Sunday, January 30, 2011
"MASS DEMOCRATIC UPSURGE ACROSS MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA, THE END OF THE DICTATORSHIPS & THE RETREAT OF THE US-ISRAELI EMPIRE"
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"MASS DEMOCRATIC UPSURGE ACROSS MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA, THE END OF THE DICTATORSHIPS & THE RETREAT OF THE US-ISRAELI EMPIRE"
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by Feroze Mithiborwala (29/01/2011)
"WE ARE NOT SOMALIA, WE ARE TUNISIA" - SLOGAN OF THE REVOLUTION IN YEMEN
"WE ARE WITNESSING THE TUNISIZATION OF THE ARAB WORLD" – AZMI BISHARA (PALESTINIAN LEADER).
"HEY – HO – MUBARAK MUST GO" !! SLOGAN OF THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION
EGYPT IS FREE, THE END GAME FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE US-ISRAELI EMPIRE HAS BEGUN
The fall of Egypt & the end of the brutal dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak also is a defeat of the US-Israeli project for the control of the Middle East & North Africa. The popular People’s Revolution currently sweeping the Arab nations is committed to the end of dictators & monarchies. The revolution is also a movement against Imperialism & Zionism. Mubarak of Egypt & Ben Ali of Tunisia were not only brutal despots but also collaborators & supported by the US as ‘moderates’. Despite Mubarak’s cruel record, where he used brute force of his police apparatus for torture & imprisonment, Joe Biden (Vice-President, USA) refused to call him a dictator, even though free elections have not been held in Egypt for over 3 decades. Similarly Hillary Clinton tried to reduce the revolution as a call for certain reforms, thus desperately attempting to deflect the core demands of the People that called for an end to US backed dictatorships. Obama also tried to address the People in a similar manner, taking the cue from Hillary. Also the next time, Obama should be more careful in his selection of the Arab capital to make his speeches on democracy, as Cairo was definitely the wrong choice when he chose to address the Muslim world in 2009. Israel was clear & said that Mubarak was indispensable & should deploy his security apparatus & resort to brute force to quell the unrest.
The revolution has also challenged certain anti-Arab & Islamophobic narratives. It was generally assumed that Arab & Muslim nations are anti-democratic & incapable of democratic aspirations & extremely violent. But the truth is there for all to see.
The democratic revolution that started from Tunisia, when a young educated hawker Muhammad Buoazizi immolated himself due to grinding poverty & sustained indignity. This ignited a process that has led to the revolution sweeping the Arab & Muslim masses. It spread like wildfire & the people demanded an end to the rule of Ben Ali, a US-Israeli backed dictator, who soon fled to Saudi Arabia. In Tunisia it has been led by the educated Middle-class, whilst in Egypt, it has been the impoverished working-classes. There is an alliance between the Islamists, Trade Unions, People’s Movements, Intellectuals, Professionals, Youth & Students. It was the rage of the people that we were witnessing.
Then the protests began to spread to Jordan, Yemen, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Bahrain & Egypt & the flames soon reached Saudi Arabia.
All the dictators & monarchs are now terrorized after having terrorized their people.
Egypt is the key US-Israeli ally & receives the second largest amount of aid after Israel, to the tune of $2Billion. Of this 2/3rd’s is directed towards weaponry & training for the police & the army. Mubarak’s rule has paupaerised the masses & the levels of inflation & unemployment are unprecedented, whilst the Mubarak’s regime is totally corrupt & violent & heeds no dissent. Mubarak’s support for the Israeli siege of Gaza also fuelled hatred for Mubarak & his regime.
The protests gathered momentum on Friday & after the prayers, tens of thousands began to stream out the Mosques & take to the streets. They began to brave the batons, tear-gas, rubber bullets & the water-cannons that were unleashed against an unarmed civilian population. All internet, mobile & communication channels were cut off. Journalists were barred from entering certain towns & cities. The protests broke out all across the country from Cairo to Alexandria to Suez to Ismailia & it carried on to the towns & villages. After initially attacking the people, the police were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers that took to the streets, even though curfew was declared, the people refused to vacate the streets. Soon the people began to take over the centres of power. They marched to the presidential palace & laid siege.
Yes, siege to the man who was complicit in the Israeli siege of Gaza. The Arab monarchs & dictators looked on as the Apartheid Wall imprisoned the West Bank, looked on as the houses were demolished in Jerusalem, looked on when the Settlements continued to to built across Occupied Palestine, looked on as Palestinian women & children were bombed during the war on Gaza, looked on when the Right to Return was being betrayed, looked on when mosques & churches were demolished, looked on when Sharon & Netanyahu laid claim to all of Jerusalem and look on as the threat of destruction of the Masjid-i-Aqsa & the Dome of the Rock are only a matter of time. It was this central issue, of daily ignominy, sorrow, pain & helplessness, that has turned into a rage, a rage that will only be quelled when justice & freedom have been achieved.
Till then the Revolution will carry on across the towns, cities, villages, streets, in the factories, schools, colleges & the fields across the Arab & Muslim world.
Then the people began to take over the ruling party offices, police stations that were centres of torture & corruption, the TV station, a centre of lies & propaganda & even entered army compounds. They also captured police vehicles. The Tahrir or Liberation Square, the political nerve centre in Cairo, was reclaimed by the people. Then Mubarak sent in the army, but the people refused to be coerced or withdraw from the spaces they had captured. Soon there were reports of police joining the protesters & refusing to fire on the crowds.
Solidarity protests began to break out across the world, even right outside the White House, where people chanted slogans for Mubarak to Go, slogans that Obama & Hillary & Biden could not hear.
The fall of Egypt is the most strategically important loss for the US & Israel. Now the entire edifice of the US occupation of the region is collapsing. The US complicity in the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia & interventions in Lebanon, have all exposed the hypocrisy of the West. The duplicity of the US-EU-Israeli nexus on Iran has been there for all to see.
Thus now there is a new Middle-East. Not that was in the image of America & Israel, the "Beasts", but in the image of the People. The masses have brought about “Regime Change” & are fighting for a Democracy & a Multi-Party system, with Freedom of Expression & Dissent, an economic system free of corruption & that empowers the poor, for free education, health-care & housing – this is not the Middle-East that either Obama, Bush or Netanyahu wanted.
More importantly, now the new Middle-East is witnessing the unraveling of the US-Israeli Project for global hegemony. In Lebanon, there is finally a nationalist government, backed by the Hezbollah led alliance. Lebanon is also a model for Arab Sunni-Shia-Christian unity. After Israel, having lost the US backed war to Hezbollah & its allies is far more weakened as a military power. And now Egypt & Jordan that border Palestine-Israel are also witnessing revolutions that bring governments that are opposed to the imperialist & Zionist hegemony of the region. The strengthening alliance between Iran, Turkey & Syria are also openly challenging the US role across the Middle-East. In protests are due to break out in Saudi Arabia, as that will be the last major state in the US sphere of influence. In Iraq, the nationalist forces, will call for the total withdrawal of all US forces & bases from across their country & increase the unity of the Iraqi people.
Though the key is PALESTINE!! It is the daily violence & wars, indignity & torture of the Palestinians that continues to anger the masses. Till Palestine is liberated, this struggle will carry on. Till then there will be no respite for the US-Israel & their allies & collaborators.
Protests are breaking out across the Arab & Muslim world & the agenda is freedom & liberation from US backed dictatorships & monarchs. They too are committed to the values of democracy & an egalitarian order & thus the entire Islamophobic debate is collapsing.
In this context, the alliance of the Indian elite with the US-Israeli Imperial corporate interests will be detrimental for our short & long term interests. As the US-Israeli Empire collapses, as it is clearly in a state of free-fall, all those who are still part of the sinking Titanic are doomed.
The Indian people need to be warned & the nation rescued before it is too late. But we have faith in the nation of Mahatma Gandhi & Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, we will go back to our roots & with the other nations, continue the relentless struggle for the freedom & emancipation of humanity.
--
Egypt protests spread to US cities
As protests against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak continued Saturday in North Africa, Egyptian-Americans assembled in New York to demonstrate their dissatisfaction for his regime.
In New York, near the United Nations headquarters, crowds carried banners and flags and chanted slogans in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of those rallying in Cairo, Alexandria and other Egyptian cities.
Similar events are also expected later in Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, on top of demonstrations in places like Boston and Columbus, Ohio. Likeminded anti-Mubarak rallies were not confined to the United States, with Britain, Australia, Switzerland and Canada among the other nations that saw significant protests Friday and Saturday.
Ahmed Lotfi, media coordinator for the Egyptian Association for Change, and the organizer of this protest had this to say:
The future of the largest Arab-populated nation remains uncertain, and protesters here are concerned about the chaos and lawlessness on the streets in Egypt. Protesters here say the reports of looting, ransacked businesses, and violence are the work of Mubarak and his pro-regime thugs, not the demonstrators.
Some are worried about family and friends there and are doing their best to keep in touch.
Protesters here are not only calling for an end to the Mubarak Regime, but also calling on the US to stop funding the dictator.
The United States is a long-time ally of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and funds his regime with over 1 billion dollars in aid.
Protesters plan to continue to show solidarity with the people of Egypt until justice is served in the North African nation. They also say such demonstrations are aimed at pressuring the Obama administration to take a harder line against the Mubarak regime, which has run Egypt for 30 years.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
PUBLIC MEETING: "MASS DEMOCRATIC UPSURGE ACROSS MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA. MARATHI PATRAKAR, 29/01/11, 2.30pm
BHARAT BACHAO ANDOLAN
"Towards an International Struggle against Imperialism, Zionism & Brahmanism"
PUBLIC MEETING
"MASS DEMOCRATIC UPSURGE ACROSS MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA,
THE END OF THE DICTATORSHIPS & THE RETREAT OF THE US-ISRAELI EMPIRE"
SPEAKERS: COM. SANJAY SINGHVI, FEROZE MITHIBORWALA & KISHORE JAGTAP
VENUE: MARATHI PATRAKAR SANGH, AZAD MAIDAN, CST, MUMBAI.
