Following arrest warrant for Tipi Livni, British government 'urgently' looking at changing the law - CONTACT YOUR MP NOW!

Please act now! Contact your MP!

Following the news that Tipi Livni, who served as Foreign Minister in the Israeli government that planned and executed Israel’s brutal bombing and massacre in Gaza, faced arrest if she entered Britain, tell the government there must be no impunity for Israeli war criminals.

Please act URGENTLY – if possible e-mail your MP today, and come to the vigil on 27 December to show the government that we will not let them forget Gaza.

Ask your MP to do the following:

1. Sign Early Day Motion 502 tabled by Jeremy Corbyn MP defending the right to bring war criminals to justice: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40074&SESSION=903

2. Urgently contact the Foreign Office raising the following points:

· The government has a duty under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ‘seek out and prosecute’ alleged war criminals. Under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957, the UK has universal jurisdiction to arrest and try suspected perpetrators of “grave breaches” of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949 (IVCG). War criminals should be pursued – Britain must not become a ‘safe haven’.

· The judicial system is meant to be independent and the government’s role is not to intervene. If a judge believes there is sufficient evidence for an arrest warrant to be granted, it is irrelevant whether this embarrasses or causes problems for the British government.

· The Goldstone Report detailed war crimes and potential crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza. It was shameful that the government abstained on the vote for the Report at the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly.

· Instead of responding to pressure from the Israeli government to end the right to charge and prosecute war criminals, the government should immediately change its position – it should support international law and justice, and act itself to uphold the Fourth Geneva Convention.

· Britain cannot be a true and independent ‘partner’ for peace if its policies are one-sided, and it allows those responsible for war crimes against Palestinians to avoid justice.

· Tzipi Livni is just the latest in a list of Israelis who have come under scrutiny over allegations of war crimes. Our government should reflect on this, and change its foreign policy, including ending its arms trade with Israel.

**********************

Betty Hunter, PSC General Secretary, letter in the Guardian today

‘Tzipi Livni's refusal to enter Britain because she fears arrest on war crimes charges increases the number of Israeli ministers and ex-ministers who fear legal action, and is to be welcomed (British court issued Gaza arrest warrant, 15 December). Richard Goldstone's report for the UN detailed serious war crimes and potential crimes against humanity carried out by the Israeli government in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. It urged international governments to take action to bring those responsible to justice. It is now almost a year since the Israeli government started its brutal and bloody Operation Cast Lead, killing over 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza. The British government has already acted shamefully by not voting for the Goldstone report at the UN.

We are shocked at reports that the Foreign Office is seeking to avoid its responsibility to uphold international law and bring war criminals to justice. The statement that Israeli leaders must be able to come to Britain and that the Foreign Office is "looking urgently at the implications of this case" implies meddling with due judicial process. The government should rectify this immediately, reaffirm the principles of international law and justice, and take action itself to ensure those responsible for war crimes are brought to justice. And if the government does not act, we are ready and willing to take action.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/16/gaza-israel-livni-legal-action

*************

Geoffrey Bindman: Livni has no immunity

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/sir-geoffrey-bindman-livni-has-no-right-to-claim-immunity-from-prosecution-1841992.html

Livni defends Israel's war on Gaza, saying she "would make the same decisions all over again". http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/12/2009121591430318635.html

Foreign Secretary David Miliband says Israel is a "close friend" and wanted to "avoid this sort of situation arising again", and Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis MP said: ‘This can never happen again’: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8415161.stm

‘Most ministers would face arrest in UK’ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260894118141&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

AND KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! We need to tell the government we haven’t forgotten Israel’s crimes in Gaza and it must lift the siege now!!

Sunday 27 December 3-5pm outside the Israeli Embassy in London

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index9b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=62&Content_ID=976

=====================================

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) aims to raise public awareness about the occupation of Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people. PSC seek to bring pressure on both the British and Israeli government to bring their policies in line with international law. PSC is an independent, non-governmental and non-party political organisation with members from communities across the UK. Join PSC today!

