tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86951197005185094012024-02-07T05:08:16.377-08:00Resistance is not TerrorismNZ workers solidarity with the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine)Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-68287271593125132872011-05-06T01:55:00.000-07:002011-05-06T01:58:02.350-07:00Occupation Courts Extend Sa'adat Isolation After 775 Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjnmLzwBWGAKuLKE-ofg3mvG5ioSWQYxpLKKH3DIFO8AGRbKmKkRApphpoywN_0_f9SAzvbxrAbVD5RjUiGOh0n-4SDt_2ilcssQamNPf8Mspps9Z97p8nrfG7IFYZE-FrJShbWZJU4Uc/s1600/free-saadat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjnmLzwBWGAKuLKE-ofg3mvG5ioSWQYxpLKKH3DIFO8AGRbKmKkRApphpoywN_0_f9SAzvbxrAbVD5RjUiGOh0n-4SDt_2ilcssQamNPf8Mspps9Z97p8nrfG7IFYZE-FrJShbWZJU4Uc/s200/free-saadat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603524748278373554" /></a><br />http://www.freeahmadsaadat.org/isolationmay4.html<br /><br /><br />The Israeli occupation courts have, once again, extended the isolation of Ahmad Sa'adat. On May 3, 2011, at a hearing in Beersheba prison, the court issued an extended isolation order until November 3, 2011. Ahmad Sa'adat, General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian national leader, has been held in isolation since March 19, 2009 - for over two full years, over 775 days. <br /><br />It is well-established that solitary confinement and isolation are dangerous and detrimental to the physical and mental health of prisoners. It is a technique frequently used against political prisoners, from the U.S.'s Guantanamo Bay and Communications Management Units, to Ben Ali's isolation cells in Tunisia, to the prisons of the occupation. Israel is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, whose articles 10 states that "All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person." On the contrary, isolation cells deprive prisoners of human contact, recreation, and mental stimulation. Sa'adat is regularly denied family visits, newspapers, books, and information in Arabic. While Israel's utter contempt for international law is visible in every aspect of its behaviour, from its war crimes against Palestinians, to its denial of the Palestinian right to return, to its apartheid regime targeting Palestinian citizens, the situation of Palestinian prisoners is a glaring example of Israel's flouting of international law and human rights standards. <br /><br />The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) - the expert body associated with the Council of Europe - has noted, "It is generally acknowledged that all forms of solitary confinement without appropriate mental and physical stimulation are likely, in the long-term, to have damaging effects resulting in deterioration of mental faculties and social abilities." Those prisoners targeted for isolation, including Ahmad Sa'adat, are long-time Palestinian leaders. Sa'adat has always been a leader among his fellow prisoners and a voice of conscience of the Palestinian people - and it is for that reason that he is being targeted under cover of secret evidence for isolation and deprivation. <br /><br />Sa'adat refused to attend the hearing, as an illegal manifestation of an illegitimate occupation and abduction, and due to its reliance on secret evidence, saying that he refused to legitimize what was clearly a mockery of justice. <br /><br />This extension of isolation comes as Palestinian prisoners have launched hunger strikes in protest against the use of isolation. The strikes began on May 3 at Ramon, Ashkelon and Nafha prisons and will also take place on May 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, and 28. Palestinian prisoners - inside the jails of the occupation - are taking action against isolation and demanding freedom. It is imperative that we echo their voices and demand an end to isolation and freedom for Palestinian prisoners. <br /><br />The Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat also notes that Dr. Ahmad Qatamesh, long-time Palestinian activist and writer, has been subject to the imposition of arbitrary administrative detention and demands his freedom. As Addameer reveals, his administrative detention order - extended minutes before he was to be released from was merely copied from another Palestinian prisoner - bearing witness once again to the fact that administrative detention is nothing more than an arbitrary kidnapping and imprisonment of Palestinians, without charge or trial, for six months at a time. Administrative detention, based on nothing more than secret evidence, has been used to target and silence Palestinian activists when even the flimsy standards of Israeli military courts cannot be used to imprison Palestinian writers, activists and community organizers. The Campaign demands the freedom of Ahmad Qatamesh and an end to the horror that is administrative detention, a mechanism of terror against the Palestinian population. <br /><br />From administrative detention, to military trials, to the isolation cells, Israel shows utter contempt for the human rights and dignity of Palestinian prisoners. In response, it is urgent that supporters of Palestine and justice around the world raise their voices to demand an end to isolation, an end to arbitrary detention - and the freedom of Ahmad Sa'adat and every one of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners of freedom, in an occupation's jails for daring to struggle for the freedom of their land and people. <br /><br />We urge activists to include statements and messages of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in their events, and as the anniversary of Al-Nakba comes near, to mark the Nakba on May 15 by demanding the right to return and the liberation of Palestine -including the freedom of Palestinian political prisoners. Palestinian prisoners are hunger striking and raising their voices behind bars - we must join their voices and demand their freedom!Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-77343377314428382472011-02-26T00:46:00.000-08:002011-02-26T00:49:25.287-08:00Workers Party statement on Canterbury earthquake disaster Wednesday February 23, 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4YTYcFJ6aQRPTb58hH0i8Tn9mD0l4a16vPMcLLniC_VlGrZq2El1YQWSSOBbt1PYi7f889fyxAw1MK4KHTCtl_KmR4gB0FvDWm9g-3hni3Z3by44hn8qP8cPmaV0OlhWMcvAkTcdN06o/s1600/christchurch-earthquake-feb-2011-nz.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4YTYcFJ6aQRPTb58hH0i8Tn9mD0l4a16vPMcLLniC_VlGrZq2El1YQWSSOBbt1PYi7f889fyxAw1MK4KHTCtl_KmR4gB0FvDWm9g-3hni3Z3by44hn8qP8cPmaV0OlhWMcvAkTcdN06o/s200/christchurch-earthquake-feb-2011-nz.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577917576483469762" /></a><br />To local and international friends, supporters, and readers,<br /><br />Yesterday, February 22, an immense earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand’s third largest city. Currently there are 55 confirmed dead, 20 unidentified bodies, and an estimated 300 missing. The quake occurred at 12.50pm and was followed shortly after by a major aftershock.<br /><br />This is the second major earthquake to strike Christchurch in 5 months. This more recent quake – 6.3 – in magnitude was far more destructive than the last, as it occurred only 10 Km south of<br />Christchurch at the shallow depth of 5 Km. It happened during the lunch hour of a working week day which has compounded human suffering and trauma.<br /><br />As well as injury and loss of life there has been major damage to buildings, houses, and infrastructure. Soil liquefaction has damaged roads and transport. Originally there was an estimated 80% loss of power, as of mid-day today the estimate is now 50%. Currently three quarters of the city has no water. Phone lines and signal towers have also been wrecked or severely damaged. The Canterbury television building completely collapsed and has been one of the focal points for rescue efforts. There is concern that the Hotel Grand Chancellor- the tallest building in Christchurch – may still collapse from extreme buckling. The township of Lyttleton was at the epicenter of the earthquake and was extensively damaged.<br /><br />To support local services, search and rescue, medical, and other teams have been deployed and continue to be deployed from other New Zealand cities and a range of countries including Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and the UK. A specialist urban search and rescue team from Australia was the first group of international helpers to arrive. This has highlighted the great possibilities of international solidarity.<br /><br />Thousands of ordinary people have volunteered to help, including through the Red Cross and also grassroots groups such as the post-earthquake University of Canterbury Student Volunteer Army. Such voluntary activity reveals the potential for people to act in a strong spirit of social solidarity.<br /><br />The government has declared a state of emergency and this afternoon held its third emergency cabinet meeting. The Christchurch City Council has advised people to help in their local communities and suburbs but to not travel. Five main welfare centers have been established in/around Christchurch.<br /><br />Earthquakes are unavoidable and the government will of course do its best within the constraints of the capitalist system to coordinate the best possible response, especially in the search and rescue phase. However, because of the social inequalities inherent within capitalism, it will become particularly important for progressive organisations raise our voices high in regard to the welfare of ordinary people and those with the least resources when the city enters its recovery and rebuilding phase.<br /><br />Amongst those who have suffered from the earthquake are Workers Party members and their families in Christchurch. Thankfully they are all uninjured.<br /><br />At this early stage the Workers Party has no formal relationship to any particular relief provider. Currently we encourage all members, supporters, and readers to contribute financially and materially, particularly through workplace collections.<br /><br />- Representative committee of Workers PartyWorkers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-45482355158788763262011-02-08T01:44:00.000-08:002011-02-08T01:47:20.604-08:00Solidarity with the Egyptian IntifadaMembers of the Workers Party (NZ) and the PFLP Solidarity Campaign took part in a march in solidarity with the Egyptian Intifada in Christchurch New Zealand.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/646JrH-j06k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-1365988580955476912011-02-02T23:12:00.000-08:002011-02-02T23:15:47.507-08:00The Popular Front salutes the Egyptian people's intifada for dignity, freedom and social justice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODOYWtf2BOCWlvOp9HtO-Z_I6XrQVeQzae0kXW1rSNFOtpHBo5MsRpsYGVi2TDnWLE-ISZgiSfO5RoNv9VuGr5SIQtpuCoADWVFo1SwRK0X39VrtBirTR7SDvOFJsDay6Z8a1ByDR_1BJ/s1600/free-saadat.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODOYWtf2BOCWlvOp9HtO-Z_I6XrQVeQzae0kXW1rSNFOtpHBo5MsRpsYGVi2TDnWLE-ISZgiSfO5RoNv9VuGr5SIQtpuCoADWVFo1SwRK0X39VrtBirTR7SDvOFJsDay6Z8a1ByDR_1BJ/s200/free-saadat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569358566560310834" border="0" /></a><br /><h2> The Popular Front salutes the Egyptian people's intifada for dignity, freedom and social justice</h2><br /><br /> <div class="content"> The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine pays tribute to the people of Egypt and their Intifada for dignity, freedom and social justice, and greets the masses of our Arab nation as they move, across the Arab homeland, for freedom, rights, liberation, democracy, social justice and unity. At this pinnacle moment for the Arab people, we totally and unwaveringly stand by the choice of the Egyptian nation for democracy and progress.