DATE: 29TH JANUARY, 2011 / TIME: 2.30pm
SYED IFTIKHAR AHMED, ARUN VELASKAR, ASIF KHAN, ARIF KAPADIA, JYOTI BADEKAR, YAWAR ALI QAZI, FAROUK MAPKAR, POOJA BADEKAR, SHADAB SIDDIQUI, WINNIE THOMAS, MUNAWWAR KHAN, MULNIWASI MALA, GHAZALA AZAD, JAGDISH NAGARKAR, HARSHAWARDHAN WARTAK, RAHUL GHARAT, AJAY SONI & AMRUTA WASKE.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
सोचो.......
..................क्या भारत का मध्यम वर्ग सो रहा है ? ईसी तरह चलता रहा तो एक दिन बड़ी मुसीबत आनेवाली है .......क्या समजे...?
recent terror attacks
MOSCOW TERROR ATTACK, ALONG WITH TERROR ATTACKS IN KARBALA (IRAQ) & LAHORE-KARACHI (PAKISTAN). TARGET RUSSIA. DEEPEN SUNNI-SHIA DIVISIONS. ALL ROUND DESTABILIZATION. BUT IT WONT WORK MR. NETANYAHU & LIEBERMAN - WE KNOW !!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
MUMBAI - PRESS INVITATION: MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA-PALESTINE / MARATHI PATRAKAR, 19 JAN, 4.30pm
ASIAN PEOPLE'S SOLIDARITY FOR PALESTINE
INDIA LIFELINE TO GAZA
PRESS INVITATION
MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA-PALESTINE
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malayasia, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, UK!!
Venue: MARATHI PATRAKAR SANGH, AZAD MAIDAN, MUMBAI.
Time: 4.30 pm
Date: January 19, 2011/ Wednesday
Chased by Israeli warships and warplanes in the Meditteranean Sea... held hostage in a cargo ship off Egypt without passports.. the amazing story of grit and determination of more than a 120 activists from 17 Asian countries, over 50 of them from India alone, who entered Gaza (Palestine) last week after a historic month-long 8,000-km bus-ride through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
The 56 member Indian delegation set of from the shrine of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, New Delhi on the 2nd of December, 2010 & returned home on the 8th of January, 2011. With them, they took life-saving medical equipment, food items, clothes and other aid worth $1 million, weighing 170 tons, for the people of Gaza who continue to suffer unspeakable hardships for nearly five years under the inhuman, genocidal & illegal blockade imposed by the Zionist Israeli-US regimes.
Through its journey, the caravan was greeted by tens of thousands of people and their leaders that included, among others, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hamas chief Khalid Mishal and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, as well as by the leadership of the Baath Party in Syria.
You are cordially invited to meet the delegates at the press conference and share their experience through our testimonies, as well as their rich collection of videos and photographs that documented the historic journey.
The activists included a diverse range of representation from from across the spectrum of people's movements. The delegation from Mumbai itself included Brigadier Sudhir Sawant, West Asian expert and peace activist Feroze Mithiborwala, Arif Kapadia, Pooja Badekar, Shadab Siddiqui, Rahul Gharat, Amruta Waske &Ajay Soni. Student activists from Vidyarthi Bharati in Mumbai, and students from JNU and Jamia Millia comprised the Indian contingent. The Indian delegates hailed from UP, Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand, among others.
KISHOR JAGTAP, Vice-President, Awami Bharat, NAZAR MAHDOO, President-Maharashtra, Jamat-i-Islami, ANAND SWAROOP VERMA, Editor, Teesri Duniya, JYOTI BADEKAR, President, Marathi Bharti, ASLAM GHAZI, Secretary-Maharashtra, Jamat-i-Islami
SYED IFTIKHAR AHMED, Writer & Editor, FARID KHAN, Indians for Justice, ZUBAIR AZMI, Indians for Justice, SARFARAZ ARZU, Editor, Hindustan Daily, MERAJ SIDDIQUI, Muslim Intellectual Forum, ASIF KHAN, Journalist, FAROOQ MAPKAR, Awami Bharat, SQR ILYAS, Spokesperson, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, ZAFARUL ISLAM KHAN, Editor, Milli Gazette,
ANIL CHAUDHARY, President, Insaaf, YAWAR ALI QAZI, Shivrajya Party, SHYAM SONAR, Republican Panther, SUDHIR DHAWALE, Republican Panther, MULNIWASI MALA, Phule-Ambedkar Vichar Manch, JAGDISH NAGARKAR, Phule-Ambedkar Vichar Manch, GAUHAR IQBAL, President, Palestine Solidarity Forum, TITO EAPEN, Awami Bharat, WINNIE THOMAS, Awami Bharat, TASLEEM RAHMANI, President, Muslim Political Council of India, ASLAM KHAN, Vice-President, AISA, SHEHEEN, Solidarity Youth Movement, BISHRUDDEN SHARQI, ex-President, Students' Islamic Organisation, BADAR KHAN, Student, Jamia Millia Islamia, KHUSHBOO KUMARI, Student, JNU, MOHAMMAD IRFAN, General Secretary, Subjects Association, Nelson Mandela Centre, Jamia Millia, SALEEL CHEMBAYIL, Student, Jamia Millia
Friday, January 14, 2011
Dear All........Long Live the Intifada!! Long Live Palestine!!
Dear All,
We are finally back from Gaza-Palestine. We were on the road for more than 8000 kms before we reached the Holy Land on the 2nd of Jan '11, after having set of from the Shrine of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in Delhi on the 2nd of Dec '10. The First Asian Caravan is back & we are all set for Asia II. Long Live the Intifada!! Long Live Palestine!!
Feroze Mithiborwala
President, Awami Bharat
26/11 Burney / Digvijay / Amaresh
Digvijay endorses 26/11 as RSS plot, proves Karkare call
It's difficult to ignore Digvijay Singh: Barely hours after creating a furore by saying the RSS, Mossad and the CIA were behind 26/11 in a new book, the veteran Congress leader has furnished call records that prove that he, indeed, did speak with ATS chief Hemant Karkare on the night he was killed by Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai.
Diggy's anger
New Delhi: Digvijaya Singh may love stirring the pot, but guess what lies at the centre of the book to which the Congress general secretary has lately lent his weight and voice? That 26/11 was a conspiracy hatched by the RSS, Mossad and CIA.
This is one of the many points that Aziz Burney, group editor of Rashtriya Sahara (Urdu), puts forth in his book, "RSS ka shadayantra, 26/11". It was at the launch of this book on December 6 that Singh claimed he had talked to Hemant Karkare before he was killed, and that he appeared concerned about threats to his family from saffron activists.
Burney calls Digvijaya a "like-minded person". "When two like-minded people talk, you can't say who has influenced whom, but yes, we both benefit from each other," he says.
Since the December 6 speech, Burney has brought out a fresh edition of his book, incorporating Digvijaya's remarks and the "expected furore" it generated.
The book is a collection of Burney's writings in Rashtriya Sahara (Urdu), besides contributions from some ideological fellow-travellers, oneof whom is Amareesh Mishra. "I have incorporated them because they reinforce what I feel," Burney says. He says they are important because they have been authored by someone who is "Amareesh" and "Mishra" -- in an obvious reference to the writer's religious and caste identity.
Digvijaya proves he spoke to a 'disturbed' Karkare on 26/11
Some of the theories propounded in the book include:
"Communal forces under the patronage of foreign agencies want to destroy India. America wants to destroy Pakistan and encircle China. Therefore, it wants India to get into the influence-zone of America and Israel. That is why Americans, British and Israelis were targeted. The Nariman House, according to eyewitnesses, was a centre for unknown Israelis. It is possible these people may have been involved in the attacks and may have killed their own people."
"Was the Israeli Rabbi actually killed in the attack?," the book asks, seeking to know if anybody had seen a photograph showing him injured. Burney adds the building had a hidden CCTV camera at the entrance. Shopkeepers apparently said they were unaware of the arrival of any strangers at the building. "How could nanny Sandra Samuel save a child? Why was she flown to Israel though she was an important eyewitness to the attack?"
For those who may be surprised by the thesis that Jews were killed with the help of Mossad, the book offers a counter-question:"Why not?" Zionism, it is argued, is known for killing ordinary Jews just as Hindutva is known for killing Mahatma Gandhi.
As for the "US link" to 26/11, the proof is David Headley, "who might have been an agent of al-Qaeda or Lashkar-e-Toiba, but who came to India in his capacity as an American". "When he was inducted into LeT, he was taken in as an agent of FBI," the book argues. "Whenever he was released after arrest for drug trafficking, he was let off only when he consented to be used by the FBI." "The forged passport on which he came to India had been made at the instance or FBI or CIA."
According to another article, "Basically the RSS has lost control of the organisation it had created. In the form of (Narendra) Modi, this organisation has forged a nexus with Mossad, which is in league with the ISI, engaged in destruction." "Do remember the remote control of many jihadi groups active in Pakistan, Afghanistan and central Asia is in the hands of Mossad or CIA. Recently a group in Yemen was found to have been established by Mossad.
Therefore, it is possible the terrorists who attacked Mumbai may have used Pakistan as their base, but they may have been drawn from different countries... At least one of them, it has been learnt, belonged to Mauritius. It is emerging now that a Saudi (being described as Maulana Bedi) may have gathered these jihadis there and sent them here. It is essential to find out who provided money to him."
Source: The Indian Express
It's difficult to ignore Digvijay Singh: Barely hours after creating a furore by saying the RSS, Mossad and the CIA were behind 26/11 in a new book, the veteran Congress leader has furnished call records that prove that he, indeed, did speak with ATS chief Hemant Karkare on the night he was killed by Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai.
Diggy's anger
New Delhi: Digvijaya Singh may love stirring the pot, but guess what lies at the centre of the book to which the Congress general secretary has lately lent his weight and voice? That 26/11 was a conspiracy hatched by the RSS, Mossad and CIA.
This is one of the many points that Aziz Burney, group editor of Rashtriya Sahara (Urdu), puts forth in his book, "RSS ka shadayantra, 26/11". It was at the launch of this book on December 6 that Singh claimed he had talked to Hemant Karkare before he was killed, and that he appeared concerned about threats to his family from saffron activists.