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX

Tel: 020 7700 6192
Fax: 020 7609 7779

Email: info@palestinecampaign.org

Web: www.palestinecampaign.org

Rafah's Apartheid Wall via Arabawy

Al-Masry Al-Youm English Edition reporter Andrew Bossone has a great story from Rafah, as well as pictures (courtesy of the smugglers) of the new underground wall erected by the Egyptian regime and US military to tighten the siege on Gaza…

Thanks Hoss.

Another busy day in the oval office

Kurdish legislators set for boycott

From Al-Jazeera,

Kurdish legislators have said they will boycott the Turkish parliament after the main Kurdish party, the Democratic Society Party (DTP), was banned by the country's constitutional court.

Ahmet Turk, the DTP chairman, has said party legislators have already "pulled out from parliament" and would boycott all further work.

Huseyin Bagci, a political analyst in the Turkish capital, Ankara, told Al Jazeera the Kurds were likely to form another party "very soon" and the DTP's closure would lead to increased tensions in Turkey.

"I think the fight of PKK is not anymore on the mountains but it will be in the cities , the big cities, in particular in Istanbul, probably Izmir, in Ankara, in Mersin."

To Shoot An Elephant- Palestine Gaza Strip Dec 08 Jan 09

A documentary by Alberto Arce.

"...afterwards, of course, there were endless discussions about the shooting of the elephant. The owner was furious, but he was only an Indian and could do nothing. Besides, legally I had done the right thing, for a mad elephant has to be killed, like a mad dog, if it's owner fails to control it".

George Orwell defined a way of witnessing Asia that still remains valid. "To shoot an elephant" is an eye witness account from The Gaza Strip. December 27th, 2008, Operation Cast Lead. 21 days shooting elephants. Urgent, insomniac, dirty, shuddering images from the only foreigners who decided and managed to stay embedded inside Gaza strip ambulances, with Palestinian civilians.

George Orwell: “Shooting an elephant” was originally published in New Writing in 1948.

Gaza Strip has been under siege since June 2007, when Israel declared it an "enemy entity". A group of international activists organized a siege-breaking movement, the Free Gaza movement. Thanks to their efforts, and despite the Israeli ban on foreign correspondents and humanitarian aid workers to cover and witness operation "Cast Lead" on the ground, a group of international volunteers: self organised members of the International Solidarity Movement were present in Gaza when the bombing started on December, 27th 2009. Together with two international correspondents from Al Jazeera International (Ayman Mohyeldin and Sherine Tadros), they were the only foreigners who managed to write, film and report for several radio stations what was happening inside the besieged Palestinian strip.

Were they journalists? Were they activists? Who cares!. They became witnesses. Being a journalist or being whatsoever depends on how you feel. It is an ethical responsibility that you manage to share with a wider audience what you and those who are around you are going through. It will be the result of your work that will lead you to a professional career as a journalist or not, rather than pre-assumptions and labels. Make them know. Make those who you want to: listen and be aware of what you are aware of. That is a journalist. Having a card, with "press" written on it, or getting a regular salary is not necessary to be a witness with a camera or a pen. Forget about neutrality. Forget about objectivity. We are not Palestinians. We are not Israelis. We are not impartial. We only try to be honest and report what we see and what we know. I am a journalist. If somebody listens, I am a journalist. In Gaza´s case, no "official journalists" were authorized to enter Gaza (apart from those who were already inside) so we became witnesses. With a whole set of responsibilities as regarding to it.