<br /><br />The PFLP salutes these glorious history-making days which are being made by the Arab people, and stands fully and completely with the people's democratic movement and the progressive forces seeking their national rights, democracy, and social justice. We stand beside our fellow Arab sisters and brothers to build modern movements and institutions that reflect the true will and interests of the Arab people and serve the people's objectives and ambitions, not the ambitions of imperialism, Zionism, or their obedient allies. We pay tribute to the Egyptian people who have rebelled for the sake of their dignity, freedom, and social justice; to the masses of the Arab nations who strive for the freedom of their homeland and the right to be human<br /><br />Furthermore, the PFLP said that these events in Egypt and Tunisia, and the inspiring mobilization of vast sectors of the people in a popular movement for liberation must serve as a warning to all other Arab regimes that if our people do not receive dignity, freedom, and national sovereignty, they will take their rights and leave any regimes behind who fail to recognize that the day of dictatorship and collaboration with Zionism is over.<br /><br />The Popular Front said further that the struggle of the Palestinian people and its national liberation movement is an integral part of the struggle of the peoples of the Arab nation. Every step forward of this great emancipation movement of the Arab people is affects the Palestinian cause and empowers our struggle for liberation. Emancipation affects not only the people who are freed, but change itself. Now is the time to strengthen our national and democratic struggle for liberation, and to come together to stand alongside, arm in arm, with the Egyptian people, their great Intifada, and their determination to achieve their goals, and the freedom of Egypt not only from dictatorship, but from U.S. imperialism and Zionism, who are frantically attempting to halt the triumph of the Egyptian people and circumvent their noble goals.<br /><br />The PFLP is firmly convinced that the Egyptian people's struggle is not only justi, it is powerful, and it will bring defeat to this regime and send a harbinger of defeat to all Arab regimes which prey on our people while obeying U.S. and Zionist dictates. Israel and the U.S. are openly displaying their weakness and fear in the face of the popular movement of the Egyptian people, whose rise has always been a symbol of the rise of the Arab nation, and freedom from subservience, colonialism and fear. The Egyptian people are on a great and historic march toward victory for Egypt, for the Arab nation, and for Palestine. Glory to the Egyptian Intifada! </div>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-63970430402647525862011-01-18T00:50:00.000-08:002011-01-18T00:54:42.067-08:00Leila Khaled on Suicide Bombing as a tactic of the Resistance<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bEDF5X9jQTw?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bEDF5X9jQTw?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> 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unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With the rise of Political Islam the tactic of suicide bombing became widely employed, especially during the second intifada. What is the PFLP leadership’s position on suicide bombing as a tactic of the resistance movement?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We don’t see that it’s a way of facing occupation. We don’t see it as a strategic action or a strategic policy. But the question that should be asked before this question is, why do those Islamic factions use such a tactic? Those who went to different places to explode themselves, Israel minimises the distance between life and death to the extent that they didn’t see a difference between death and life, although we are the ones to defend the lives of people and not have the idea or the education of death. The Islamic groups use this to face the Israelis among the civilians which Israel used to get “Those Palestinians are terrorists!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Why, we asked the question, who planted terror in our country? Isn’t it occupation? It is.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But at the same time we have advised our brothers in Hamas and Al Jihad that using this, it’s a controversial thing so they have stopped it afterwards. Because when we say that Israel target civilians in the West Bank and the Gaza strip whether by assassinating or by bombarding, like what happened in Jenin in 2002 and in Gaza last year, we have to (inaudible) we must protect lives of civilians and the Israelis who are not. That’s why you haven’t seen any of these actions. But when I said that we want to ask the question, why those people who are young who also dream of a good future and a bright future go and explode themselves? Because they didn’t find any other means. And the ideology that they are going to paradise is also one of the factors that provoked them to do it but now it has stopped and I think they realised that such action is not for the interests of the struggle.</span></p>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-69398293984768914842011-01-05T00:40:00.000-08:002011-01-05T00:44:35.382-08:00Founding Document of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBgteAODVfyinq1-Dg_TJ5fI0ehLmGmL1vSJSy4fXFhkCq0MlV1jCTx51I7Lmx9AiSdOQa6GipJMMaQZTo44TSY46nl_g_ko717k93lHs9DxVJkJqsSf-JpWocoE3no2WTva0zAOgP31w/s1600/strategy-libpal+copy.