Burney calls Digvijaya a "like-minded person". "When two like-minded people talk, you can't say who has influenced whom, but yes, we both benefit from each other," he says.
Since the December 6 speech, Burney has brought out a fresh edition of his book, incorporating Digvijaya's remarks and the "expected furore" it generated.
The book is a collection of Burney's writings in Rashtriya Sahara (Urdu), besides contributions from some ideological fellow-travellers, oneof whom is Amareesh Mishra. "I have incorporated them because they reinforce what I feel," Burney says. He says they are important because they have been authored by someone who is "Amareesh" and "Mishra" -- in an obvious reference to the writer's religious and caste identity.
Digvijaya proves he spoke to a 'disturbed' Karkare on 26/11
Some of the theories propounded in the book include:
"Communal forces under the patronage of foreign agencies want to destroy India. America wants to destroy Pakistan and encircle China. Therefore, it wants India to get into the influence-zone of America and Israel. That is why Americans, British and Israelis were targeted. The Nariman House, according to eyewitnesses, was a centre for unknown Israelis. It is possible these people may have been involved in the attacks and may have killed their own people."
"Was the Israeli Rabbi actually killed in the attack?," the book asks, seeking to know if anybody had seen a photograph showing him injured. Burney adds the building had a hidden CCTV camera at the entrance. Shopkeepers apparently said they were unaware of the arrival of any strangers at the building. "How could nanny Sandra Samuel save a child? Why was she flown to Israel though she was an important eyewitness to the attack?"
For those who may be surprised by the thesis that Jews were killed with the help of Mossad, the book offers a counter-question:"Why not?" Zionism, it is argued, is known for killing ordinary Jews just as Hindutva is known for killing Mahatma Gandhi.
As for the "US link" to 26/11, the proof is David Headley, "who might have been an agent of al-Qaeda or Lashkar-e-Toiba, but who came to India in his capacity as an American". "When he was inducted into LeT, he was taken in as an agent of FBI," the book argues. "Whenever he was released after arrest for drug trafficking, he was let off only when he consented to be used by the FBI." "The forged passport on which he came to India had been made at the instance or FBI or CIA."
According to another article, "Basically the RSS has lost control of the organisation it had created. In the form of (Narendra) Modi, this organisation has forged a nexus with Mossad, which is in league with the ISI, engaged in destruction." "Do remember the remote control of many jihadi groups active in Pakistan, Afghanistan and central Asia is in the hands of Mossad or CIA. Recently a group in Yemen was found to have been established by Mossad.
Therefore, it is possible the terrorists who attacked Mumbai may have used Pakistan as their base, but they may have been drawn from different countries... At least one of them, it has been learnt, belonged to Mauritius. It is emerging now that a Saudi (being described as Maulana Bedi) may have gathered these jihadis there and sent them here. It is essential to find out who provided money to him."
Source: The Indian Express
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Breakthrough Development In Hindutva Terror Network Investigation
Breakthrough Development In
Hindutva Terror Network Investigation
By Tehelka
09 January, 2011
Tehelka
Tehelka scoops Hindutva zealot Swami Aseemanand’s 42-page chilling confession before the magistrate
Evidence of a sinister Hindutva terror network has been growing with every new arrest over the last few months. But on Decemeber 18, 2010, in a breakthrough development, Swami Aseemanand, a key figure in the terror module, made a stunning confession before magistrate Deepak Dabas of the Tis Hazari court. Recorded under 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, this is the first legally admissible evidence that not Muslims but a range of RSS pracharaks were involved in a series of heinous terror blasts ranging from Malegaon 2006 to the Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Sharif and Samjhauta Express blasts.
Ashish Khetan, Editor, Investigations, Tehelka has scooped this 42-page confession (written in Hindi) as reported in Tehelka’s latest cover story, which is now out on the stands and on the tehelka website, www.tehelka.com
In his statement, Aseemanand admits to having planned terror attacks on Ajmer Sharif, Mecca Masjid, Malegaon and the Samjhauta Express.
He names senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, the murdered RSS pracharak Sunil Joshi, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and senior RSS pracharaks Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra, Swami Aseemanand himself, among others, as being key conspirators in the terror blasts.
According to him, Indresh Kumar financed several of the blasts, while Sunil Joshi and his team executed many of them.
Aseemanand says the terror conspiracy was hatched over several meetings at which he was present along with these Hindutva leaders. According to him the trigger for their conspiracy was the Islamist terror strikes on Sankatmochan mandir and Akshardham temple. Aseemanad says, “I told everybody
that bomb ka jawab bomb se dena chahiye”.
Their reasons for picking their targets are chilling. Aseemanand says, “I told everyone since 80 percent of Malegaon are Muslims we should explode the bomb in Malegaon”.
He also says, “Since Hindus throng to the Ajmer Sharif dargah, we thought a bomb blast in Ajmer would deter Hindus from going there.”
Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad was chosen because the Nizam of Hyderbad had wanted to opt for Pakistan during Partition!
And Samjhauta Express was chosen because it was mostly used by Pakistanis.
This confession will have wide-ranging political ramifications. The RSS will have to confront extremely uncomfortable and explosive questions about members of its organisation.
This confession also exposes the cynical assumption that had crept into the Indian criminal justice system. There was a deep-seated prejudice that if there is a terror blast, there will be a Muslim behind it. This confession exposes the shockingly shoddy approach of sections of investigative agencies where they rounded up and wrongly arrested scores of innocent Muslim boys and men for blasts they had not committed. Just to claim they had “cracked the case” and caught the “masterminds”. Many of these innocent Muslims were tortured and kept in jail for years. It is a measure of the extent of this cynicism that even when the targets were Muslim neighbourhoods or mosques, Muslims were still blamed for it. In the meantime, the real culprits of terror blasts across the country – both Islamist and ultra-Hindutva men – were allowed to go scot-free.
Thirty two innocent Muslim men were, in fact, also arrested for this series of blasts which Aseemanand has now admitted were perpetrated by him and his comrades. These men have also been featured in Tehelka’s story. This leaves many questions and much reparation to be made to the Muslims who were wrongly arrested
Hindutva Terror Network Investigation
By Tehelka
09 January, 2011
Tehelka
Tehelka scoops Hindutva zealot Swami Aseemanand’s 42-page chilling confession before the magistrate
Evidence of a sinister Hindutva terror network has been growing with every new arrest over the last few months. But on Decemeber 18, 2010, in a breakthrough development, Swami Aseemanand, a key figure in the terror module, made a stunning confession before magistrate Deepak Dabas of the Tis Hazari court. Recorded under 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, this is the first legally admissible evidence that not Muslims but a range of RSS pracharaks were involved in a series of heinous terror blasts ranging from Malegaon 2006 to the Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Sharif and Samjhauta Express blasts.
Ashish Khetan, Editor, Investigations, Tehelka has scooped this 42-page confession (written in Hindi) as reported in Tehelka’s latest cover story
In his statement, Aseemanand admits to having planned terror attacks on Ajmer Sharif, Mecca Masjid, Malegaon and the Samjhauta Express.
He names senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, the murdered RSS pracharak Sunil Joshi, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and senior RSS pracharaks Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra, Swami Aseemanand himself, among others, as being key conspirators in the terror blasts.
According to him, Indresh Kumar financed several of the blasts, while Sunil Joshi and his team executed many of them.
Aseemanand says the terror conspiracy was hatched over several meetings at which he was present along with these Hindutva leaders. According to him the trigger for their conspiracy was the Islamist terror strikes on Sankatmochan mandir and Akshardham temple. Aseemanad says, “I told everybody
that bomb ka jawab bomb se dena chahiye”.
Their reasons for picking their targets are chilling. Aseemanand says, “I told everyone since 80 percent of Malegaon are Muslims we should explode the bomb in Malegaon”.
He also says, “Since Hindus throng to the Ajmer Sharif dargah, we thought a bomb blast in Ajmer would deter Hindus from going there.”
Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad was chosen because the Nizam of Hyderbad had wanted to opt for Pakistan during Partition!
And Samjhauta Express was chosen because it was mostly used by Pakistanis.
This confession will have wide-ranging political ramifications. The RSS will have to confront extremely uncomfortable and explosive questions about members of its organisation.
This confession also exposes the cynical assumption that had crept into the Indian criminal justice system. There was a deep-seated prejudice that if there is a terror blast, there will be a Muslim behind it. This confession exposes the shockingly shoddy approach of sections of investigative agencies where they rounded up and wrongly arrested scores of innocent Muslim boys and men for blasts they had not committed. Just to claim they had “cracked the case” and caught the “masterminds”. Many of these innocent Muslims were tortured and kept in jail for years. It is a measure of the extent of this cynicism that even when the targets were Muslim neighbourhoods or mosques, Muslims were still blamed for it. In the meantime, the real culprits of terror blasts across the country – both Islamist and ultra-Hindutva men – were allowed to go scot-free.
Thirty two innocent Muslim men were, in fact, also arrested for this series of blasts which Aseemanand has now admitted were perpetrated by him and his comrades. These men have also been featured in Tehelka’s story. This leaves many questions and much reparation to be made to the Muslims who were wrongly arrested
What Would Einstein Say?-By Fidel Castro
By Fidel Castro
09 January, 2011
Cuba.cu
In a Reflection published on August 25, 2010 under the title of “The Opinion of an Expert”, I mentioned a really unusual activity of the United States and its allies which, in my opinion, underlines the risk of a nuclear conflict with Iran. I was referring to a long article by the well-known journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, published in the US journal The Atlantic in September of that year, entitled “The Point of No Return”.
Goldberg was not anti-Israeli, quite the opposite; he is an admirer of Israel and holds double citizenship with the US and also did his military service in that country.
At the start of his article he wrote: “It is possible, as well, that “foiling operations” conducted by the intelligence agencies of Israel, the United States, Great Britain, and other Western powers—programs designed to subvert the Iranian nuclear effort through sabotage and, on occasion, the carefully engineered disappearances of nuclear scientists—will have hindered Iran’s progress in some significant way”
The parentheses in the paragraph are also his.
After mentioning the enigmatic phrase, I carried on with the analysis of that Gordian knot of international politics that could lead to the war which was so feared by Einstein. What would he say if he had learned about the “frustration operations” destined to make the most capable nuclear scientists disappear?
