Solidarity Caravan from India to Palestine Left New Delhi on 2 December;
Reaching Gaza on 27 December 2010
Dear Comrade,
Israel’s occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories has lasted for decades
in violation of international law, international humanitarian law and numerous
United Nations resolutions. The occupation of Palestine must end! Gaza has been
turned into a vast prison with the Palestinian population there under
continuous, murderous assaults and a permanent state of siege. The Palestinian
people must have the freedom to exercise their right to self-determination
including their right to establish, on all the territories that Israel has
occupied, an independent state of their own in any manner they see fit. The
structure of apartheid that Israel has established must be dismantled and it
must grant equal rights to all its citizens including the right of return to
the Palestinians refugees. The Palestinians have the right to resist the
occupation through all legitimate means.
The terrible massacre aboard the Mavi Marmara on 31 May 2010 has brought a sea
change in international opinion against the inhumane siege on the people of
Gaza. Citizens around the world have responded to the plight of the Palestinian
people and are taking action to help break the blockade which is suffocating
the lives of the people of Gaza and denying them their very right to exist. Far
from deterring people from seeking to bring that siege to an end, the Israeli
assault on the Freedom Flotilla is spurring on even more people to bring
humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to end the
blockade.
NTUI has in the past supported actions in solidarity for the people of
Palestine, and in 2009 supported the International Call for Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions against Israel. In consonance with our existing position on
India’s foreign policy and our statement on the events in Mumbai on 26 November
2008, we have been demanding that the Government of India brings to end all
economic and military relations with Israel and pursues an independent foreign
policy. In February 2010, NTUI also signed the Cairo Declaration.
It is against this background, that NTUI has been a part of the campaign,
‘India Lifeline to Gaza’. This process was initiated by Indian people’s
movements, social movements, trade unions, civil society organisations and
multi-faith and ecumenical organisations. India Lifeline to Gaza is a
constituent of the ‘Asian People’s Solidarity for Palestine’. This struggle is
broad-based, varied and multi-dimensional. It is humanitarian and for peace,
freedom and human dignity. It is against occupation, imperialism, apartheid,
Zionism and all forms of discrimination including religious discrimination.
Asia Lifeline to Gaza decided to organise an Asian land convoy to Gaza, which
would travel through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and
ultimately through the Rafah Crossing into Gaza, and carry with it humanitarian
aid for the peoples of Palestine. This is the first Asian caravan to Gaza which
will carry humanitarian aid and perhaps the first pan-Asian solidarity for the
struggles of the peoples of Palestine. The Asian Caravan will be joined by
delegations in each of the countries through which it passes. The Caravan also
has delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Jordan and Lebanon.
On 2 December 2010, a group of 58 Indian civil resisters from across India
departed from Raj Ghat, the memorial for Mahatama Gandhi, towards Gaza. This
group of 58 civil resisters includes ten comrades from NTUI.
The Caravan travelled through the Indian state of Haryana and Punjab and was
meant to cross the in to Pakistan at the border at Wagah on 4 December. The
caravan was held back at the border for a day because despite valid visas to
enter Pakistan, the Indian External Affairs Ministry held their ‘permission’
back. The Government finally acceded following protests on both sides of the
border and a spate of media coverage.
In turn the Government of Pakistan issued visas only to 26 out of 54 Indian
delegates. The caravan was also only issued visas to travel to Lahore. They
were denied permission to take the original land route through Karachi and
Quetta and the border crossing into Iran at Zahedan. As a consequence, the
caravan travelled back to Delhi from Lahore and then travelled by air to
Zahedan. In Lahore, the Indian delegation was given a very warm reception by a
wide spectrum of activists, civil society organizations, students and
journalists.
(http://ntui.org.in/media/item/india-lifeline-to-gaza-hands-over-palestinian-flag-to-pakistan-and-moves-to/)
The caravan resumed its land route at Zahedanon 8 December. In Iran, the
Caravan has travelled through the cities of Zayadan,
(http://ntui.org.in/media/item/thousands-welcome-india-lifeline-to-gaza-in-iran/)
Kerman, Ishfahan, Qom, Tehran
(http://ntui.org.in/media/item/palestine-not-a-conflict-between-arabs-and-jews-or-muslims-and-jews-says-ir/)
and Tabriz. On 17 December, the Caravan crossed into Turkey. Today we crossed
into Syria. It will take a ship from the Syrian port of Latakia and from there
on to the Egyptian port of Al Arish. From Al Arish it will go by land in
vehicles to Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
We at the NTUI believe that it was critical that the Caravan takes the land
route to Gaza so as to provide the opportunity to build a sense of solidarity
amongst Asian peoples and in particular in our very own region and in West Asia
which is where imperialism is fighting its most belligerent and sustained wars.
Even though we were not able to cross Pakistan entirely through the land route,
it was an important achievement to have crossed the border and travel even a
partial route. It is also a first, in recent times that Indian and Pakistani
working class organisations have come together in action.
All be it, a small step, we believe this is a step in the right direction that
will provide the basis for us to add strength and depth to the struggle of the
Asian working class in resisting imperialist globalisation.
We hope that we will reach Gaza on 27 December 2010, and hope to join comrades
in Gaza in marking the Second Anniversary of the attack on Gaza.
We are writing to you to ask for solidarity messages, which the delegates on
the Caravan would carry to Gaza. Please send your messages to us at:
internatio...@ntui.org.in
We hope to hear from you.
Comradely yours,
Gautam Mody
Secretary
--
New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
B-137, First Floor, Dayanand Colony,
Lajpat Nagar IV,
New Delhi 110024
Telephone: +91 11 26 21 45 38
Telefax: +91 11 26 48 69 31
Email: internatio...@ntui.org.in
Website: http://ntui.org.in
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