I have always understood journalism as "a hand turning the lights on inside the dark room". A journalist is a curious person, an unpleasant interrogator, a rebel camera and a pen making those in power feel uncomfortable. And that is the concept of my work in Gaza: To fulfil a duty in the most narrated conflict on earth, where the story of the siege and the collective punishment that is being imposed by Israel on the whole population of the territory in retaliation for rockets sent by Hamas will never be told with enough accuracy. For this it has to be lived. I sneaked inside Gaza despite Israeli attempts not to allow us to enter and I was "politely" asked to leave by those in power in Gaza. That is my idea of journalism. Every government on earth should feel nervous about somebody going around with a camera or a pen ready to publish what he or she manages to understand. For the sake of information, one of the biggest pillars of democracy.

This is an embedded film. We decided to be "embedded within the ambulances" opening an imaginary dialogue with those journalists who embed themselves within armies. Everyone is free to choose the side where they want to report from. But decisions are often not unbiased. We decided that civilians working for the rescue of the injured would give us a far more honest perspective of the situation than those whose job is to shoot, to injure and to kill. We prefer medics rather than soldiers. We prefer the bravery of those unarmed rescuers than those with -also interesting, but morally rejectable experiences who enlist to kill. It is a matter of focus. I am not interested in the fears, traumas and contradictions of those who have a choice: the choice of staying home and saying no to war.

Directors: Alberto Arce/ Mohammad Rujailah

Script: Alberto Arce/ Miquel Marti Freixas

Editing: Alberto Arce/ Miquel marti Freixas

Sound: Francesc Gosalves

Posproduction: Jorge Fernández Mayoral

Co-production/distribution: Eguzki Bideoak.

Translation: Mohammad Rujailah/ Alberto Arce

Design Team: Mr. Brown and Mabrilan

Duration:112´

This film would have never been possible without the devotion and commitment of Muhammad Rujailah, "the fixer". A local Gazan who decided to spend those weeks with us. For most of the time he was my ears, my eyes, my mouth. Most foreign journalists, not speaking Arabic rely on a "hidden figure" that is normally erased from the resulting work. I want to acknowledge his collaboration. Expressing that foreigners need locals. And locals have to be credited for their work. Orientalism is always present in the foreigners approach to the Middle East, that´s where local perspectives are needed to overcome stereotypes and build an honest narration of the complex reality we are facing.

This film would have never been possible without the trust, warmth and collaboration of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and Health Worker Committee ambulance crews. Rescuers like Marwan, Hassan, Jamal and many others were there, answering phone calls and driving crazy day and night races between bombs and snipers knowing they were targets for the Israelis. Many of their friends, like Arafa Abdel Daim, were killed. They were shot at. Their cars were destroyed. But they never gave up. They are brave. Brave without weapons. One of our main focuses of "to shoot an elephant" is to uphold International Humanitarian law by showing how the medical teams and hospitals were directly targeted while performing their duties.

In Gaza, we were a team. Together with the locals, Vittorio Arrigoni, Eva Bartlett, Ewa Jasiewicz, Leila, George, Natalie, Jenny and Fidaa united to form a group. Now I will show some of their intentions and work during those days. It could not have been possible without them. Also without the strength I got from the telephone calls from a number of activists all around the world who just phoned to say that they were there, that we were not alone. They have to be thanked properly. Even if they don´t know and I am unable to say thank you personally, they pushed me ethically not to give up. Haidar Eid and his fellow colleagues from the University teachers association of Gaza Strip with their intellectual support in understanding what was going on and what should be done after the massacre we witnessed, to effectively join efforts for justice. Nabil, from the Palestinian Medical Relief Society was the person who showed us all around Jabalya refugee camp in order for us to understand the magnitude and perversity implied in maintaining the collective punishment that Gaza´s inhabitants are suffering.

Some officials in the Spanish government helped me to get out with all the raw material. It was their duty, but they did it with the best professionalism. Others would not have engaged. Mahmud was our crazy driver. With his taxi and his willingness to risk, we managed to reach houses directly targeted with white phosphorous shells or managed to film the fire at the United Nations central warehouse for food when it vanished and was burnt with phosphorous. And fighter Ahmed who paid a price because of helping me. Miquel trusted me and believed in this project right from the start when we talked for the first time. Eguzki Bideoak supported me and all the participants and those involved in the organising of the "Encuentros de Fotoperiodismo Ciudad de Gijón" who helped me to regain the enthusiasm I had somehow lost.