Maybe because it was so absurd and incredible, I didn’t pay too much attention to it, but months later, upon reading the recent accusations by the Iranian government, as well as news and opinions of well-informed people, the memory of that paragraph returned to my mind with a vengeance.
Four weeks before the end of 2010, an AFP agency dispatch informed:
“An Iranian nuclear scientist has been killed.
“Teheran accuses the United States and Israel of being behind a double assassination.
“AFP. November 30, 2010
“‘The hand of western governments and the Zionist regime is behind the assassination attempts’. Mahmud Ahmadineyad had no doubts when it came to look for the people guilty of the double attack on the nuclear experts that took place early yesterday in Teheran. Majid Shariari, professor at the Shahid Beheshti University of Teheran and member of the Nuclear Society of Iran lost his life and his wife was injured in an explosion reported a few metres from their home. His colleague Fereydoon Abbasi, a laser physicist at the same university and his wife were also injured after a similar attack. Even though some newspapers announced Abbasi’s death, it was finally the Mehr agency that confirmed that he had managed to save his life. According to the Fars agency, ‘unknown terrorists’ on motorcycles drove closet o the vehicles to plant the lapa bombs.”
“Members of the Ahmadineyad Executive and the Minister of the Interior, Mostafa Mohamad Najjar, directly accused the CIA and Mossad – the intelligence services of the US and Israel, respectively – of being behind these actions that presume a new blow for the country’s nuclear race at the doors of a possible new round of talks with the 5+1 members...”
“With yesterday’s attempt there are now three Iranian scientists who have been killed since 2007. Dr. Masoud Alí Mohamadi lost his life in Teheran last January after the explosion of a bomb as he was leaving his home, a death that has not yet been cleared up by the authorities who also accused the western intelligence agencies of trying to abort what they considered to be a right, the nuclear race for civilian purposes. The first victim in the heart of the scientific community was Ardeshir Hosseinpour, killed under strange circumstances in 2007 at the nuclear centre of Isfahan.”
I don’t remember any other moment in history when the assassination of scientists has been transformed into official policy on the part of a group of powers armed with nuclear weapons. The worst is that, in the case of Iran, it is being applied on an Islamic nation, with which, even if they are able to compete and surpass it in technology, they could never do it in a field where, for cultural and religious questions, it could surpass them many times in the willingness of its citizens to die at any moment if Iran should decide to apply the same absurd and criminal formula on the professionals of their adversaries.
There are other serious events related to the carnage of scientists, organized by Israel, the US, Great Britain and other powers against the Iranian scientists, something about which the mass media does not inform world opinion.
An article by Christian Elia published on the Rebelión website on August 25, 2010, reports that:
An explosion has killed the father of the “drones” (unmanned planes) – of Iran – but he is just the last of the scientists who have lost their lives in the country.
“To find a photo of Reza Baruni on the Internet is a mission impossible. However, in the last few days, his name was at the centre of a mystery that has many international aspects...”
The only thing certain is that Reza Baruni, the Iranian aeronautical engineer, is dead. An air of absolute mystery hangs over everything else. All the industry analysts consider Baruni to be the father of the [...] UAVs (unmanned vehicles) of the Islamic Republic [...]. On August 1st, 2010, his house was blown up.”
“On August 17, 2010, Debka (very close to Israeli intelligence) publishes news of Baruni’s death and reveals its conclusions: the Iranian engineer’s home blew up because of the explosion of three very powerful explosive devices. Baruni was murdered.”
“But the murkiest episode in contrast is the death of Massud Ali-Mohammadi, professor of nuclear physics at Teheran University, murdered on January 11, 2010 in the Iranian capital. Professor Ali-Mohammadi died in the explosion of a motorcycle-bomb detonated from a distance at the time the professor was leaving his home to go to work…”
An article published on the CubaDebate website informs:
“Israel acknowledges that it has murdered an Iranian scientist last week.”
“Mossad, the Israeli secret service, acknowledged that last week it murdered Majid Shahriari and wounded another physicist in Iran, according to Mossad sources, in an operation carried out in Teheran. ‘It is the latest operation by the head of the Mossad’, the people heading Israeli secret services state with satisfaction at a meeting in their Gelilot headquarters to the north of Tel Aviv.”
“Gordon Thomas, a British expert in the Mossad, confirmed in Britain’s Sunday Telegraph that Israel is responsible for this double murder destined to obstruct the Iranian nuclear program.”
“Thomas states that all the Israeli assassination attempts in the last few years against personalities associated with the Iranian nuclear project have been committed by the Kidon (bayonet) unit. According to the Jewish newspaper Yediot Ahronot this unit is made up of 38 agents. Five of them are women. They are all between 20 and 30 years old and they speak several languages – including Persian – and they are able to come and go from Iran with ease. They are based in the Negev Desert.”
In the days of the Diaspora, the left wing in the world united in solidarity with the people of Israel. Persecuted for their race and religion, many of them fought in the ranks of the revolutionary parties. The peoples condemned the concentration camps that the European and world bourgeoisie wanted to ignore.
Today the leaders of the State of Israel practice genocide and are associating themselves with the most reactionary forces on the planet.
The alliance between the leaders of that State and the South Africa of the hateful apartheid regime is still to be cleared up; in complicity with the United States they supplied the technology to develop the nuclear weapons directed towards striking at the Cuban troops which, in 1975, were confronting the invasion of racist South Africa, whose disdain and hatred of the African peoples was no different from the Nazi ideology which murdered millions of Jews, Russians, gypsies and other European nationalities in the concentration camps of Europe.
If it hadn’t been for the Iranian revolution – stripped of weapons it swept over the best-equipped ally of the United States on the flank of the Soviet super-power – today it would be the Shah of Iran, supplied with nuclear weapons, and not Israel, who would be the principal bulwark of the Yankee and NATO empire in that region that is so strategic and immensely rich in oil and gas for the sure supply of the most developed countries on the planet.
It is an almost inexhaustible subject.
Fidel Castro Ruz
January 6, 2011
8:16 p.m.
09 January, 2011
Cuba.cu
In a Reflection published on August 25, 2010 under the title of “The Opinion of an Expert”, I mentioned a really unusual activity of the United States and its allies which, in my opinion, underlines the risk of a nuclear conflict with Iran. I was referring to a long article by the well-known journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, published in the US journal The Atlantic in September of that year, entitled “The Point of No Return”.
Goldberg was not anti-Israeli, quite the opposite; he is an admirer of Israel and holds double citizenship with the US and also did his military service in that country.
At the start of his article he wrote: “It is possible, as well, that “foiling operations” conducted by the intelligence agencies of Israel, the United States, Great Britain, and other Western powers—programs designed to subvert the Iranian nuclear effort through sabotage and, on occasion, the carefully engineered disappearances of nuclear scientists—will have hindered Iran’s progress in some significant way”
The parentheses in the paragraph are also his.
After mentioning the enigmatic phrase, I carried on with the analysis of that Gordian knot of international politics that could lead to the war which was so feared by Einstein. What would he say if he had learned about the “frustration operations” destined to make the most capable nuclear scientists disappear?
Maybe because it was so absurd and incredible, I didn’t pay too much attention to it, but months later, upon reading the recent accusations by the Iranian government, as well as news and opinions of well-informed people, the memory of that paragraph returned to my mind with a vengeance.
Four weeks before the end of 2010, an AFP agency dispatch informed:
“An Iranian nuclear scientist has been killed.
“Teheran accuses the United States and Israel of being behind a double assassination.
“AFP. November 30, 2010
“‘The hand of western governments and the Zionist regime is behind the assassination attempts’. Mahmud Ahmadineyad had no doubts when it came to look for the people guilty of the double attack on the nuclear experts that took place early yesterday in Teheran. Majid Shariari, professor at the Shahid Beheshti University of Teheran and member of the Nuclear Society of Iran lost his life and his wife was injured in an explosion reported a few metres from their home. His colleague Fereydoon Abbasi, a laser physicist at the same university and his wife were also injured after a similar attack. Even though some newspapers announced Abbasi’s death, it was finally the Mehr agency that confirmed that he had managed to save his life. According to the Fars agency, ‘unknown terrorists’ on motorcycles drove closet o the vehicles to plant the lapa bombs.”
“Members of the Ahmadineyad Executive and the Minister of the Interior, Mostafa Mohamad Najjar, directly accused the CIA and Mossad – the intelligence services of the US and Israel, respectively – of being behind these actions that presume a new blow for the country’s nuclear race at the doors of a possible new round of talks with the 5+1 members...”
“With yesterday’s attempt there are now three Iranian scientists who have been killed since 2007. Dr. Masoud Alí Mohamadi lost his life in Teheran last January after the explosion of a bomb as he was leaving his home, a death that has not yet been cleared up by the authorities who also accused the western intelligence agencies of trying to abort what they considered to be a right, the nuclear race for civilian purposes. The first victim in the heart of the scientific community was Ardeshir Hosseinpour, killed under strange circumstances in 2007 at the nuclear centre of Isfahan.”
I don’t remember any other moment in history when the assassination of scientists has been transformed into official policy on the part of a group of powers armed with nuclear weapons. The worst is that, in the case of Iran, it is being applied on an Islamic nation, with which, even if they are able to compete and surpass it in technology, they could never do it in a field where, for cultural and religious questions, it could surpass them many times in the willingness of its citizens to die at any moment if Iran should decide to apply the same absurd and criminal formula on the professionals of their adversaries.
There are other serious events related to the carnage of scientists, organized by Israel, the US, Great Britain and other powers against the Iranian scientists, something about which the mass media does not inform world opinion.
An article by Christian Elia published on the Rebelión website on August 25, 2010, reports that:
An explosion has killed the father of the “drones” (unmanned planes) – of Iran – but he is just the last of the scientists who have lost their lives in the country.
“To find a photo of Reza Baruni on the Internet is a mission impossible. However, in the last few days, his name was at the centre of a mystery that has many international aspects...”
The only thing certain is that Reza Baruni, the Iranian aeronautical engineer, is dead. An air of absolute mystery hangs over everything else. All the industry analysts consider Baruni to be the father of the [...] UAVs (unmanned vehicles) of the Islamic Republic [...]. On August 1st, 2010, his house was blown up.”
