to be illegal, and who will enable the soon-to-be
released Prisoner of Conscience to live as a free person wherever he
chooses.
Action to Take
These restrictions on Vanunu's freedom are intolerable. They
abuse his human rights to the point of endangering his life.
Please vigorously protest these proposed restrictions and
express your concern for Mordechai Vanunu with faxed letters and
telephone calls to the Israeli Embassy in your country.
Berlin, Germany
Tel.: 030-8904 5500
Fax: 030-8904 5555
EMail: botschaft@israel.de
London, United Kingdom
Tel: 0207 957 9500
Fax: 0207 957 955
E-mail: info-assist@london.mfa.gov.il
The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel: 070-3760500
Fax: 070-3760555
E-mail: ambassade@israel.nl
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