Saturday, July 2, 2011

US Boat To Gaza: Update: Greece



After a two hour stand off at sea, the U.S. Boat to Gaza - The Audacity of Hope - was seized by the Greek Coast Guard and forced to return to the port of Piraeus under military escort. The boat's captain has been put in jail, charged with disturbing sea traffic--which includes endangering the lives of those on the ships-- and disobeying a police order to remain at dock. 

The crew is being detained on the boat, which is being held at a military dock just outside Athens. Most of the 36 passengers remain on the ship in solidarity with the captain and crew.

Ann Wright, retired U.S. Army Colonel, responded strongly to the arrest of the American captain of the U.S. Boat to Gaza. "I think it's outrageous what the Greek government is doing to our captain who was taking a group of Americans to challenge the illegal Israeli blockade. We call on the Greek government to release our Captain and dismiss all charges."

Yonatan Shapira, a crew member on The Audacity of Hope and former Israeli Air Force captain, said the captain of the U.S. Boat should be praised, not condemned for his actions. "The captain acted out of concern for the safety of the passengers and boat by taking us away from the Greek port where other flotilla boats are being sabotaged," Shapira said.

After five days of stalling, the Greek authorities produced the results of the inspection of the boat, which took place on Monday, June 27. 

The Greek government inspected the boat on the basis of an anonymous complaint alleging that the boat is not seaworthy. The anonymous complaint later turned out to have been filed by the Israel Law Center. 

The list of infractions cited on the inspection report included such things as technical details regarding the construction material of the hull and the fact that the private inspection report emailed to the authorities was unsigned. 

"None of these alleged infractions are actually regulations that boats are required to meet," said group's Greek lawyer Emmanuel Stephanakis. "It's obvious that these are politically motivated, baseless charges calculated to stop the U.S. Boat to Gaza from sailing."

"This shameful chapter in Greek history is symbolized by Prime Minister Netanyahu thanking his Greek counterpart Prime MInister Papandreou for his cooperation in helping thwart the flotilla, and by the fully-armed and masked Greek commandos at sea, pointing their guns at unarmed American civilians singing "We are a gentle, loving people," says passenger Medea Benjamin.

The other boats in the flotilla that are docked in Greece have been denied permission to sail due to a variety of bureaucratic obstacles the Greek authorities have thrown in their way. 

Greece's Civil Protection Authority confirmed Saturday the ban on departures of ships "with Greek and foreign flags from Greek ports to the maritime area of Gaza" was in place until further notice. 

Two of the boats have had physical damage done to them as well. All vow to pressure the Greek government to grant them permission to sail, and have activated their international networks. 

In the United States, the phones at the Greek Embassy and Consulates were so busy that callers could not get through.

While deeply disappointed that they have not yet been able to sail to Gaza, the passengers feel they have been successful at exposing the ongoing plight of the people of Gaza and the inhumanity of the Israeli government. 

"The success of the flotilla is shown by the huge expenditure of financial and personnel resources by the Israeli government to counter 10 civilian, unarmed ships with 300 citizen activists who simply want to sail to Gaza out of concern for the people of Gaza," says jazz musician and passenger Richard Lopez.

http://twitter.com/usboattogaza  
 



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Updates from Greece: Freedom Flotilla II: The Tahrir: Canada



The departure of ships with any flag from Greek ports to Gaza has been officially prohibited under the orders of the Greek government.

An hour ago, a Greek MP held a press conference in support of CBG and FF2 in front of the Tahrir at the port of Agios Nikolaos on the island of Crete (near the eastern end.)