Sarah and my family. Always Sarah and my family. I entered Gaza with a commitment to making a film because somebody had faith in me. CI Comunicación have to be acknowledged for that. Too bad our paths took us to different destinations.

I have always understood journalism as "a hand turning the lights on inside the dark room". A journalist is a curious person, an unpleasant interrogator, a rebel camera and a pen making those in power feel uncomfortable. And that is the concept of my work in Gaza: To fulfil a duty in the most narrated conflict on earth, where the story of the siege and the collective punishment that is being imposed by Israel on the whole population of the territory in retaliation for rockets sent by Hamas will never be told with enough accuracy. For this it has to be lived. I sneaked inside Gaza despite Israeli attempts not to allow us to enter and I was "politely" asked to leave by those in power in Gaza. That is my idea of journalism. Every government on earth should feel nervous about somebody going around with a camera or a pen ready to publish what he or she manages to understand. For the sake of information, one of the biggest pillars of democracy.

This film would have never been possible without the devotion and commitment of Muhammad Rujailah, "the fixer". A local Gazan who decided to spend those weeks with us. For most of the time he was my ears, my eyes, my mouth. Most foreign journalists, not speaking Arabic rely on a "hidden figure" that is normally erased from the resulting work. I want to acknowledge his collaboration. Expressing that foreigners need locals. And locals have to be credited for their work. Orientalism is always present in the foreigners approach to the Middle East, that´s where local perspectives are needed to overcome stereotypes and build an honest narration of the complex reality we are facing.

This film would have never been possible without the trust, warmth and collaboration of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and Health Worker Committee ambulance crews. Rescuers like Marwan, Hassan, Jamal and many others were there, answering phone calls and driving crazy day and night races between bombs and snipers knowing they were targets for the Israelis. Many of their friends, like Arafa Abdel Daim, were killed. They were shot at. Their cars were destroyed. But they never gave up. They are brave. Brave without weapons. One of our main focuses of "to shoot an elephant" is to uphold International Humanitarian law by showing how the medical teams and hospitals were directly targeted while performing their duties.

In Gaza, we were a team. Together with the locals, Vittorio Arrigoni, Eva Bartlett, Ewa Jasiewicz, Leila, George, Natalie, Jenny and Fidaa united to form a group. Now I will show some of their intentions and work during those days. It could not have been possible without them. Also without the strength I got from the telephone calls from a number of activists all around the world who just phoned to say that they were there, that we were not alone. They have to be thanked properly. Even if they don´t know and I am unable to say thank you personally, they pushed me ethically not to give up. Haidar Eid and his fellow colleagues from the University teachers association of Gaza Strip with their intellectual support in understanding what was going on and what should be done after the massacre we witnessed, to effectively join efforts for justice. Nabil, from the Palestinian Medical Relief Society was the person who showed us all around Jabalya refugee camp in order for us to understand the magnitude and perversity implied in maintaining the collective punishment that Gaza´s inhabitants are suffering.

Some officials in the Spanish government helped me to get out with all the raw material. It was their duty, but they did it with the best professionalism. Others would not have engaged. Mahmud was our crazy driver. With his taxi and his willingness to risk, we managed to reach houses directly targeted with white phosphorous shells or managed to film the fire at the United Nations central warehouse for food when it vanished and was burnt with phosphorous. And fighter Ahmed who paid a price because of helping me. Miquel trusted me and believed in this project right from the start when we talked for the first time. Eguzki Bideoak supported me and all the participants and those involved in the organising of the "Encuentros de Fotoperiodismo Ciudad de Gijón" who helped me to regain the enthusiasm I had somehow lost.