“On August 17, 2010, Debka (very close to Israeli intelligence) publishes news of Baruni’s death and reveals its conclusions: the Iranian engineer’s home blew up because of the explosion of three very powerful explosive devices. Baruni was murdered.”
“But the murkiest episode in contrast is the death of Massud Ali-Mohammadi, professor of nuclear physics at Teheran University, murdered on January 11, 2010 in the Iranian capital. Professor Ali-Mohammadi died in the explosion of a motorcycle-bomb detonated from a distance at the time the professor was leaving his home to go to work…”
An article published on the CubaDebate website informs:
“Israel acknowledges that it has murdered an Iranian scientist last week.”
“Mossad, the Israeli secret service, acknowledged that last week it murdered Majid Shahriari and wounded another physicist in Iran, according to Mossad sources, in an operation carried out in Teheran. ‘It is the latest operation by the head of the Mossad’, the people heading Israeli secret services state with satisfaction at a meeting in their Gelilot headquarters to the north of Tel Aviv.”
“Gordon Thomas, a British expert in the Mossad, confirmed in Britain’s Sunday Telegraph that Israel is responsible for this double murder destined to obstruct the Iranian nuclear program.”
“Thomas states that all the Israeli assassination attempts in the last few years against personalities associated with the Iranian nuclear project have been committed by the Kidon (bayonet) unit. According to the Jewish newspaper Yediot Ahronot this unit is made up of 38 agents. Five of them are women. They are all between 20 and 30 years old and they speak several languages – including Persian – and they are able to come and go from Iran with ease. They are based in the Negev Desert.”
In the days of the Diaspora, the left wing in the world united in solidarity with the people of Israel. Persecuted for their race and religion, many of them fought in the ranks of the revolutionary parties. The peoples condemned the concentration camps that the European and world bourgeoisie wanted to ignore.
Today the leaders of the State of Israel practice genocide and are associating themselves with the most reactionary forces on the planet.
The alliance between the leaders of that State and the South Africa of the hateful apartheid regime is still to be cleared up; in complicity with the United States they supplied the technology to develop the nuclear weapons directed towards striking at the Cuban troops which, in 1975, were confronting the invasion of racist South Africa, whose disdain and hatred of the African peoples was no different from the Nazi ideology which murdered millions of Jews, Russians, gypsies and other European nationalities in the concentration camps of Europe.
If it hadn’t been for the Iranian revolution – stripped of weapons it swept over the best-equipped ally of the United States on the flank of the Soviet super-power – today it would be the Shah of Iran, supplied with nuclear weapons, and not Israel, who would be the principal bulwark of the Yankee and NATO empire in that region that is so strategic and immensely rich in oil and gas for the sure supply of the most developed countries on the planet.
It is an almost inexhaustible subject.
Fidel Castro Ruz
January 6, 2011
8:16 p.m.
Congratulations To Asia To Gaza Mission - By Nilofer Bhagwat
Congratulations To Asia To Gaza Mission - By Nilofer Bhagwat (11/1/11)
Nilofer Bhagwat
Dear Members of the Asia to Gaza mission,
Congratulations to all on Mission accomplished. Your own experiences will inform you that the siege imposed on Palestine has many collaborators with the government of Israel; and it is necessary to continuously expose this collaboration in the region and beyond, including in all occupied territories and in Palestine which has resulted in the killings, mutilations, starvations, the bombings of UN food aid and medical centres and the testing of prohibited weaponry in Gaza ,with basic necessities being denied to the Palestinian people, with the active support of other governments who claim that they have brought democracy and human rights to the region .
The ban imposed on the Iranian delegation of the Asia to Gaza Caravan on a humanitarian mission, is one example of the people of Palestine being denied the right to determine freely their policies and alliances. Similarly bans have been imposed on individuals who have focused attention on those governments collaborating with Israel on the siege on the citizens of the State of Palestine in Gaza who have been prohibited from entering the land route into Gaza for criticizing the acts of collaboration.
Your Mission from Asia was the first all Asia mission with citizens from several countries in Asia, namely India, Iran, Pakistan, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon among others in close co-operation, a reminder that Asia is also a front line against recolonization, the pillaging of resources and establishment of Narco States.
Earlier from Asia, the citizens of Malaysia were among the pioneers in the over land and sea missions to break the siege of Gaza co-operating with the citizens of Europe and eminent citizens from the United States including a former member of Congress Cynthia Mckinney. This was followed by the martyrdom of Turkish citizens from the continent of Asia killed on the MAVI MARMARA singled out in a racist attack, immediately followed by the ship RACHEL CORRIE a part of the Flotilla launched with support from the elder statesman, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and eminent citizens from Malaysia including barrister Mathias Chang, in collaboration with courageous citizens from Ireland among whom were Mairead Mcquire and Denis Halliday among others, with all on board intimidated by Israeli warships ,illegally arrested and detained in violation of all norms of International Law.
Your mission had every right to break the siege imposed on land and Sea. The siege is illegal, in violation of the laws of war, apart from being barbaric and brutal. The sea off Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian territorial waters and economic zone as per the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly establishing the State of Palestine.
A Resolution passed by the UN General Assembly with the vote of the then US government supporting the creation of two states by one and the same Resolution, cannot as per elementary juridical and constitutional principles, be legally superceded, set aside, abrogated or in any way altered or denied by a Resolution of the US House of Congress and Senate, passed almost six decades after the Resolution creating the State of Palestine, which is a de Jure and de facto reality ,having been recognized by a majority of the member states of the United Nations, including the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by governments of countries in Latin America.
The US Congressmen and Senators were not aware of the elementary principle, that in law without the State of Palestine there can be no legitimacy for the State of Israel, as a denial of the Resolution creating the State of Palestine is in fact negating the establishment of the State of Israel sought to be established on Palestinian territory by one and the same Resolution. It is not Mahatma Gandhi and President Ahmedinejad alone who question the legal validity of the Balfour Declaration and the establishment of the State of Israel by settlors from other countries and regions colonizing territory belonging to the people of Palestine; it is now the US legislature which is in denial of the same Resolution which simultaneously established the State of Palestine and the State of Israel. It was the stand of the then government of India headed by Jawaharlal Nehru in the United Nations that there can be only one State on Palestinian territory and that is the State of Palestine with equal rights to all citizens, including those who had been forcibly evicted from Palestinian homes and territories.
With greetings to all those who persevered against all odds in the spirit and warmth of International solidarity, leaving us behind in the cold, feeling somewhat as lesser human beings, no matter what the reasons valid or otherwise.
I salute your fortitude and indomitable courage and of those who preceded you on board fragile boats and on the Freedom Flotilla , an example to those who will follow until the SIEGE OF GAZA IS LIFTED AND THE STATE OF PALESTINE PRESENTLY IN CHAINS IS LIBERATED .
source:
http://futurefastforward.com/feature-articles/4800
Nilofer Bhagwat
Dear Members of the Asia to Gaza mission,
Congratulations to all on Mission accomplished. Your own experiences will inform you that the siege imposed on Palestine has many collaborators with the government of Israel; and it is necessary to continuously expose this collaboration in the region and beyond, including in all occupied territories and in Palestine which has resulted in the killings, mutilations, starvations, the bombings of UN food aid and medical centres and the testing of prohibited weaponry in Gaza ,with basic necessities being denied to the Palestinian people, with the active support of other governments who claim that they have brought democracy and human rights to the region .
The ban imposed on the Iranian delegation of the Asia to Gaza Caravan on a humanitarian mission, is one example of the people of Palestine being denied the right to determine freely their policies and alliances. Similarly bans have been imposed on individuals who have focused attention on those governments collaborating with Israel on the siege on the citizens of the State of Palestine in Gaza who have been prohibited from entering the land route into Gaza for criticizing the acts of collaboration.
Your Mission from Asia was the first all Asia mission with citizens from several countries in Asia, namely India, Iran, Pakistan, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon among others in close co-operation, a reminder that Asia is also a front line against recolonization, the pillaging of resources and establishment of Narco States.
Earlier from Asia, the citizens of Malaysia were among the pioneers in the over land and sea missions to break the siege of Gaza co-operating with the citizens of Europe and eminent citizens from the United States including a former member of Congress Cynthia Mckinney. This was followed by the martyrdom of Turkish citizens from the continent of Asia killed on the MAVI MARMARA singled out in a racist attack, immediately followed by the ship RACHEL CORRIE a part of the Flotilla launched with support from the elder statesman, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and eminent citizens from Malaysia including barrister Mathias Chang, in collaboration with courageous citizens from Ireland among whom were Mairead Mcquire and Denis Halliday among others, with all on board intimidated by Israeli warships ,illegally arrested and detained in violation of all norms of International Law.
Your mission had every right to break the siege imposed on land and Sea. The siege is illegal, in violation of the laws of war, apart from being barbaric and brutal. The sea off Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian territorial waters and economic zone as per the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly establishing the State of Palestine.
A Resolution passed by the UN General Assembly with the vote of the then US government supporting the creation of two states by one and the same Resolution, cannot as per elementary juridical and constitutional principles, be legally superceded, set aside, abrogated or in any way altered or denied by a Resolution of the US House of Congress and Senate, passed almost six decades after the Resolution creating the State of Palestine, which is a de Jure and de facto reality ,having been recognized by a majority of the member states of the United Nations, including the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by governments of countries in Latin America.
The US Congressmen and Senators were not aware of the elementary principle, that in law without the State of Palestine there can be no legitimacy for the State of Israel, as a denial of the Resolution creating the State of Palestine is in fact negating the establishment of the State of Israel sought to be established on Palestinian territory by one and the same Resolution. It is not Mahatma Gandhi and President Ahmedinejad alone who question the legal validity of the Balfour Declaration and the establishment of the State of Israel by settlors from other countries and regions colonizing territory belonging to the people of Palestine; it is now the US legislature which is in denial of the same Resolution which simultaneously established the State of Palestine and the State of Israel. It was the stand of the then government of India headed by Jawaharlal Nehru in the United Nations that there can be only one State on Palestinian territory and that is the State of Palestine with equal rights to all citizens, including those who had been forcibly evicted from Palestinian homes and territories.
