All Students released!
Prepared by: Hadeel Wahdan
At around 9:00 p.m. of the 5TH of March, an announcement was made that all the students imprisoned during the events following the visit to Birzeit University by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, were to be released unconditionally.
Released students arrived in Ramallah and traveled to the University where hundreds of students, staff and family members were waiting to greet them. Carried on shoulders of their colleagues, the students entered the cafeteria and received with chantings that read "Birzeit! Birzeit! Birzeit!" and, "From Birzeit to Beirut, we are one people!".
Student leaders from all political blocs addressed the crowd while hugs were exchanged with released students. Those students who were on hunger strike jubilantly terminated their protest and students talked and sang until early hours of the morning.
The release of students is reported to be instigated by interference from the French government, which urged President Arafat to alleviate the crisis in Birzeit University. However, the actual release of students was due to a decree by President Arafat.
Some of the released students confirmed that they were subjected to torture during their seizure by the Palestinian Security Apparatuses. Of course this depends on what party we belong to, said one of the released prisoners who is affiliated with the Democratic Bloc in Birzeit University.
On the other hand, PLC member Marwan al-Barghouthi, who accompanied the released prisoners from Jericho Jail, said that non of the students was tortured or even touched by PA apparatus.
Although the students movement suspended all activities of protest, yet, they will not resume classes until Wednesday, the 8th of March, so that things become clearer to us said Spokesman of the students movement at BZU.