Our situation is now at a crisis point! Riot has broken out in the port of Al- Arish. This late afternoon we were negotiating with a senior official from Cairo who left negotiations some two hours ago and did not return. Our negotiations with the official was regarding taking our aid vehicles into Gaza.
He left two hours ago and did not come back. Egyptian authorities called over 2,000 riot police who then moved towards our camp at the port. We have now blocked the entrance to the port and we are now faced with riot police and water cannons and are determined to defend our vehicles and aid.
The Egyptian authorities have by their stubbornness and hostility towards the convoy, brought us to a crisis point.
We are now calling upon all friends of Palestine to mount protests in person where possible, but by any means available to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassy’s and demand that the convoy are allowed a safe passage into Gaza tomorrow!
Kevin Ovenden
Viva Palestina Convoy Leader
POSTSCRIPT (From friends in London)
In the short time since the last update the situation in El-Arish has escalated. Riot police armed with tear gas and water cannons physically attacked the convoy members. The information is currently sketchy, but there are reports of some injuries (no serious injuries reported) and possibly some arrests. The violence seems to have subsided for now.
I strongly urge you to contact the Egyptian Embassy in your country (info on google and the group wall). Family of UK convoy members should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth office.
UK contacts:
Egyptian Embassy 020 7499 3304
UK FCO 020 7008 1500
BBC 03700 100 222
For more information see:
Up-to-the-minute updates from the convoy:
http://twitter.com/garethn/viva-palestina
Latest Press TV report from within the convoy:
Latest news from many sources:
http://readingpsc.org.uk/convoy/
1 Comments
Galloway said in a speach which correctly condemned the Egyptian President but suggested that Egypt ” Egypt deserved a leader like “that of the Turkish P.M.
Let us remind the movement the way the Turkish leader treats the issue of Kurdish autonomy. The Constitutional Court has just banned the Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP).
The Constitutional Court ruled the DTP should be closed down, under pressure from the USA and Europe. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) talk national unity at the expense of Kurdish rights.
In Diyarbakir , the riot police attacked a peaceful protest by pro DTP supporters, using water canon.Many carried posters of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebel group.
The struggle for national self determination of the Palestinian people and the success of the convoy Viva Palestine, is deserving of our full support and solidarity. Similarly we can’t win the struggle of one people at the expense of another.
The struggle against imperialism and colonialism in the Middle East needs to establish a wider international solidarity with all those fighting for their national rights, including the rights of the Kurds.
George we salute you and the cdes of Viva Palestine in the work that you do for the Palestinian people. Dont forget the Kurds also