Qalandiya/Ar-Ram, Wednesday 29.12.04 PMObservers: Tami B., Tami G., Daniela Y., Aya K., Ruti B., Liat (photographer) and Eli, Ruti and Eli reportingThere were 4 detainees, one of whom holds a blue (Israeli) ID. 3 of them were caught trying to cross the quarry instead of the checkpoint. They are residents of Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem and Jerusalem respectively.They told us they were being detained since 12:30 PM. According to the officer at the CP, they had only been held about half an hour.16:30 – we started to call the DCO hotline, the local army division HQ, the army spokesperson office, and the Center for the Protection of the Individual.18:00 – we are informed by both DCO and Army Spokesperson that all the detainees have been released. Our eyes, though, were telling us the contrary and the men were still being held as of 18:00. The DCO informed us that the release instructions had been passed on to the Company Commander at the CP. We tried to locate him around the CP but could not find him.18:20 – IDs returned and the men released.A week ago we encountered a similar situation and spent our whole watch trying to press for the detainees’ release, with the slight difference being this time’s vengeful feelings towards us on the part of the soldier. All this does not detract from the severity of the case about which a formal complaint will be filed (Tami is looking after this). This week clearly showed us how “every soldier reigns on the ground”. Instructions had been forwarded from the Army Spokesperson, the DCO, Division HQ – all in vain. Imagine my standing there hearing the DCO on my phone telling me they had been released, while the soldier facing me refuses to speak to them, all in the name of some “educational” punitive action… The army has all the almightiest systems of any military hierarchy, that still cannot budge a thing in the conduct of a single soldier and … serve as the perfect coverup.On our way back from the checkpoint, we met Hussam, an 8 year-old boy who told us that yesterday (28.12.04) afternoon he was caught by the “blue” (civilian) police while selling felttip pens around the French Hill neighborhood. The policemen pushed him into their car and banged his head against the ceiling. His bruised forehead is prominent and has been recorded by our camera. Such instances of police brutality are commonplace.