Democratic Palestine : 20 (ص 10)
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- Democratic Palestine : 20 (ص 10)
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Life in Burj Al Barajneh
DEFENDING THE CAMP
We interviewed the fighters in a
PFLP military base defending Burj Al
Barajneh camp. Comrade Abu Jilda
began: «We are in this position to
defend our people and camp. We would
prefer to be in the South facing ‘Israel’,
but Amal forces us to fight here. We
have been in this position for two years.
Amal continues its harassment. We are
expecting war any day, and we are
ready.»
Comrade Adnan, deputy leader of
the PFLP in Burj Al Barajneh, related
the background of the wars with Amal:
«The battles with Amal were forced on
us. It was part of the conspiracy to
negate the Palestinian role in Lebanon
and enforce sectarian solutions. As
Amal rose to be the dominant Shiite
force, it viewed all Palestinian and
non-sectarian Lebanese forces and
parties as obstacles, because of the his-
tory and strength of the democratic,
progressive forces within the Shiite
community. Amal is not a homoge-
neous organization. It needs to open a
war with an ‘outside force’ to keep
itself from shattering, and to create
support among the Shiites in the face of
the growing influence of Hezballah.
After the fascist forces were thrown out
of Beirut, Amal did not continue the
fight against ‘Israel’ because of the
presence of a pro-Israeli trend within it.
Instead, it made war on the Palestinians
on the pretext of Arafat’s activities,
and not wanting to return to the situa-
tion before 1982.»
«During the last battle (June 1986),
we were fighting only defensively, but
when we saw that the camp was being
shelled deep inside, we decided to take
the battle out of the camp. We divided
the frontline into three sections, 2
defensive and one supportive. Our plan
was that as soon as we face aggression,
we will expand to control the square
just beyond the camp. We were able to
accomplish this, as you can see for
yourself. We were able to defeat
Amal’s forces, though they were much
greater in number.»
Comrade Abu Nidal Al Ashaar,
military responsible for the PFLP’s
forces in Burj Al Barajneh, assessed the
results of the last battle: «Before the
last battle, certain elements in Amal,
especially from their security forces,
began instigating trouble. Together
with hostile propaganda, this caused
tension to rise. Later on, Amal started
heavy bombardment of the camp. We
were prepared and our military ability
was good. We could carry out any
political decision that was made, even
to advance. We decided to expand the
area we control only to the extent
needed to save the camp from aggres-
sion. That’s why we took the square...
We observed the ceasefires with good
will, hoping each would be the last, but
the other side has used the ceasefires as
a tactic for inflicting heavy losses
10
among our people by suddenly opening
fire. We cannot have the same practice,
because we do not believe in such tac-
tics.»
Concerning expectations about
future battles, Comrade Abu Nidal
said, «Definitely, Amal will not be able
to enter the camp. The balance of
forces is changing to our favor. Amal is
getting weaker internally and the
Lebanese national movement is recon-
sidering its alliance with Amal.»
LIFE IN THE CAMP
Abu Iskander is a member of the
Burj Al Barajneh popular committee.
He is fifty years old, comes from
Kwaikat near Acca in Palestine, and
has five children. He described living
conditions in the camp:«We are living a
tragedy. We have lived in a state of
siege since 1985. The camp needs to be
cleared of the debris from the war, but
we could not accomplish that yet.
People cannot move in and out of the
camp. There is no work. People depend
on the help of the Palestinian organi-
zations. UNRWA gives a little help,
and some have family members in the
Gulf (who send them money). Unem-
ployment here is 100%.»
Abu Iskander discussed the effects of
Amal’s attacks on the camp. One thing
he mentioned is that «this caused our
people to increase their ties with the
revolution and solidify the resistance.
We did not want Amal to be our enemy;
we were allies before,» he added.
Amal’s attacks have also led to the
problem of emigration. Abu Iskander
said, «There are many people who
emigrate for financial and social rea-
sons, but the most important reason is
the security situation. More than 200
men left recently. If the security situa-
tion was good, no more than 20 would
have left.»
Mr. Taysir is a respected person in
Burj Al Barajneh camp, and respon-
sible for rebuilding Haifa hospital
there. He has six sons. Five of them
have been freedom fighters, carrying
arms, since the revolution started in
Lebanon. One of them was martyred.
His girls attend university, and work in
the students’ and women’s unions. He
evaluated the work of the popular
committee in Burj Al Barajneh as fol-
lows: «After 1982, the popular com-
mittee faced a very difficult situation
because of the Zionist-Phalangist
aggression. Though it provided some
services. it did not develop. Then after
the return of the revolution, the situa-
tion improved.» About efforts to
rebuild the houses that have been des-
troyed in the camp war, he noted,
«There was some help from the PLO
and the Palestine National Salvation
Front, but there was no jointly orga-
nized work. Each force took care of its
own peopie. Many houses were
repaired, but Amal does not allow
rebuilding unless we rebuild Amal’s
areas as well, and that is impractical».
Through discussion, it became
obvious how the security situation is
affecting all aspects of life in Bur) Al
Barajneh, for as Mr. Taysir explained,
«It is very difficult to leave the camp, to
go to Beirut for example. No one can
leave to obtain ID papers or a passport,
or to go to the dentist. (We are working
to establish a dental clinic here.) For
this reason,the phenomenon of brokers
sprang up. Camp residents pay others a
lot of money to do errands for them,
because they are afraid to leave the
camp themselves. Also because of the
bad security situation, many young
men travel abroad in order to go to
university, but of course, not every
family can afford to send their children
to a university outside Lebanon.
UNRWA’s policy also affects the
education situation, as Mr. Taysir
explained: «After 1982, the UNRWA
schools were affected because
UNRWA’s policies are closely related
to those of imperialism, ‘Israel’ and the
Arab reactionary countries. UNRWA
diminished educational services. After
1985, schools were closed for long
periods. As of now, they have been
closed all year. This has a negative
effect on our youth. In my opinion, this
is an attempt by US imperialism and
UNRWA to keep our people ignorant.»
«IF WE ABANDON OUR
ARMS, WE ABANDON OUR
LIVES»
Mr. Taysir also discussed various
issues related to the political situation
and the recurring camp wars. He eva-
luated the role of the Palestinian orga-
nizations and the Lebanese national
movement, in defending the camps, as
follows: «During the 1985 camp war,
the Lebanese national movement did
not even issue a statement to support
us... In 1986, however, most Lebanese
nationalist organizations were suppor-
ting us on the media level. However, in
practice, nothing was done, except for
providing some food, although we all
fought alongside the Lebanese national
movement in the February revolt in
1984 and in the mountains (against the
fascists). We don’t ask them to fight
Amal, but we need their political sup-
port. All Palestinian and Lebanese
nationalists, including Amal, should
unite to confront Zionist aggression
against South Lebanon and Palestine.
The Palestine National Salvation Front
fought fiercely in defense of the camp.
Fatah also did. Many were martyred on
both sides. It was a great expression of
national unity in the field. Though the
right-wing PLO leadership has
deviated, this did not negatively
influence our masses in the camp.
Everybody fought together to protect
the camp.»
Mr. Taysir explained the purpose of
weapons in the camp, saying, «The
people say that if we abandon our
arms, we abandon our lives, our honor
and our cause. As long as Palestine is
not liberated, we have no right to - هو جزء من
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