With greetings to all those who persevered against all odds in the spirit and warmth of International solidarity, leaving us behind in the cold, feeling somewhat as lesser human beings, no matter what the reasons valid or otherwise.
I salute your fortitude and indomitable courage and of those who preceded you on board fragile boats and on the Freedom Flotilla , an example to those who will follow until the SIEGE OF GAZA IS LIFTED AND THE STATE OF PALESTINE PRESENTLY IN CHAINS IS LIBERATED .
source:
http://futurefastforward.com/feature-articles/4800
Asia for Gaza: Caravan back home, impressed with Gazans
NEW DELHI: The first Asian caravan that went to Gaza with aid is back with stories of how the members were inspired by people living there. The people of Gaza taught them to live each day like it’s their last and not fear anything in life. The caravan, which included 120 people from 17 countries, also had an eight-month-old baby on board along with a 70-year-old. In face of heavy odds and the dangers along the route, the group managed to reach Gaza, keeping Gandhi’s ideals close to their heart.
Many of the people, who took part in the trip, had to even collect money for passports before they could embark on this journey. “We started out on December 2 from Rajghat and were in Gaza for four to five days. We distributed books on Gandhi to the people there hoping to spread the message of non-violence. We have learnt a lot from the people of Gaza who live with much more freedom than seen in any other part of the world,” says Feroze Mithiborwala, the person behind this Asian caravan. They caravan returned to Delhi on January 7.
On the way to Gaza, the caravan traversed through Iran, Syria, Turkey, among other countries. “All our boarding and lodging was taken care of in all these countries. Many of the people who were part of the caravan had never boarded a flight before. This journey was life-altering for all of us,” Mithiborwala adds.
The group included people from various walks of life, of different age groups and religious beliefs. “This journey has given me a new perspective. This journey was not about people about a particular faith but it saw the coming together of people on a humanitarian issue,” says Biraj Patnaik, who was part of the caravan.
Aslam Khan of the All India Students Association recalls his experience of being cooped inside the ship, which was not allowed to cross over from Al-Arish in Egypt to Gaza, for four days.
source: Times of India
Many of the people, who took part in the trip, had to even collect money for passports before they could embark on this journey. “We started out on December 2 from Rajghat and were in Gaza for four to five days. We distributed books on Gandhi to the people there hoping to spread the message of non-violence. We have learnt a lot from the people of Gaza who live with much more freedom than seen in any other part of the world,” says Feroze Mithiborwala, the person behind this Asian caravan. They caravan returned to Delhi on January 7.
On the way to Gaza, the caravan traversed through Iran, Syria, Turkey, among other countries. “All our boarding and lodging was taken care of in all these countries. Many of the people who were part of the caravan had never boarded a flight before. This journey was life-altering for all of us,” Mithiborwala adds.
The group included people from various walks of life, of different age groups and religious beliefs. “This journey has given me a new perspective. This journey was not about people about a particular faith but it saw the coming together of people on a humanitarian issue,” says Biraj Patnaik, who was part of the caravan.
Aslam Khan of the All India Students Association recalls his experience of being cooped inside the ship, which was not allowed to cross over from Al-Arish in Egypt to Gaza, for four days.
source: Times of India
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A gesture of solidarity with people of Palestine
An Asia to Gaza caravan is being planned from New Delhi to Gaza during the month of December, 2010, as part of the international effort to break the three year old blockade of Gaza by Israeli forces. This is probably the first time such an ambitious caravan, through land route, has been planned to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause. It is to travel through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Egypt. On the way a part of the caravan will also visit Jordan and Lebanon. Meetings will be organized along the route to mobilize public opinion against the blockade of Gaza by Israel, the anniversary of which falls on 27th December. If everything goes alright the caravan will reach Gaza to coincide with this date.
A young activist from Mumbai, Feroze Mithiborwala, with Gandhian roots, conceived of this caravan about a couple of years back and with the institutional support provided by New Trade Union Initiatives he was able to give it a practical shape. A forum called Indian Life-line to Gaza was created to organize this caravan and an Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine was formed to bring together all organizations from different countries of Asia like Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt which support the Palestinian cause. The response received was overwhelming. Activists from India, Iran and Japan are part of the caravan from New Delhi and others will join en-route. The embassies of Iran and Egypt waived the fees of Rs. 800 and Rs. 3500, respectively, required for obtaining visas for about 50 Indian activists who are part of this caravan as a gesture of support.
The struggle of the Palestinians is probably one of the most difficult ones going on around the world presently. A population has been rendered homeless in their own homes and are being subjected to continuous humiliation. Israelis have literally entered the homes of Palestinians and are now refusing to move out. Jewish immigration from Europe altered the demographic balance of the area between 1917 and 1948. It is almost an everyday struggle for the Palestinians to retain whatever they have in their possession. The US has been blindly supporting the brazen and brutal ways of Israel. A country which goes around all over the globe considering it its responsibility to establish democratic rules doesn't care a damn about the autocratic ways of Israeli government or the blatant human rights violations of Palestinian people. US, and all western powers, follow a double standard when it comes to dealing with Israel. India, which used to be an open supporter of the Palestinian cause is slowly changing its stand since it decided to liberalize its economic policy and is falling in line with the US position. This perceptible change is also witnessed in its stand with respect to Iran. Under US pressure first it relented on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, which was in its interest, and now is taking a hypocritical position on Iran's right to run a nuclear programme after having developed its own programme.
The worst attitude of Israel is reflected in the attack in Mediterranean Sea on relief flotilla on 31 May, 2010, from Turkey. Six ships were carrying humanitanrian, construction material, etc., on behalf of Free Gaza Movement and Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief. Nine activists, including one Turkish American, on the ship MV Mavi Marmara were killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire. UNHRC report describes six of the nine killings as 'summary execution' by the Israeli commandoes. Other activists were detained till 6 June, 2010. This unfortunate event generated widespread worldwide condemnation.
The fifty member India delegation was flagged off from Rajghat on 2nd December, 2010, by Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar. Also present on the occasion were Syeda Hameed, member, Planning Commission and Harshmander, member, National Advisory Council. The caravan met its first obstacle at the first border it had to cross. Paksitan denied visa on 1st December but after bad publicity at home of having denied visa to an India peace delegation headed for Palestine, they gave visas to 34 members of the delegation after its flag off. On 4th December morning the India government denied permission to this group to cross Wagha border on foot. The caravan was held up for 24 hours.
Pakistan was essentially reluctant to give permission to the Indian group because the route to Iran passes through Balochistan where it claims that the movement for autonomy is being fuelled by India . So, the Indian contingent is returning from Pakistan and will fly to Tehran along with the rest of the group which has been denied visa by Pakistan . This gives an idea of what is in store for this peace caravan – hurdles at every step. But the peace activists are determined and will clear the obstacles one by one, as they come along. This peace caravan will take along with it an ambulance and medical-surgical aid worth Rs. 27 lakhs to deliver in Gaza.
As the symbol of democracy, India, more than US, where marginalized groups have found political voice should be the champion of all struggles for establishing democracy and human rights. Hence it is only appropriate that a group of Indians, albeit without their government's support, have embarked on this journey which will express solidarity of crores of struggling ordinary Indians with the people of Palestine . The Indian delegation mostly consists of activists of people's movements and trade unions, journalists, students and representatives of minority communities. They will share the daily suffering of Palestinian people and develop a human bond with them. It is a modest effort but of great symbolic significance. It is the might of these ordinary citizen which will challenge the forces of imperialism and authoritarianism. It will also convey to the government of India that it has done wrong by abandoning the Palestinian cause in favour of Israel . India should stand with the struggling masses of the world rather than with forces aiming to establish their hegemony over others.
Dr Sandeep Pandey - CNS
(Dr Sandeep Pandey is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, who is a part of the Asia to Gaza peace delegation. He is a member of National Presidium, People's Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley, USA. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He writes for Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org
A young activist from Mumbai, Feroze Mithiborwala, with Gandhian roots, conceived of this caravan about a couple of years back and with the institutional support provided by New Trade Union Initiatives he was able to give it a practical shape. A forum called Indian Life-line to Gaza was created to organize this caravan and an Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine was formed to bring together all organizations from different countries of Asia like Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt which support the Palestinian cause. The response received was overwhelming. Activists from India, Iran and Japan are part of the caravan from New Delhi and others will join en-route. The embassies of Iran and Egypt waived the fees of Rs. 800 and Rs. 3500, respectively, required for obtaining visas for about 50 Indian activists who are part of this caravan as a gesture of support.
The struggle of the Palestinians is probably one of the most difficult ones going on around the world presently. A population has been rendered homeless in their own homes and are being subjected to continuous humiliation. Israelis have literally entered the homes of Palestinians and are now refusing to move out. Jewish immigration from Europe altered the demographic balance of the area between 1917 and 1948. It is almost an everyday struggle for the Palestinians to retain whatever they have in their possession. The US has been blindly supporting the brazen and brutal ways of Israel. A country which goes around all over the globe considering it its responsibility to establish democratic rules doesn't care a damn about the autocratic ways of Israeli government or the blatant human rights violations of Palestinian people. US, and all western powers, follow a double standard when it comes to dealing with Israel. India, which used to be an open supporter of the Palestinian cause is slowly changing its stand since it decided to liberalize its economic policy and is falling in line with the US position. This perceptible change is also witnessed in its stand with respect to Iran. Under US pressure first it relented on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, which was in its interest, and now is taking a hypocritical position on Iran's right to run a nuclear programme after having developed its own programme.
The worst attitude of Israel is reflected in the attack in Mediterranean Sea on relief flotilla on 31 May, 2010, from Turkey. Six ships were carrying humanitanrian, construction material, etc., on behalf of Free Gaza Movement and Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief. Nine activists, including one Turkish American, on the ship MV Mavi Marmara were killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire. UNHRC report describes six of the nine killings as 'summary execution' by the Israeli commandoes. Other activists were detained till 6 June, 2010. This unfortunate event generated widespread worldwide condemnation.
