PGPF’s HUMANITARIAN AID CARGO ARRIVED SAFELY IN GAZA.

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		PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2011 (Friday)
PGPF’s HUMANITARIAN AID CARGO ARRIVED SAFELY IN GAZA.
Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) is relieved and happy to announce that
the humanitarian aid cargo arrived safely in Gaza on Tuesday July 12, 2011. The
cargo of UPVC sewage pipes and joints weighing approximately 32 tonnes was
unloaded from the Spirit of Rachel Corrie (the MV Finch) ship to 9 trucks (7 trucks
carrying sewage pipes and 2 trucks carrying joint components) on Wednesday July
6, 2011. The convoy of trucks left El Arish Port on Monday July 10, 2011 and was
escorted by 2 Egyptian Army Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to El Ouja at the
Israeli border. The cargo was then transferred to other trailers sponsored by the
Palestinians Authority and accompanied by the Palestinian Red Crescent, it has
arrived safely in Gaza via Karem Shalom.
The Spirit of Rachel Corrie cargo ship left the Port of Piraeus, Greece on May 11
carrying UPVC (plastic) sewage pipes and joints to help restore the 7.5 kilometres
sewerage system devastated during ‘Operation Cast Lead’ bombings by the
Israelis on Gaza (27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009). On board the ship were
anti-war activists and journalists, consisting of 7 Malaysians, 2 Irish, 2 Indians and
1 Canadian.
On 16 May, the cargo ship was anchored off El Arish Port where it remained for 7
weeks waiting for permission to dock. The vessel was finally allowed to berth at
the El-Arish Port on Tuesday July 5, 2011 for the unloading of the UPVC pipes to
Gaza. The impasse ended after Perdana Global Peace Foundation President, Tun
Dr Mahathir Mohamad met the Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr. Essam Sharaf on June
29 in Cairo.
PGPF records with sincere gratitude the initiative taken by Dr Essam Sharaf , the
Prime Minister of Egypt in enabling the cargo of sewage pipes to be delivered
directly to the people of Gaza.
PGPF is especially thankful to the Egyptian authorities, the Palestinian Authority
and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for making this
humanitarian aid mission possible.
PGPF would like to convey our deepest appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Malaysia and especially the Malaysian Embassies in Egypt and Jordan for
their assistance and cooperation throughout the ordeal. Our special thanks to all
involved especially the foreign activists, crew and passengers of the Spirit of
Rachel Corrie Mission. This humanitarian initiative is sponsored by the Perdana
Global Peace Foundation (PGPF). This mission fulfils the wishes of Malaysian
donors and NGOs who had generously contributed towards this humanitarian aid
mission.

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MV Finch in berth and cargo discharged

Press Release by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Published: July 6, 2011

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 6, 2011 (Wednesday)

I am very glad to receive news today that after seven weeks, our ship, the Spirit of Rachel Corrie (MV Finch) have been allowed to berth at the El Arish port in Egypt.

Following that, I was informed by members of our Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) who are in El Arish to oversee the operation, that we have unloaded the PVC pipes, weighing some 32 tonnes onto seven trucks and would be sent to Gaza immediately.

I wish to express my gratitude to the Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Essam Sharaf whom I met during my trip to Cairo last week for helping to expedite the whole process.

It is my fervent hope that the new Egyptian Government will continue to support our cause in extending assistance to Palestinians especially in Gaza who have been placed under illegal siege by the Tel Aviv regime since 2007.

On our part, we will continue to be committed in opposing and challenging the siege that is nothing less than an act of genocide by the Israeli regime on the whole population of Palestinians in Gaza.

 

Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad

President

Perdana Global Peace Foundation

About PGPF

The Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF), formerly Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO),  is a first but resolute step in the arduous journey towards global peace, moves towards the single goal of putting an end to war. Its founder, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, envisages “a serious, active and sustained struggle against war and for peace”. Sharing and supporting this agenda are world-prominent professionals, intellectuals, authors, statesmen – all passionate advocates of international peace. Together, they have signed the Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Criminalise War.

“The Palestinian struggle is nothing more than a struggle for justice, to which they, as much as everyone else, have a right.” Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, President of PGPF.

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Speakers from the MV Saoirse, Public meeting

Dublin – Public Meeting: Achievements of the Flotilla Movement (ISTG)