All the delegates of Tahrir, from all countries, are well, free (no one has been arrested or detained) and in high spirits, each and every one of them

For coverage of what happened on the Tahrir yesterday: http://livenews.thestar.com/Event/Aboard_the_Gaza_flotilla

For the media:

 
Greece:

 
David Heap: +30 (697) 837 9887
Dylan Penner: +30 (699) 663 6796
Sandra Ruch: +30 (698) 030 1711
 

Canada:
 
Ehab Lotayef: 514.941.9792

lotayef@gmail.com
Wendy Goldsmith: 519.619.6766 wendygoldsmith21@gmail.com


Please keep the letters and calls to the Greek and Israeli authorities and the Canadian government going strong. We know that it makes a difference.


EVENTS

Let us know if you are planning an event or activity. We’ll help get the word out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgcCuqILdeU
http://www.origami-instructions.com/easy-origami-boat.html


MONTREAL

1. July 2, Saturday, 4:00 PM, at the entrance of the Montreal Jazz Festival 
(Bleury / Président Kennedy.)

We will rally to show solidarity with the Canada Boat, the Tahrir, we will have banners and distribute material. We will call on the Greek government to the Flotilla sail.

2. July 4, Monday. 11h30 AM, in front of the Greek Consulate (1002 Sherbrooke W.) We will deliver letters to the Greek Consulate, demanding they let the Tahrir sail.


OTTAWA

1.  July 2, Saturday, 12:00 noon, Vigil at the Greek Embassy, 76-80 McLaren Street (near Cartier.)

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177987668927794

2.  July 3, Sunday, 1:00-3:00 PM, at the Human Rights Monument (Elgin St./Lisgar St) Ottawa Symbolic launch, all welcome.

 
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156111541128152


TORONTO

1. July 2, Saturday, 3pm, Location: Greek Consulate, 365 Bloor Street East


VANCOUVER

1. July 2, Saturday, 2:00-4:00 PM, In front of CBC headquarters at corner of Georgia & Hamilton.
 

VICTORIA

1. Sunday, July 3, 2:00pm, Beside the Tourist Information Centre, Wharf at Government St., Inner Harbour Rally.
 

WINDSOR, ON

1. July 2, Saturday, 11:00 AM – noon, Corner of Ottawa and Monmouth (across from Market Square.)

Windsor Peace Coalition

 
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=233175653373617


WINNIPEG

1. July 2, Saturday, 1:00 p.m. Corner of River Avenue and Osborne Street in Winnipeg.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=219730754734154



Together we can end the siege of Gaza!




               
Witness Gaza
 
 

Friday, July 1, 2011

Gaza Blockades: Canadian "Tahrir" and US "Audacity of Hope": Freedom Flotilla II



July 1, 2011

The blockade of Gaza reaches the shores of Greece!

As it attempts to sail, the Canadian Boat to Gaza, the Tahrir, blockaded in Greece

Greek coast guard are now on board the Tahrir attempting to arrest Sandra Rush, Jewish Canadian member of the Canada boat to Gaza Steering Committee, who is refusing to surrender boat's registration papers.

Efforts to stop Freedom Flotilla 2 - Stay Human from sailing have included diplomatic pressure and manipulation, economic blackmail, bureaucratic obstacles, baseless and slanderous allegations against the flotilla and the delegates, and sabotage of at least two vessels.

"The world watched as an intensive campaign to prevent the Tahrir and the entire Freedom flotilla II from sailing was underway.  We have been unjustly and duplicitously treated." said Irene MacInnes of the Tahrir organizing committee. "The government of Israel, shamefully with the tacit support of the Harper government, is doing everything in its power to maintain the blockade. 



Today, as a result of the concerted efforts of the 4th largest military power in the world and its backers, we have been prevented from sailing to Gaza. Yet we will persevere in our attempts till the blockade is lifted."

"Israel has in effect extended the illegal blockade of Gaza to Greek ports, using the Greece's economic difficulties to influence the government's position", said David Heap of the organizing committee.

"We remain absolutely clear that the Canadian Boat to Gaza has not been, is not, and has no intention of, breaking any laws. It is the blockade of Gaza that is illegal under international law. 