The fifty member India delegation was flagged off from Rajghat on 2nd December, 2010, by Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar. Also present on the occasion were Syeda Hameed, member, Planning Commission and Harshmander, member, National Advisory Council. The caravan met its first obstacle at the first border it had to cross. Paksitan denied visa on 1st December but after bad publicity at home of having denied visa to an India peace delegation headed for Palestine, they gave visas to 34 members of the delegation after its flag off. On 4th December morning the India government denied permission to this group to cross Wagha border on foot. The caravan was held up for 24 hours.
Pakistan was essentially reluctant to give permission to the Indian group because the route to Iran passes through Balochistan where it claims that the movement for autonomy is being fuelled by India . So, the Indian contingent is returning from Pakistan and will fly to Tehran along with the rest of the group which has been denied visa by Pakistan . This gives an idea of what is in store for this peace caravan – hurdles at every step. But the peace activists are determined and will clear the obstacles one by one, as they come along. This peace caravan will take along with it an ambulance and medical-surgical aid worth Rs. 27 lakhs to deliver in Gaza.
As the symbol of democracy, India, more than US, where marginalized groups have found political voice should be the champion of all struggles for establishing democracy and human rights. Hence it is only appropriate that a group of Indians, albeit without their government's support, have embarked on this journey which will express solidarity of crores of struggling ordinary Indians with the people of Palestine . The Indian delegation mostly consists of activists of people's movements and trade unions, journalists, students and representatives of minority communities. They will share the daily suffering of Palestinian people and develop a human bond with them. It is a modest effort but of great symbolic significance. It is the might of these ordinary citizen which will challenge the forces of imperialism and authoritarianism. It will also convey to the government of India that it has done wrong by abandoning the Palestinian cause in favour of Israel . India should stand with the struggling masses of the world rather than with forces aiming to establish their hegemony over others.
Dr Sandeep Pandey - CNS
(Dr Sandeep Pandey is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, who is a part of the Asia to Gaza peace delegation. He is a member of National Presidium, People's Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley, USA. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He writes for Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org
A gesture of solidarity with people of Palestine
An Asia to Gaza caravan is being planned from New Delhi to Gaza during the month of December, 2010, as part of the international effort to break the three year old blockade of Gaza by Israeli forces. This is probably the first time such an ambitious caravan, through land route, has been planned to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause. It is to travel through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Egypt. On the way a part of the caravan will also visit Jordan and Lebanon. Meetings will be organized along the route to mobilize public opinion against the blockade of Gaza by Israel, the anniversary of which falls on 27th December. If everything goes alright the caravan will reach Gaza to coincide with this date.
A young activist from Mumbai, Feroze Mithiborwala, with Gandhian roots, conceived of this caravan about a couple of years back and with the institutional support provided by New Trade Union Initiatives he was able to give it a practical shape. A forum called Indian Life-line to Gaza was created to organize this caravan and an Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine was formed to bring together all organizations from different countries of Asia like Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt which support the Palestinian cause. The response received was overwhelming. Activists from India, Iran and Japan are part of the caravan from New Delhi and others will join en-route. The embassies of Iran and Egypt waived the fees of Rs. 800 and Rs. 3500, respectively, required for obtaining visas for about 50 Indian activists who are part of this caravan as a gesture of support.
The struggle of the Palestinians is probably one of the most difficult ones going on around the world presently. A population has been rendered homeless in their own homes and are being subjected to continuous humiliation. Israelis have literally entered the homes of Palestinians and are now refusing to move out. Jewish immigration from Europe altered the demographic balance of the area between 1917 and 1948. It is almost an everyday struggle for the Palestinians to retain whatever they have in their possession. The US has been blindly supporting the brazen and brutal ways of Israel. A country which goes around all over the globe considering it its responsibility to establish democratic rules doesn't care a damn about the autocratic ways of Israeli government or the blatant human rights violations of Palestinian people. US, and all western powers, follow a double standard when it comes to dealing with Israel. India, which used to be an open supporter of the Palestinian cause is slowly changing its stand since it decided to liberalize its economic policy and is falling in line with the US position. This perceptible change is also witnessed in its stand with respect to Iran. Under US pressure first it relented on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, which was in its interest, and now is taking a hypocritical position on Iran's right to run a nuclear programme after having developed its own programme.
The worst attitude of Israel is reflected in the attack in Mediterranean Sea on relief flotilla on 31 May, 2010, from Turkey. Six ships were carrying humanitanrian, construction material, etc., on behalf of Free Gaza Movement and Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief. Nine activists, including one Turkish American, on the ship MV Mavi Marmara were killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire. UNHRC report describes six of the nine killings as 'summary execution' by the Israeli commandoes. Other activists were detained till 6 June, 2010. This unfortunate event generated widespread worldwide condemnation.
The fifty member India delegation was flagged off from Rajghat on 2nd December, 2010, by Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar. Also present on the occasion were Syeda Hameed, member, Planning Commission and Harshmander, member, National Advisory Council. The caravan met its first obstacle at the first border it had to cross. Paksitan denied visa on 1st December but after bad publicity at home of having denied visa to an India peace delegation headed for Palestine, they gave visas to 34 members of the delegation after its flag off. On 4th December morning the India government denied permission to this group to cross Wagha border on foot. The caravan was held up for 24 hours.
Pakistan was essentially reluctant to give permission to the Indian group because the route to Iran passes through Balochistan where it claims that the movement for autonomy is being fuelled by India . So, the Indian contingent is returning from Pakistan and will fly to Tehran along with the rest of the group which has been denied visa by Pakistan . This gives an idea of what is in store for this peace caravan – hurdles at every step. But the peace activists are determined and will clear the obstacles one by one, as they come along. This peace caravan will take along with it an ambulance and medical-surgical aid worth Rs. 27 lakhs to deliver in Gaza.
As the symbol of democracy, India, more than US, where marginalized groups have found political voice should be the champion of all struggles for establishing democracy and human rights. Hence it is only appropriate that a group of Indians, albeit without their government's support, have embarked on this journey which will express solidarity of crores of struggling ordinary Indians with the people of Palestine . The Indian delegation mostly consists of activists of people's movements and trade unions, journalists, students and representatives of minority communities. They will share the daily suffering of Palestinian people and develop a human bond with them. It is a modest effort but of great symbolic significance. It is the might of these ordinary citizen which will challenge the forces of imperialism and authoritarianism. It will also convey to the government of India that it has done wrong by abandoning the Palestinian cause in favour of Israel . India should stand with the struggling masses of the world rather than with forces aiming to establish their hegemony over others.
Dr Sandeep Pandey - CNS
(Dr Sandeep Pandey is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, who is a part of the Asia to Gaza peace delegation. He is a member of National Presidium, People's Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley, USA. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He writes for Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org )
A young activist from Mumbai, Feroze Mithiborwala, with Gandhian roots, conceived of this caravan about a couple of years back and with the institutional support provided by New Trade Union Initiatives he was able to give it a practical shape. A forum called Indian Life-line to Gaza was created to organize this caravan and an Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine was formed to bring together all organizations from different countries of Asia like Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt which support the Palestinian cause. The response received was overwhelming. Activists from India, Iran and Japan are part of the caravan from New Delhi and others will join en-route. The embassies of Iran and Egypt waived the fees of Rs. 800 and Rs. 3500, respectively, required for obtaining visas for about 50 Indian activists who are part of this caravan as a gesture of support.
The struggle of the Palestinians is probably one of the most difficult ones going on around the world presently. A population has been rendered homeless in their own homes and are being subjected to continuous humiliation. Israelis have literally entered the homes of Palestinians and are now refusing to move out. Jewish immigration from Europe altered the demographic balance of the area between 1917 and 1948. It is almost an everyday struggle for the Palestinians to retain whatever they have in their possession. The US has been blindly supporting the brazen and brutal ways of Israel. A country which goes around all over the globe considering it its responsibility to establish democratic rules doesn't care a damn about the autocratic ways of Israeli government or the blatant human rights violations of Palestinian people. US, and all western powers, follow a double standard when it comes to dealing with Israel. India, which used to be an open supporter of the Palestinian cause is slowly changing its stand since it decided to liberalize its economic policy and is falling in line with the US position. This perceptible change is also witnessed in its stand with respect to Iran. Under US pressure first it relented on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, which was in its interest, and now is taking a hypocritical position on Iran's right to run a nuclear programme after having developed its own programme.
The worst attitude of Israel is reflected in the attack in Mediterranean Sea on relief flotilla on 31 May, 2010, from Turkey. Six ships were carrying humanitanrian, construction material, etc., on behalf of Free Gaza Movement and Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief. Nine activists, including one Turkish American, on the ship MV Mavi Marmara were killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire. UNHRC report describes six of the nine killings as 'summary execution' by the Israeli commandoes. Other activists were detained till 6 June, 2010. This unfortunate event generated widespread worldwide condemnation.
The fifty member India delegation was flagged off from Rajghat on 2nd December, 2010, by Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar. Also present on the occasion were Syeda Hameed, member, Planning Commission and Harshmander, member, National Advisory Council. The caravan met its first obstacle at the first border it had to cross. Paksitan denied visa on 1st December but after bad publicity at home of having denied visa to an India peace delegation headed for Palestine, they gave visas to 34 members of the delegation after its flag off. On 4th December morning the India government denied permission to this group to cross Wagha border on foot. The caravan was held up for 24 hours.
Pakistan was essentially reluctant to give permission to the Indian group because the route to Iran passes through Balochistan where it claims that the movement for autonomy is being fuelled by India . So, the Indian contingent is returning from Pakistan and will fly to Tehran along with the rest of the group which has been denied visa by Pakistan . This gives an idea of what is in store for this peace caravan – hurdles at every step. But the peace activists are determined and will clear the obstacles one by one, as they come along. This peace caravan will take along with it an ambulance and medical-surgical aid worth Rs. 27 lakhs to deliver in Gaza.
As the symbol of democracy, India, more than US, where marginalized groups have found political voice should be the champion of all struggles for establishing democracy and human rights. Hence it is only appropriate that a group of Indians, albeit without their government's support, have embarked on this journey which will express solidarity of crores of struggling ordinary Indians with the people of Palestine . The Indian delegation mostly consists of activists of people's movements and trade unions, journalists, students and representatives of minority communities. They will share the daily suffering of Palestinian people and develop a human bond with them. It is a modest effort but of great symbolic significance. It is the might of these ordinary citizen which will challenge the forces of imperialism and authoritarianism. It will also convey to the government of India that it has done wrong by abandoning the Palestinian cause in favour of Israel . India should stand with the struggling masses of the world rather than with forces aiming to establish their hegemony over others.
