CNN.com - Transcripts

MAIN PAGE
WORLD
U.S.
WEATHER
BUSINESS
SPORTS
POLITICS
LAW
SCI-TECH
SPACE
HEALTH
ENTERTAINMENT
TRAVEL
EDUCATION
CAREER
IN-DEPTH

QUICK NEWS
LOCAL
COMMUNITY
MULTIMEDIA
E-MAIL SERVICES
CNNtoGO
ABOUT US

CNN TV

what's on

show transcripts

CNN International
askCNN

EDITIONS

CNN.com Asia
CNN.com Europe
set your edition

CNN WORLD REPORT

West Bank Children Attend Summer Camp Devoted to Human Rights

Aired August 19, 2001 - 14:07 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: An Israeli military report quoted by an Israeli newspaper predicts the fighting with the Palestinians could last for several years and escalate into a regional war. Israel's defense minister calls the forecast nonsense, but he admits it's a problem that doesn't seem to have a solution in the foreseeable future. Fighting in the last 11 months has killed more than 700 people.

Despite the violence, people are trying to go on with their daily lives. Children in the West Bank are attending a summer camp devoted to teachings of democracy and human rights. Alquds Educational Television has more on the program.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BENAZ BATRAWI, ALQUDS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is not the mathematics or history class in an ordinary school day, but a class on democracy and human rights in a summer camp organized by the Palestinian Legislative Council and other Palestinian and governmental organizations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are being taught about democracy, oversight and also about the role of the Palestinian Legislative Council in the society.

BATRAWI: The summer camp that aims at promoting and strengthening democracy among Palestinian youth is held in Ramallah on the West Bank and in Raha (ph) on the Gaza Strip, targeting schoolchildren at the age of 12.

RULA MUHAISEN, PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: This is a new experience as (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the institution for the Palestinian society. And with this we try to enhance democracy and strengthen governmental life and find opportunities for dialogue and interaction between the PLC members and the public sector.

BATRAWI: The ideal of this summer camp came at a time when the work of the Palestinian Legislative Council was deeply affected by the Israeli closure. In this chamber, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council used to meet every two weeks. Today, seats are empty and doors are closed.

For almost ten months, all 88 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council were able to meet only once in Gaza. While Israeli authorities are preventing the movement of the Council's members, they are trying other means for face-to-face meetings, such as video conferencing.

GHAZI HANANI, PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: The restrictions on the movements of the members of the PLC really are destroying the work of the PLC and the strength of the democratic attempt by the PLC members to have the democratic Palestinian state.

BATRAWI: Freedom of expression taught at this summer camp is a cornerstone of a democracy. Freedom of movement is a basic human right in every nation, and is guaranteed to parliamentarians such as members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, who may not be able to break through Israeli roadblocks, but are indeed able to break person barriers between them and the generations to come. In (UNINTELLIGIBLE), Alquds Educational Television for CNN WORLD REPORT, Ramallah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com