We have a legal and moral obligation to challenge the blockade, given the failure of the international community to act", said Dylan Penner of the organizing committee. "This is why we must continue our attempts to sail to Gaza: to challenge the illegal and immoral blockade and to equally challenge the Canadian federal government's support for it."

Meanwhile the US boat to Gaza, The Audacity of Hope, is at a standoff with the Greek Navy boats, refusing orders to return to shore.


For biographies of delegates aboard the Tahrir visit:  


Contacts in Greece:
David Heap: +30 (697) 837 9887
Dylan Penner: +30 (699) 663 6796
Sandra Ruch: +30 (698) 030 1711
Contacts in Canada:
Ehab Lotayef: 514.941.9792 - lotayef@gmail.com
Wendy Goldsmith: 519.619.6766 - wendygoldsmith21@gmail.com


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français  ---------------


Pour diffusion immédiate

Le 1er juillet 2011

Le blocus de Gaza s’étend jusqu’aux côtes grecques!

Alors qu’il tente de prendre la mer, le Bateau canadien pour Gaza, le Tahrir, est retenu en Grèce


La garde côtière grecque a arraisonné le Tahrir et tente d’arrêter Sandra Rush, une citoyenne canadienne de confession juive et membre du comité de pilotage du Bateau canadien pour Gaza, qui refuse de céder les documents d’enregistrement du bateau.

On a pratiquement tout fait pour empêcher la Flottille pour la Liberté II – Rester humain, de prendre la mer : pressions et manipulations diplomatiques, chantage économique, obstacles bureaucratiques, allégations sans fondement et diffamatoires à l’endroit de la flottille et des délégués, sabotage d’au moins deux navires, etc.

«Le monde entier a pu voir à l’œuvre la campagne intensive pour empêcher le Tahrir et la Flottille de la liberté de partir. Nous sommes victimes d’injustice et de duplicité» a dit Irene MacInnes, du comité de pilotage du Tahrir. «Le gouvernement israélien, avec l’appui tacite et honteux du gouvernement Harper, fait tout en son pouvoir pour maintenir le blocus. Aujourd’hui, en raison des efforts concertés de la 4e puissance militaire au monde – et de ses supporteurs – nous avons été empêchés de mettre le cap sur Gaza. Mais nous allons persévérer et multiplier nos efforts jusqu’à ce que le blocus soit levé.»

«Dans les faits, Israël a étendu son blocus de Gaza jusqu’aux ports grecs. Au fond, Israël s’est servi des difficultés  économiques de la Grèce pour influencer la position du gouvernement grec» a dit David Heap du comité de pilotage.

«Soyons parfaitement clairs: le Bateau canadien pour Gaza n’a jamais enfreint la moindre loi. Nous sommes en tout point en conformité avec le droit. C’est au contraire le blocus de Gaza qui enfreint le droit international. Étant donné l’inaction de la communauté internationale, nous avons l’obligation légale et morale de contester le blocus» a dit Dylan Penner du comité de pilotage. «C’est pourquoi nous devons continuer nos efforts pour nous rendre à Gaza : pour contester le blocus illégal et immoral ainsi que l’appui que lui donne le gouvernement canadien.»

Pendant ce temps, le bateau américain pour Gaza, The Audacity of Hope, n’a pu s’éloigner que de quelques mètres des côtes grecques, étant bloqué par des navires de la marine grecque. Le bateau américain répond négativement aux ordres de regagner le rivage.


Pour la biographie des délégués à bord du Tahrir :
http://www.tahrir.ca/fr/content/d%C3%A9l%C3%A9gation-%C3%A0-bord-du-tahrir

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Info en Grèce
Stéphan Corriveau: +44 7715 055 541
David Heap: +30 (697) 837 9887

Info au Canada
Lorraine Guay: 514.746.8453lorraineguay@videotron.ca
Denis Kosseim: 514.923.5594 - denis.tahrir@gmail.com