Shaked, Rihan, Tuesday, August 9, 2005, PMObservers: Bruria, Nava R,. (reporting)13:45 – ShakedA tractor is parked by the gate, towing a cart loaded with tobacco leaves. Soldiers stand near it, and don’t allow the farmer to go through, claiming his permit does not bear the plate number of the tractor. The farmer says that he has been waiting there since 11:40 a.m. I myself have seen this tractor cross to the other side many times in the past, with the same cargo and under similar conditions. The farmer called the District Coordination Office (DCO), but Bassem is nowhere to be seen. After almost 3 hours the permission arrives and at 14;20 the gate is opened for him.Needless to say, the gate is located just opposite his fields and the fence had disconnected him from his lands.14:30 – RihanAt the pedestrian inspection post, soldiers allow through a vehicle of the “Barta’a maintenance force” – all its passengers hold valid passage permits. They walk to the pedestrian inspection post, but – alas – over there soldiers deny their passage. This group of workers is delayed while their vehicle, with their driver, who was granted passage, wait for them by the side of the road. At 15:45, after an hour and 15 minutes of delay and following intervention of the DCO, they are finally allowed to go through.A helpless fellow stands by the checkpoint. His ID card was confiscated at a checkpoint near the village of Ya’abed while he was sent to Rihan CP to get it back. The papers were apparently given to another driver and he was left with no papers.