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Time	07 July · 19:00 - 21:00
Location	The Connolly Room, Liberty Hall Eden Quay Dublin, Ireland
Created by:	Kevin Squires
For	Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC)
More info	Irish Ship To Gaza Public Meeting Achievements of the Flotilla Movement and building Solidarity With Palestine 7pm – Thursday 7th July 2011, The Connolly Room, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 Speakers from the Irish ship the MV Saoirse TREVOR HOGAN – Former Irish Rugby International MAGS O’BRIEN – SIPTU Trade Unionist FINTAN LANE – Irish Ship to Gaza Coordinator Cllr. HUGH LEWIS – United Left Alliance Chair: RAYMOND DEANE – Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign Come along to hear from participants from the sabotaged Irish ship to Gaza, and to discuss the way forward for building solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for human, democratic and national rights. Despite being thusfar unable to sail to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla movement has succeeded in mobilising genuinely popular international support to challenge the conspiracy of silence on the occupation of Palestine and blockade of Gaza by Israel, which is overtly and tacitly enforced by some of the most powerful governments in the world. In Ireland, we have succeeded in transforming the terms of public debate about the occupation of Palestine, so that whereas before the flotilla’s departure many people either weren’t aware of the issue or accepted uncritically the official narrative of events propounded by the government of Israel’s propaganda machine, now increasing number of people are aware of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, its roots in the Israeli occupation of Palestine and maritime blockade, and the mendacious and violent lengths to which the Israeli government and its complicit allies will go to stamp out peaceful opposition to it.

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Ship to Gaza Greece Athens, 1st July 2011

Do the Israeli territorial waters reach up to the port of Piraeus /Keratsini?

Info & news - Coalition Members Announcements

Saturday, 02 July 2011 18:55

Press Release Ship to Gaza Greece Athens, 1st July 2011. Do the Israeli territorial waters reach up to the port of Piraeus /Keratsini? An unprecedented statement of the Greek Ministry of Protection of Citizen prohibited today the departure of all boats that are found in Greek harbours and which participate in the international mission of solidarity for Gaza. The minister, Mr Papoutsis, with no viable technical, procedural or legal reason, prohibited the departure of boats whether flying Greek or foreign flags, who were intending to sail to Gaza. The Israeli’s multileveled effort of cancellation of this international mission, that has been undertaken for many months, found a fervent supporter in the Greek government. After the sabotage of 2 boats in the preceding days, that did not suffice to cancel the mission, the subservient and willing Greek government undertook and executes the dirty work that would otherwise have been carried out by the Israeli naval forces in the waters of the sea. Aligned completely with the Israeli orders, they did not hesitate to send ships with Greek commandos in a Greek harbour and, with the threat of arms forced a passenger boat of the mission that had only just left the Perama/ Piraeus port, to return to Piraeus/Keratsini port. When last year, the Greek Prime Minister declared impudently that “we have lost a part of our national sovereignty” we could not imagine that she meant that the Israeli territorial waters reach up to Keratsini. Those, who just the day before yesterday, willingly ceded the public fortune of the country to the usurers, today did not hesitate to sell out the traditionally friendly attitude of the Greek society in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. We, from our side, want to stress that our intention and our determination to reach the besieged Gaza is not weakened, on the contrary, it strengthens. The coordinated efforts of Israeli and Greek government do not scare us, on the contrary, these efforts confirm that they fear us. They fear the friendship of populations, the international solidarity, the humanitarian sensitivity, our refusal to accept the theft of basic rights of Palestinians and our common fight for dignity and justice.

Last Updated on Saturday, 02 July 2011 19:19

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‘The Greek government has bowed to pressure’ – Features – Al Jazeera English

‘The Greek government has bowed to pressure’ – Features – Al Jazeera English.

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Greece Now Complicit in Illegal Israeli Siege

2 Jul 2011 Greece Now Complicit in Illegal Israeli   VIA irish ship to Gaza

Siege Posted by smac

The US boat, The “Audacity of Hope” set sail yesterday for Gaza. Within minutes it was surrounded by heavily armed Greek commandos, who eventually boarded the ship forcing it to immediately turn back to port.

At the same time the Canadian boat the “Tahrir” was being boarded and their paperwork confiscated. Additionally all other boats had armed Greek police and Coast Guard personnel guarding the ships to keep them from leaving port.

The Greek Announcement on the Flotilla can be read below. It is now clear that the siege on Gaza extends to Greece and its islands.

Armed Greek Commandos board American ship Prohibition of the departure of ships with Greek and foreign flags from Greek ports to the maritime area of Gaza today Pursuant to a decision by the Minister of Citizen Protection Mr. C. Papoutsis, the departure of ships with Greek and foreign flags from Greek ports to the maritime area of Gaza has been prohibited today.

By orders of the Hellenic Coast Guard Head Quarters to all local Hellenic Coast Guard Authorities, all appropriate measures are taken for the implementation of the said decision

. As it is known, the Hellenic Coast Guard local Authorities have already been instructed to submit to ships Masters of ships of any flag the relevant notice to mariners that designates the area of maritime blockade by Israel. More specifically, for ships flying the Greek flag, relevant entries shall be made in the ships logbook together with the reception of the above mentioned notice to mariners as well as with the communication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 22 June 2011.

Furthermore, the broader maritime area of eastern Mediterranean will be continuously monitored by electronic means for tracking, where applicable, the movements of the ships allegedly participating in such campaign.

Finally, police controls of passengers and crews are conducted while there is cooperation with local police and customs Authorities for rigorous controls on issues of their competence.

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