Sarah and my family. Always Sarah and my family. I entered Gaza with a commitment to making a film because somebody had faith in me. CI Comunicación have to be acknowledged for that. Too bad our paths took us to different destinations.

More here.

Remember Gaza: End the Siege, Sunday 27 December 2009, 3pm

Please help publicise this vigil as widely as possible. New leaflets are being printed – please contact the office for copies. Please forward the e-flyer below to everyone in your address book that would be interested.

On 27 December 2008, Israel launched ‘Operation Cast Lead’: raining bombs, white phosphorus and other horrific weapons upon the population of Gaza. The Israeli army killed over 1400 Palestinians and injured over 5000.

One year on… Join the vigil outside the Israeli Embassy Remember Gaza: end the siege Sunday 27 December 2009, 3pm High Street Kensington, W8, London (Nearest tube: High St Kensington)

Called by: Palestine Solidarity Campaign, British Muslim Initiative, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War Coalition Supported by: Amos Trust, Communication Workers Union, Fire Brigades Union, Friends of Al Aqsa, Friends of Lebanon, Greater London UNISON, The Green Party, ICAHD UK, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK, Jewish Socialists’ Group, Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, Palestinian Return Centre, The Peace Cycle, Public and Commercial Services Union, Thompsons Solicitors For more information: info@palestinecampaign.org • 02077006192 • www.palestinecampaign.org

Designed by Mulberry Design

Carta de Cayo Lara a Zapatero sobre Aminatu Haidar

Sr. Presidente:

Requiero su atención para expresarle mi completa perplejidad e indignación, como ciudadano y miembro de una organización comprometida con los mejores valores de la Carta Magna -cuyo 31 aniversario se conmemora hoy- y con la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, por la dramática situación de Aminetu Haidar. Esta firme mujer lleva 21 días en huelga de hambre en el aeropuerto de Lanzarote con una única reivindicación: ser devuelta en avión a El Aaiún por la misma regla de tres con que fue obligada a venir, tras ser expulsada ilegalmente por el Gobierno de Marruecos y que ha derivado en un supuesto ’secuestro’ autorizado por la Administración española que encabeza su Gobierno. Y hablo de supuesto ’secuestro’ porque ¿cómo se calificaría que a un ciudadano español, sin orden judicial alguna, le fuera arrebatado su pasaporte, fuera subido por la fuerza a un avión en Barajas, para ser conducido, pongamos como ejemplo, a Marruecos y, ante la resistencia del comandante responsable del vuelo a llevarle sin la documentación pertinente, recibiera éste orden de las autoridades marroquíes de trasladarle de todos modos?

Aquí, Sr. Presidente, se han violado la legalidad internacional, la legalidad marroquí y la también la española, incluidas la Constitución española y la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, y a ellas apelo para que se restituya el derecho conculcado.

Como digo, le manifiesto mi perplejidad porque es incomprensible que su Gobierno se prestara a colaborar con la ilegalidad de Marruecos cometiendo otra ilegalidad. ¿Por qué razón su Gobierno no mantuvo con firmeza el cumplimiento de la ley que sí exigía el comandante del vuelo cuando éste se negaba a trasladar desde El Aaiún a Lanzarote de forma forzosa y sin papeles a la señora Aminetu Haidar?

¿Es que tan cogidos nos tiene el Gobierno marroquí por razones comerciales, de inmigración o de un supuesto control del terrorismo? ¿O es que alguien no cayó entonces en la cuenta de que Aminetu posee una determinación de acero, por las que desde hace años es un símbolo internacional de la lucha por los derechos civiles de su pueblo, como lo prueban las distintas distinciones que le han concedido, la última en EE.UU? ¿O fue que alguien simplemente no valoró que una persona con tanta dignidad no se quedaría resignada ante tan clara violación de sus derechos?

Su Gobierno, Sr. Presidente, sabe perfectamente que Aminetu lleva 42 años siendo saharaui y décadas defendiendo que se cumplan las resoluciones de la ONU de celebrar un referéndum en los territorios ocupados ilegalmente por Marruecos tras el vergonzoso acuerdo tripartito de 1975.

