Saturday, June 5, 2010
One of the Greek hostages speaks Exclusive interview of Aristides Papadokostopoulos
One of the Greek hostages speaks (2/6/2010)
Exclusive interview of Aristides Papadokostopoulos(*) to the left weekly “Dromos”
Could you tell us what happened exactly from the moment of the attack?
Just before 5 o’clock on Monday morning, the attack of the Israelis started on international waters, 70 miles off the coast of Gaza. First they attacked the large Turkish ship, which was transferring most of the activists, and afterwards the rest of the ships. The attack kicked off with real ammunition and had as result all these murders. They got on board also on the two passenger boats and on the Turkish boats, and then they came down on us, on the “Free Mediterranean”. We continued to move forward despite the warnings, because Israel does not have the right to run checks and stop ships on 70 nautical miles off the coastline. And this has to be condemned by the international community in its entirety. Israel can not act as the gendarme of the region, forbidding any access to Gaza. The commandos climbed up on board from inflatable boats, they hit us, and led us to a port, Ashdod. From there the psychological war started. The threat was “we deport you now or you go to prison”. We chose, some of us, to leave earlier, so that the matter becomes known in Greece. The others chose to stay there, because they do not recognise any suzerainty of Israel in international waters. The hostages were not illegal; Israel arrested them defying the maritime and international laws. When they brought us in Ashdod, that the following were hit by the Israelis: Vangelis Pissias, Yiannis Karipidis, and two more foreign activists: the American who played in the documentary ‘Gaza We Are Coming’ and the Swedish saxophone player who originally comes from Israel. They hit these ones in front of us. The port authorities, the army, the police, around 500 people were hitting them under conditions of lynching. And it is not an exaggeration when I say that 500 people were brutalizing them.
Where?
In the entrance area of the port. At a large entrance, at the time that we had arrived at the port. There is where they hit them.
Why were they hitting them?
They hit Vangelis Pissias because he was not giving his finger prints. They badly hit others as well, and in fact I actually saw them also doing injections to some activists. They had blocked us a bit to the side, all this mass of policemen and soldiers, and we couldn’t see very well. Despite that, I saw in front of me the injection being done to the American activist, so that he would fall down and remain still.
Something about electroshocks that was mentioned by the TV channels, is that valid?
It’s true, yes, but not on the boat. They did it to Michalis Tiktopoulos. They electroshocked him in front of me. He was moving along and in order to get him out on to the port faster, a soldier took out a gun that produces electricity and hit him.
From the moment that you reached the port and afterwards, what was the situation?
Unbearable psychological pressure. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. This country is run by the army. Unbelievable army force that one can not imagine. For example the exit to the airport, was absolutely full of armed personnel. It is unbelievable. It is a military state.
Aristides, one last thing: The rest of the others who have remained inside, who refused to sign, what is the process with them now? What will happen to them? Where have they been transferred?
They are taking them to prison. Today the embassy and the ministry of foreign affairs will come in contact with them, also through a lawyer. Yesterday, when we were asking for a lawyer or anyone from the embassy, they were denying us. They weren’t letting us speak with neither the lawyer nor the embassy. Today they told the ministry of foreign affairs that they will allow the ministry to come in contact with the people. It was an unbearable situation. They were trying with every means to make you break and sign the deportation or do whatever else they wanted.
(*) He was on board the “Free Mediterranean” and held until yesterday as a hostage of the Israeli army. Source: www.edromos.gr
Exclusive interview of Aristides Papadokostopoulos(*) to the left weekly “Dromos”
Could you tell us what happened exactly from the moment of the attack?