Dr Sandeep Pandey - CNS
(Dr Sandeep Pandey is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, who is a part of the Asia to Gaza peace delegation. He is a member of National Presidium, People's Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley, USA. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He writes for Citizen News Service (CNS). Email: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org )
Breaking the siege of Gaza- Sandeep Pandey
Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey reports on the first peace caravan from Asia to make it to Gaza.
The first Asia to Gaza caravan arrived in Gaza in the wee hours on Monday. A warm welcome awaited the caravan at the border where a press conference was held past midnight.
From external appearances, one cannot tell that there is anything wrong with the place except for graffiti on the walls and some signs of devastation in the form of rubble. The people of Gaza have bravely gone on with their lives and have tried to maintain a reasonably good standard of living with a sense of aesthetics. It looks like any other city from the Arab world, probably more culturally evolved. It is only when one begins talking to the people the tragedy of the place dawns upon us.
Afnan, a 20-year old youth, told the audience about her father who was arrested by the Israeli authorities when she was just four, in a meeting organized by the Ministry of Detainee's Affairs. Plaestine would be a rare state to have a ministry by that name. 7,500 Palestinians languish in Israeli jails of whom 340 are children and 33 are women. Some have been there for more than 30 years now.
Mahmoud Al Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, has lost two sons, but Zahar's committment to the Palestinian cause has not dimmed. He patiently explained how, because the Palestinians were fighting for a moral cause, they were bound to succeed. Associated with Hamas since its beginning, he thinks the Palestinian resistance to Israel is the strongest in its current phase. He also viewed caravans such as Asia to Gaza playing an important role in breaking the siege of Gaza. Israel had allowed a hundred lorries into Gaza with essential material items, including fuel and food, to enter the same day as Asia to Gaza caravan.
On 4th January, a meeting was scheduled with the PM of Palestine Ismail Haniya. He said that he had been following the Asia to Gaza caravan all through and such efforts lifted the spirits of the people of Palestine. Pooja Badekar and Biraj Patnaik from India presented Haniya with an autobiography and a poster of Mahatma Gandhi . During the meeting power supply was cut off for a couple of minutes before the generators took over, a reflection of the effects of the siege.
Incidently, Egypt did not allow generators as part of humanitarian aid. The ship carrying the aid was stuck at Al Arish port for about two complete days after being followed by two Israeli boats on its way from Latakia. The port authorities at the Egyptian port did not co-operate with the eight caravan members on board. Caravan member Sakaguchi from Japan had to take charge of the crane to unload material from ship, Hakim Alizade from Azerbaijan had to fix two ambulances which did not start in the beginning and Ajit Sahi had to beseech the immigration officials so that caravan members were given their passports and allowed to proceed with the aid.
The eight caravan members leaving behind rest of the aid drove the four ambulances to Gaza reaching there on 4th January night, escaping the hostile port officials and mafia. Four truck loads of medicines also arrived at the Rafah crossing the next day but it is unclear what would happen with the food, toys and stationery.
Meanwhile the siege makes life difficult for people in Gaza. At the main hospital in Gaza, Al-Shifa, doctors informed that 162 medicines and essential items were not in stock because of the siege. Israelis have not even spared hospitals in their attacks. The Al Wafa Rehabilitation Centre for the handicapped was bombed in 2003, killing two nurses. It was rebuilt with Malaysian help. Before this centre started functioning, the patients had to go to Israeli hospitals and pay high fees. One can also see a number of places where building material is recovered from the rubble, as it cannot enter Gaza. The indomitable spirit of Palestinians has come up with innovative ways including using tunnels across the borders to get essential items required for survival.
Aslam Khan, student leader of All India Students Association, commented that the Palestinians are already liberated in their spirit. The siege cannot contain them. Such people can never be defeated.
source: http://www.rediff.com/news/special/peace-caravan-asia-reaches-gaza/20110107.htm
The first Asia to Gaza caravan arrived in Gaza in the wee hours on Monday. A warm welcome awaited the caravan at the border where a press conference was held past midnight.
From external appearances, one cannot tell that there is anything wrong with the place except for graffiti on the walls and some signs of devastation in the form of rubble. The people of Gaza have bravely gone on with their lives and have tried to maintain a reasonably good standard of living with a sense of aesthetics. It looks like any other city from the Arab world, probably more culturally evolved. It is only when one begins talking to the people the tragedy of the place dawns upon us.
Afnan, a 20-year old youth, told the audience about her father who was arrested by the Israeli authorities when she was just four, in a meeting organized by the Ministry of Detainee's Affairs. Plaestine would be a rare state to have a ministry by that name. 7,500 Palestinians languish in Israeli jails of whom 340 are children and 33 are women. Some have been there for more than 30 years now.
Mahmoud Al Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, has lost two sons, but Zahar's committment to the Palestinian cause has not dimmed. He patiently explained how, because the Palestinians were fighting for a moral cause, they were bound to succeed. Associated with Hamas since its beginning, he thinks the Palestinian resistance to Israel is the strongest in its current phase. He also viewed caravans such as Asia to Gaza playing an important role in breaking the siege of Gaza. Israel had allowed a hundred lorries into Gaza with essential material items, including fuel and food, to enter the same day as Asia to Gaza caravan.
On 4th January, a meeting was scheduled with the PM of Palestine Ismail Haniya. He said that he had been following the Asia to Gaza caravan all through and such efforts lifted the spirits of the people of Palestine. Pooja Badekar and Biraj Patnaik from India presented Haniya with an autobiography and a poster of Mahatma Gandhi . During the meeting power supply was cut off for a couple of minutes before the generators took over, a reflection of the effects of the siege.
Incidently, Egypt did not allow generators as part of humanitarian aid. The ship carrying the aid was stuck at Al Arish port for about two complete days after being followed by two Israeli boats on its way from Latakia. The port authorities at the Egyptian port did not co-operate with the eight caravan members on board. Caravan member Sakaguchi from Japan had to take charge of the crane to unload material from ship, Hakim Alizade from Azerbaijan had to fix two ambulances which did not start in the beginning and Ajit Sahi had to beseech the immigration officials so that caravan members were given their passports and allowed to proceed with the aid.
The eight caravan members leaving behind rest of the aid drove the four ambulances to Gaza reaching there on 4th January night, escaping the hostile port officials and mafia. Four truck loads of medicines also arrived at the Rafah crossing the next day but it is unclear what would happen with the food, toys and stationery.
Meanwhile the siege makes life difficult for people in Gaza. At the main hospital in Gaza, Al-Shifa, doctors informed that 162 medicines and essential items were not in stock because of the siege. Israelis have not even spared hospitals in their attacks. The Al Wafa Rehabilitation Centre for the handicapped was bombed in 2003, killing two nurses. It was rebuilt with Malaysian help. Before this centre started functioning, the patients had to go to Israeli hospitals and pay high fees. One can also see a number of places where building material is recovered from the rubble, as it cannot enter Gaza. The indomitable spirit of Palestinians has come up with innovative ways including using tunnels across the borders to get essential items required for survival.
Aslam Khan, student leader of All India Students Association, commented that the Palestinians are already liberated in their spirit. The siege cannot contain them. Such people can never be defeated.
source: http://www.rediff.com/news/special/peace-caravan-asia-reaches-gaza/20110107.htm
Sunday, January 9, 2011
PRESS INVITATION: MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA
You are invited to a PRESS CONFERENCE
ASIAN PEOPLE'S SOLIDARITY FOR PALESTINE -- INDIA LIFELINE TO GAZA
PRESS INVITATION
MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malayasia, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, UK
Venue: Press Club of India, Raisina Road, New Delhi (Near Metro Station Central Secretariat)
Time: 2.45 pm Date: Monday, January 10, 2011
ASIAN PEOPLE'S SOLIDARITY FOR PALESTINE -- INDIA LIFELINE TO GAZA
PRESS INVITATION
MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malayasia, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, UK
Venue: Press Club of India, Raisina Road, New Delhi (Near Metro Station Central Secretariat)
Time: 2.45 pm Date: Monday, January 10, 2011
PRESS INVITATION: MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA
You are invited to a PRESS CONFERENCE
ASIAN PEOPLE'S SOLIDARITY FOR PALESTINE -- INDIA LIFELINE TO GAZA
PRESS INVITATION
MEET THE FIRST EVER INDIAN ACTIVISTS TO ENTER GAZA
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malayasia, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, UK
Venue: Press Club of India, Raisina Road, New Delhi (Near Metro Station Central Secretariat)
Time: 2.45 pm Date: Monday, January 10, 2011
Chased by Israeli warships and warplanes in the Mediterranean Sea... held hostage in a cargo ship off Egypt without passports.. the amazing story of grit and determination of more than a 120 activists from 17 Asian countries, over 50 of them from India alone, who entered Gaza (Palestine) last week after a historic month-long 8,000-km bus-ride through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
With them, they took life-saving medical equipment, food items, clothes and other aid worth $1 million, weighing 170 tons, for the people of Gaza who continue to suffer unspeakable hardship for nearly five years under the illegal blockade imposed by the Israeli-US regimes.
Through its journey, the caravan was greeted by tens of thousands of people and their leaders that included, among others, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmednijad in Tehran, Hamas chief Khalid Mishal in Damascus and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya in Gaza.
You are cordially invited to meet the delegates at the press conference and share their experience through personal testimonies, as well as their rich collection of videos and photographs that documented the historic journey.
The activists included a diverse range of representation from the civil society -- Magsaysay Award-winner social activist Sandeep Pandey, West Asian expert and peace activist Feroze Mithiborwala, Gandhian activist Suresh Khairnar, trade union leader Ashim Roy, noted journalist Ajit Sahi, student activists from Vidyarthi Bharati in Mumbai, and students from JNU and Jamia Millia. The Indian delegates hailed from UP, Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand, among others.
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