Anata, Thursday, 11.8.2005, AMObservers: Aviva W., Rama Y. (reporting)When we arrived there were 2 detainees. We asked themwhy they have been detained (they didn’t havepermits); how long they were detained (about half anhour). After which a BP, S., approached us and orderedus away, “near the minibuses”, about 50 meters away.We refused. The PC’s commander, GC, thenapproached us for the usual ritual of shouts andmenaces. I asked him then about the detainees.Apparently, this was too much. He declared that I wasdetained, took away my ID and ordered me to stand atthe door of the improvised office, so that I wouldn’t”run away”. I was charged with obstructing policework, because I had no right to ask him about thedetainees. I had no right to use my mobile phoneeither, and Aviva did all the phone work. Yael S. wasa great help. It was clear that every one Yael andAviva called (including B., G’s superior officer,who arrived at the PC a bit later), wanted to be ridof that farce and finish with the affaire there andthen, but G insisted that I should be taken to theregional police station at the Russian Compound inJerusalem. At a certain point he even menaced tohandcuff me. So I was driven to the Russian Compound(Aviva followed us). We waited about thirty minutes. Afemale police officer then read the details of the”charge” and asked a policeman to take my version ofthe affaire and release me, which he did. Among otherthings, G claimed that I said to him: “You’re nota policeman but a simple soldier. I have connectionswith half of the world. I’ll show you. We shall meetagain.” Frightening.And the conclusions? Though it is clear that this manshould not serve at the CPs, this occurrence wasunnecessary, and if I’d been a bit more cautious,maybe it could have been avoided altogether. It causedwaste of time to all concerned, and because of that wedidn’t do our job and didn’t get to Ar-Ram andQalandiya. PS. The detainees, three by then, where released whilewe were still at the PC.