Si el pueblo saharaui, tras la invasión, hubiera querido disolverse como pueblo en Europa, ya lo habrían hecho. Pero resisten en la Hamada de Tinduf, en el desierto Argelino, y en el Sahara Occidental ocupado porque quieren recuperar su derecho a decidir su destino como pueblo saharaui. Si en 34 años no han conseguido arrebatarles su dignidad, no lo van a conseguir en unas cuantas semanas.

Por eso, Sr. Presidente, Aminetu no quiere el derecho de asilo, porque no es una refugiada, ni tampoco quiere la nacionalidad española, porque ella es saharaui, ni quiere la vivienda que le ofertan, porque ella tiene su casa en El Aaiún, que es dónde quiere estar con sus hijos para seguir luchando por su pueblo.

Ella sólo quiere que le sean restituidos sus derechos conculcados por el Gobierno de Marruecos, junto a una complicidad incomprensible con el Gobierno que Vd. preside.

Como le resumía al comienzo, también le dirijo esta carta desde la indignación. Es intolerable que su Gobierno enviara un emisario a Lanzarote a acusar directamente a los miembros de la Plataforma de Apoyo a Aminetu, así como a las personas y organizaciones que solidaria y generosamente le están acompañando en este calvario, de ser los responsables de un no deseado trágico final, por aconsejarla negativamente. Eso fue una acción incalificable Sr. Presidente, tras la que se pretende encubrir la responsabilidad de la incompetencia de su Gobierno en este asunto.

Nadie quiere que Aminetu se muera, y mucho menos la gente de su entorno que la quieren y la respetan tanto como a sus propias vidas. He podido constatar personalmente que Aminetu actúa con una independencia absoluta, entre otras ocasiones cuando me dijo que estaba dispuesta a llegar hasta el final porque quiere que sus hijos vivan con toda la dignidad. Su determinación me congeló la sangre y en la dedicatoria en la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos que le entregué, le pedí que no llegara hasta el final, que su vida vale mucho más que tanta insensibilidad escondida tras las supuestas razones de Estado.

En caso de que se produjera una muerte que nadie quiere, el Gobierno de Marruecos sería sin duda responsable de este atropello, y el suyo, Sr. Presidente, sería cómplice necesario.

Por ello, Sr. Presidente, aprovechando la pronta Presidencia española de la Unión Europea, le pido encarecidamente que haga ver a las autoridades de Marruecos que o bien están con la legalidad o desde la UE se debería trabajar para congelar el acuerdo de Asociación con este país e impedir que se le conceda el estatus del Estatuto Avanzado con la UE.

Decida Vd., Sr. Presidente. La legalidad y los derechos humanos no deberían ser pisoteados por un negocio manchado por 34 años de abandono de la que fue nuestra 53 provincia. Actúe de inmediato porque Aminetu no debe morir, pero si muere, se golpearán sin retorno, en esta España y en el mundo, muchas conciencias de personas que quieren y admiran al pueblo saharaui y la dignidad que representa esta mujer, la señora Aminetu Haidar.

Atentamente.
Cayo Lara Moya. Coordinador Federal de IU.

Defend Lance Corporal Joe Glenton Bring the troops home now from Afghanistan

Protest

1.30pm, this Saturday 12 December

Kingsland Shopping Centre

Dalston E8

(opposite Dalston Kingsland Station, Kingsland High Street)

100 British soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of the year. We must continue to campaign to bring the troops home to stop any more soldiers dying in a pointless war. 71% of the UK public agree with that.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton was imprisoned for speaking out against this war. His mother has criticised the hypocrisy in the silencing of her son:

"You've got government ministers, army commanders and MPs speaking every day in support of the war. What's so scary about a lance corporal having his say? My son is only speaking out for what he thinks is right." - Sue Glenton

Joe has just been released on very strict bail conditions, pending his trial. We shall be sending Christmas card messages of support from the protest.

