GAZA FREEDOM MARCHERS Harrassed by Police and Security Forces - Asking UN for Help
By CherylSpeaksOut - Posted on December 28th, 2009
Subject: latest report from Cairo distribute widely ***** urgent*****
by Wendy Goldsmith
As Gaza Freedom Marchers continue to push the Egyptian Government to
allow us to leave Cairo for El Arish, they are beginning to push back.
This morning at 7am Freedom Marchers met at the garage where we were
expecting to board buses headed to El Arish. Instead we were met by a
large group of soldiers who turned every bus and taxi away. Until we
reached a large crowd, the authorities were forceful, pushing peaceful
demonstrators and trying to prevent the filming of the situation.
Some of the Freedom Marchers then went to the French Embassy to offer
to support to the 300 French delegates who had camped out at the
embassy overnight following a dramatic die-in on the road that stopped
traffic and lasted several hours. Ten Canadians entered the barricaded
area where spirits were high but were told that if we entered we would
not be permitted to leave. However, after approximately one hour the
Canadian delegates were allowed out. The French delegates were
awaiting an announcement from the Embassy which was to be delivered
sometime this morning.
Next, the decision was made to march to the UN World Trade Center Cairo
to request assistance from the UN to plead our case to Egyptian
Authorities. At noon, approximately 900 delegates gathered in song,
dance and silent vigil. Holocaust survivor, 85 year old Hettie Epstein
announced that she would begin a hunger strike as she sat among school
supplies designated for children in Gaza. Five Canadians have agreed
to join her and other internationals will undoubtedly come forward.
The UN Square was quickly surrounded by police, and later by physical
barricades as we continued to sing and dance to songs of peace.
As security around us tightened, an American woman at the front of the
barricade was assaulted by a police officer. She was punched in the
face. This young woman was able to leave the barricaded area and
indicated that she will go to the US embassy to ask for assistance. In
addition, we received news that at the French Embassy a Canadian
Citizen with dual UK citizenship had been detained by riot police and
was being threatened with either detention for a minimum of five days
or deportation immediately to the airport. Naomi Katharine Riches is
trying to organize support in order to reduce the risk of the use of
excessive force. The Canadian Embassy is now closed in Cairo. Local
and international press are being turned away and refused entry into
the barricaded area.
Several Delegates have entered into discussions with representatives
and will ask for UN assistance in negotiating with the Egyptian
Government to allow us to proceed to the Rafah Border. Failing that,
we will request that a smaller delegation of representatives from each
country be allowed to pass to deliver the humanitarian items that have
arrived from around the world. Finally, if the Egyptian Authorities
will not agree to this we are asking that the UN assist in facilitating
the transportation of the humanitarian aid without any delegates.
Delegates have determined that they will hold the space at the UN World
Trade Center for as long as possible, continuing to engage in
non-violent acts of peace.
- CherylSpeaksOut's blog
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