Just before 5 o’clock on Monday morning, the attack of the Israelis started on international waters, 70 miles off the coast of Gaza. First they attacked the large Turkish ship, which was transferring most of the activists, and afterwards the rest of the ships. The attack kicked off with real ammunition and had as result all these murders. They got on board also on the two passenger boats and on the Turkish boats, and then they came down on us, on the “Free Mediterranean”. We continued to move forward despite the warnings, because Israel does not have the right to run checks and stop ships on 70 nautical miles off the coastline. And this has to be condemned by the international community in its entirety. Israel can not act as the gendarme of the region, forbidding any access to Gaza. The commandos climbed up on board from inflatable boats, they hit us, and led us to a port, Ashdod. From there the psychological war started. The threat was “we deport you now or you go to prison”. We chose, some of us, to leave earlier, so that the matter becomes known in Greece. The others chose to stay there, because they do not recognise any suzerainty of Israel in international waters. The hostages were not illegal; Israel arrested them defying the maritime and international laws. When they brought us in Ashdod, that the following were hit by the Israelis: Vangelis Pissias, Yiannis Karipidis, and two more foreign activists: the American who played in the documentary ‘Gaza We Are Coming’ and the Swedish saxophone player who originally comes from Israel. They hit these ones in front of us. The port authorities, the army, the police, around 500 people were hitting them under conditions of lynching. And it is not an exaggeration when I say that 500 people were brutalizing them.
Where?
In the entrance area of the port. At a large entrance, at the time that we had arrived at the port. There is where they hit them.
Why were they hitting them?
They hit Vangelis Pissias because he was not giving his finger prints. They badly hit others as well, and in fact I actually saw them also doing injections to some activists. They had blocked us a bit to the side, all this mass of policemen and soldiers, and we couldn’t see very well. Despite that, I saw in front of me the injection being done to the American activist, so that he would fall down and remain still.
Something about electroshocks that was mentioned by the TV channels, is that valid?
It’s true, yes, but not on the boat. They did it to Michalis Tiktopoulos. They electroshocked him in front of me. He was moving along and in order to get him out on to the port faster, a soldier took out a gun that produces electricity and hit him.
From the moment that you reached the port and afterwards, what was the situation?
Unbearable psychological pressure. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. This country is run by the army. Unbelievable army force that one can not imagine. For example the exit to the airport, was absolutely full of armed personnel. It is unbelievable. It is a military state.
Aristides, one last thing: The rest of the others who have remained inside, who refused to sign, what is the process with them now? What will happen to them? Where have they been transferred?
They are taking them to prison. Today the embassy and the ministry of foreign affairs will come in contact with them, also through a lawyer. Yesterday, when we were asking for a lawyer or anyone from the embassy, they were denying us. They weren’t letting us speak with neither the lawyer nor the embassy. Today they told the ministry of foreign affairs that they will allow the ministry to come in contact with the people. It was an unbearable situation. They were trying with every means to make you break and sign the deportation or do whatever else they wanted.
(*) He was on board the “Free Mediterranean” and held until yesterday as a hostage of the Israeli army. Source: www.edromos.gr
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Flotilla attack -Sarah Colbourne eyewitness report in London
Saturday 5 June • Gaza Flotilla March • End the Siege of Gaza: Freedom for Palestine
Assemble Downing Street • London • 1.30pm • March to the Israeli Embassy
Called by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity
The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) boycotted the House session on Thursday
The main opposition Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) boycotted the House session on Thursday, saying that there has been a breach in May 28 three-point agreement.
Following the UCPN-M' boycott, the winter session of the Legislature-Parliament has been put off.
As per the House tradition, all the decisions regarding House procedures are taken with the consent of the main opposition party as well. House Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang announced the postponement immediately after the UCPN-M boycotted the session.
The ruling allies and UCPN-M are still at odds over the prime minister's resignation as both the sides are sticking to their former stances.
While the UCPN-Ms have been demanding Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's resignation before entering into any discussions, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) have been stressing on implementation of past pacts of fixing the number of UCPN-M combatants to be integrated, return of seized properties and disbandment of UCPN-M' s Young Communist League.
On May 28, the UCPN-M had struck three-point deal with NC and CPN-UML before lending their support, crucial for amendment bill, for the Constituent Assembly's term extension.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Nepal is bracing for renewed political confrontation after a Maoist deadline for the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expired
Nepal is bracing for renewed political confrontation after a Maoist deadline for the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expired Wednesday.
The leading parties in the ruling coalition -- Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist (UML) -- struck a deal with the main opposition Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (UCPN-M) in the dying hours of May 28 to extend the term of the interim parliament by a year.
Under the terms of the 3-point deal the tenure of the Constituent Assembly (CA) would be extended and the parties would take decisive steps in the peace process while the prime minister would make way for a government of national consensus.