Please come along, sign a card and collect signatures to bring the troops home.

--
Hackney Stop The War

Sivan Perwer

Luces

Viva the Greek resistance!

From Teacher Dude...

There's nothing like blind terror for letting you know you're alive.Every sensory input suddenly lights up your neurons like a city block decked out for Christmas. You suddenly become aware of absolutely everything around you, decision that you usually kick around your head for minutes are taken in units of times in 100ths of seconds. What you don't notice is pain. More here.

Photos from the protests here by m.o.o.f.

Some kind of place

Nargile

Mardin

Trying to find my own words to describe Mardin and its people is proving very difficult. Whilst I struggle, I will use someone else's words trying to capture the essence of such a rare and precious place. Its effect on me is like nothing I've felt before.

TO MARDIN IN LONGING...

We have arrived Mardin on a hot day. We stood in front of the city. I looked amazedly at the stone houses lining in front of the castle. I was in front of a city completely different from all I have seen before. I fell into a strange feeling. I sat on the stone wall near the road, I took out my tripod, placed my camera and started to look at the city through the view finder. The sun almost set. The faces of the stone houses looking towards the west were painted gold. It was as if my eyes very painting on the canvas.

There was a soft breeze. The leaves of the almond tree in front of me rustled. Pigeons flew towards the city. Pigeons met the kites, they wandered on the sky turning dark blue. The panaromic view in front of me started talking. I started noting down the words of the city. What I have felt were the first words of the city, I had to live, to talk with her. What I saw was the personality of the city. I gazed vacantly as if looking at an invaluable painting of the painter. I remained in front of the city till the lights were put on. When they were on, the castle also put on her necklace. It was like a diamond necklace on the neck of a beauty with fair skin. We were face to face. Just in front of each other. The city was looking at me like a pair of eyes looking at her lover. I could feel she had a lot to tell. I was wrapped by a magic I couldn't understand but could feel in my heart. A magic which was impossible to erease. I had to go into the streets of the city and listen to what was said. The city was going to talk. I loved her, she loved me too.

I felt the love. The magic wasn't ereased, the love either... I went on visiting Mardin for five years. Sometimes in spring, sometimes in autumn, and sometimes in the heat of the summer... I added my essays to my photographs. This book was completed like that. Then, longing mixed to the love in my heart.Now, when somebody mentions Mardin, I say "I miss so much". When you know what has passed between us, you will also understand why you can't abandon this city...

SABIHA

I pulled a string from Mardin

I am in trouble and pained of love

Le ..le.. my my darling Sabiha

As water of Babıssour (Savur gate)

My eyes drop tears

Le ..le.. my my darling Sabiha

There is a shoulder belt on her neck

She carries jug on her shoulder

Le ..le.. my my darling Sabiha

There is a shoulder belt on her neck

She carries jug on her shoulder

Le ..le.. my my darling Sabiha

I sacrificed two animals

At the stake of Sultan Şeyhmus

The Catholic Church finances the guerrilla hutu in Rwanda

From Público:

Varios religiosos católicos con base en Europa y en África están dando "apoyo material y financiero" al Frente Democrático para la Liberación de Ruanda (FDLR), el grupo armado ruandés acusado de graves abusos de los derechos humanos en Congo.



"...and make sure, my son, you don't rape with a condom on."