However, the agreement unravelled quickly with the Maoists giving Madhav Kumar “five days to resign”.
“They gave us a cheque,” Maoist Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai told the media. “We will soon go to the bank with that cheque. If it bounces, we know what to do
The leading parties in the ruling coalition -- Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist (UML) -- struck a deal with the main opposition Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (UCPN-M) in the dying hours of May 28 to extend the term of the interim parliament by a year.
Under the terms of the 3-point deal the tenure of the Constituent Assembly (CA) would be extended and the parties would take decisive steps in the peace process while the prime minister would make way for a government of national consensus.
However, the agreement unravelled quickly with the Maoists giving Madhav Kumar “five days to resign”.
“They gave us a cheque,” Maoist Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai told the media. “We will soon go to the bank with that cheque. If it bounces, we know what to do
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Robert R. Bryan Mumia's Lead Counsel in Brixton London 10th June 2010
Save Life of Mumia Abu-Jamal and and support Global Abolition of the Death Penalty
"Mumia's very life hangs in the balance. So we badly need international activism & pressure" - says Robert R.Bryan - Lead Counsel to Mumia Abu-Jamal
The Free Mumia Abu Jamal Defence Campaign in the UK invites you to meet :
ROBERT R.BRYAN - LEAD COUNSEL FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL IN BRIXTON TO UPDATE YOU ABOUT THE CASE OF MUMIA ABU JAMAL ON 10TH JUNE 2010.
ABOLISH THE RACIST DEATH PENALTY – FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW
Date & Time: 7 PM –10 pm Thursday 10th June 2010
Venue: KARIBU EDUCATION CENTRE, 7 GRESHAM ROAD, BRIXTON, LONDON SW9 7PH
(Third Right Street From Brixton Tube Station)
Organised by
George Jackson Socialist League
Democracy and Class Struggle
Supported by
Global Afrikan Congress
Fight Racism Fight Imperialism
World Peoples Resistance Movement (Britain)
Pan Afrikan Society Community Forum
Afrikan Socialist International
Partisan Defence Committee
Co-ordination Committee of the Revolutionary Communists of Britain
Keynote speaker
Robert R. Bryan - Lead Counsel to Mumia Abu-Jamal
Other Invited Speakers:
Steve Headley of RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Worker)
Selma James of Global Women’s Strike
Glenn Watson of Global Afrikan Congress
Luwezi Kinshasa of Afrikan Socialist International
Also speakers from Fight Racism Fight Imperialism and Partisan Defence Committee
Mumia Abu-Jamal and The Global Abolition of the Death Penalty
The death penalty has the ultimate form of punishment is unacceptable in a civilized society and undermines human dignity. (U.N. General Assembly, Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty, Resolution 62/149, Dec. 18, 2007; reaffirmed, Resolution 63/168, Dec. 18, 2008.)
Mr. Abu-Jamal, a renowned black journalist and author, has been on Pennsylvania’s death row for nearly three decades.Mr Abu-Jamal has become a global symbol, the "Voice of the Voiceless", in the struggle against capital punishment and human-rights abuses. There are over 20,000 awaiting execution around the globe, with over 3,000 on death rows in the United States.
The 1982 trial of Mr. Abu-Jamal was tainted by racism, and occurred in Philadelphia which has a history of police corruption and discrimination. Amnesty International, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, "determined that numerous aspects of this case clearly failed to meet international standards safeguarding the fairness of legal proceedings. [T]he interests of justice would best be served by the granting of a new trial to Mumia Abu-Jamal. The trial should fully comply with international standards of justice and should not allow for the re-imposition of the death penalty." (A Life In the Balance - The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, at 34, Amnesty Int’l, 2000; www. Amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR51/001/2000.)
See you in Brixton on 10th June - Save the Life of Mumia Abu-Jamal - sign petition Now
http://mumialegal.org/node/72
Demonstrate against Israel's atrocities and for end to Gaza siege on Saturday 5th June
Saturday 5 June • Gaza Flotilla March • End the Siege of Gaza: Freedom for Palestine
Assemble Downing Street • London • 1.30pm • March to the Israeli Embassy
Assemble Downing Street • London • 1.30pm • March to the Israeli Embassy
Called by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, British Muslim Initiative, CND & Viva Palestina
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