Relatos del Viejo Antonio

III

En el Comité estuvimos discutiendo toda la tarde. Buscamos la palabra en la lengua para decir “Rendir” y no la encontramos. No tiene traducción al tzotzil ni en tzeltal, nadie recuerda que esa palabra exista en tojolobal o en chol. Llevan horas buscando equivalentes. Afuera llueve y una nube compañera viene a recostarse con nosotros. El Viejo Antonio espera a que todos vayan quedando callados y sólo quede el múltiple tambor de la lluvia sobre el techo de lámina. En silencio se me acerca el Viejo Antonio, tosiendo la tuberculosis, y me dice al oído: “Esa palabra no existe en lengua verdadera, por eso los nuestros nunca se rinden y mejor se mueren, porque nuestros muertos mandan que las palabras que no andan no se vivan”. Después se va hacia el fogón para espantar el miedo y el frío. Se lo cuento a Ana María, ella me mira con ternura y me recuerda que el Viejo Antonio ya está muerto…

La incertidumbre de las últimas horas de diciembre pasado se repite. Hace frío, los guardias se relevan con una contraseña que es un murmullo. Lluvia y lodo apagan todo, los humanos murmuran y el agua grita. Alguien pide un cigarro y el fósforo encendido ilumina la cara de la combatiente que está en la posta… un instante solamente… pero se alcanza a ver que sonríe… Llega alguien, con la gorra y el fusil chorreando agua. “Hay café”, informa. El Comité, como es costumbre en estas tierras, hace una votación para ver si toman café o siguen buscando el equivalente de “Rendirse” en la lengua verdadera. Por unanimidad gana el café. Nadie se rinde…

¿Nos quedaremos solos?

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.

25 November 2009: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Desde España:



Amnistía Internacional:



From Cairo:

The UN estimates that about 1 in 3 women in the world has faced physical or sexual abuse at some point in her life. A woman between the ages 15 and 44 is more likely to suffer from domestic violence or rape than from cancer, malaria, motor accidents, and war.

and in Turkey.

La izquierda española se organiza

A ver si es verdad.

Izquierda Unida abre el melón de su refundación. Y ese melón, en principio, está completamente abierto. En ese llamamiento a "todos los sectores de la izquierda alternativa" no hay apenas límites, no hay apenas fronteras. Todo podría cambiarse. Hasta, llegado el caso, la marca electoral: que IU, en un futuro, deje de llamarse IU. Son esas las premisas con las que la federación quiere reconstruirse y reconstruir a su vez a la izquierda que está a la izquierda del PSOE.

Implementing the Goldstone Report & Why Boycott Israel?

The Palestinian people are experiencing their 42nd year of military occupation. The siege by the Israeli army and the economic blockade have devastated their daily lives so that 'normal' life is impossible.

Israel operates an entrenched system of racial Apartheid against its own non-Jewish inhabitants and has been illegally occupying Palestinian land in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights since 1967. It has sought to further annex these lands and has systematically transferred its own civilian population into these occupied territories in contravention of international law. Israel continues to build the illegal Apartheid wall, annexing vast swathes of Palestinian land in the West Bank and creating Palestinian ghettos, despite the ruling of the International Court of Justice that it is illegal.

180 Palestinian organisations and unions, in response to Israeli onslaught, have called for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Apartheid Israel.

Implementing the Goldstone Report

Bring war criminals to justice - End the siege on Gaza

Tuesday 24 November, 7pm in Committee Room 14, House of Commons, Parliament, London.

The meeting will mark the UN’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, and focus on the need for the UN and the British government to act on the Goldstone Report and war crimes, and end Israel’s siege on Gaza.

This meeting is hosted by Jeremy Corbyn MP.

Speakers include:

Prof Manuel Hassassian

Jeremy Corbyn MP

Baroness Lindsay Northover

Martin Linton MP

Bob Marshall-Andrews MP QC

Baroness Jenny Tonge

Daniel Machover

Free entry, no need for registration. Make sure to allow for plenty of time for security at St Stephens entrance.

Leaked documents reveal No 10 cover-up over Iraq invasion

From The Guardian:

Documents leaked in 2005 show that, almost a year before the invasion, Blair was privately preparing to commit Britain to war and topple Saddam Hussein, despite warnings from his closest advisers that it was unjustified. They also show how Blair was planning to justify regime change as an objective, despite warnings from Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general, that the "desire for regime change was not a legal base for military action.

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