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBgteAODVfyinq1-Dg_TJ5fI0ehLmGmL1vSJSy4fXFhkCq0MlV1jCTx51I7Lmx9AiSdOQa6GipJMMaQZTo44TSY46nl_g_ko717k93lHs9DxVJkJqsSf-JpWocoE3no2WTva0zAOgP31w/s320/strategy-libpal+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558619889029588258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Founding document of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - December 1967</span><br /><br />People of the Arab nation....<br />People of Palestine...<br /><br />Fifty years ago, the masses of our people faced a continuing series of assaults by Zionism and colonialism upon the people of this nation, and our right right to liberty and life. Fifty years later and the global forces of Zionism and imperialism continue concocting plots, attacks and wars in order to establish the idea of an entity - the State of Israel. On each day of this historic era, the masses of people are struggling against each of these schemes. We have seen throughout the years in the life of our Palestinian people, a continuation of this struggle through upheavals and uprisings, crystallizing in the last period in commando work practiced by the vanguards of the people on the ground with full refusal of submission, surrender and compromise, and other serious forms and methods of political action. This advance has also represented the determination of the masses of the Palestinian people to take the initiative to pave a road to full emancipation, which is simultaneously the responsibility of the entire Arab masses.<br /><br />Our struggling people..<br /><br />The military defeat suffered by the Arab armies served as the beginning of a new phase of work in which the revolutionary masses must take their responsible leadership role in confronting the forces and weapons of imperialism and Zionism, which history has proved is the most effective weapon to crush all forms of colonial aggression and to give the initiative to the popular masses to formulate the future according to their will and interests. The only weapon left to the masses in order to restore history and progress and truly defeat enemies and potential enemies in the long run is revolutionary violence in confronting Zionist violence and reaction. There is no other option in front of the masses of the Arab nation - they face a fierce enemy who wants them to surrender unconditionally. The hopes and anticipation of the Arab masses have reached a qualitatively new level from before the fifth of June; they are aware of the nature of the stage and the objective conditions have matured to the extent that allows us to raise the slogan of the popular armed struggle and put it into practice until victory in a long and protracted battle, a victory that must be achieved through the will and aspirations of the masses.<br /><br />The entire masses of our Palestinian people live today for the first time since the catastrophe of 1948 on a completely occupied Palestinian territory, confronting a rapacious enemy face to face, and we now must take up this challenge to its conclusion or we must accept or surrender to the ambitions of the enemy and the daily humiliation of our people and absorbed fortunes of our lives. The displacement and dispersion of the last twenty years have created a circumstance in which we must confront the Zionist invaders; the fate of our people and our cause and every human being in Palestine relies upon our Palestinian determination to fight the invaders in order to preserve our dignity, and our lands and our rights.<br /><br />Palestinian people displaced in the camps of displacement and isolation ...<br />Tillers of our inflamed land...<br />Oh poor, steadfast in our cities and villages, in the camps of misery...<br /><br />Through your valor and resistance in confronting the enemy, one slogan is paramount and repeated daily - only armed resistance, and there is no life for us on our occupied land except the life of popular armed struggle in the service of our objectives and the daily battle. The armed resistance is the only effective method that must be used by the popular masses in dealing with the Zionist enemy and all of its interests and its presence, the masses are the authority, the guide, and the resistance leadership from which victory will be achieved in the end. It is necessary to recruit the popular masses and mobilize them as active participants and leaders, something that can only be achieved through systematic organization addressing the armed struggle of the forces of the masses, creating a heightened awareness of the full dimensions of the battle and the stages, and continuous recruitment of manpower for the armed organization, building he revolutionary leadership in order to become more able to exercise resistance and continue despite all the difficulties and obstacles. Therefore, in order to unite the forces and energies of the Palestinian masses in the occupied land, we have held a full meeting between the following Palestinian organizations: The Heroes of the Return, the Palestinian Liberation Front squads (Organization of martyr Abdul Latif Shrour - Organization of the martyr Qassam - Organization of the martyr Abdul-Qader Al-Husseini), the National Front for the Liberation of Palestine (Youth Organization for Vengeance), and several other Palestinian groups on the homeland. These organizations have agreed among themselves to unite under the banner of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, achieving a fateful unity among these forces, realizing that the nature and dimensions of the battle and the hostile forces requires us to cluster all efforts and revolutionary ranks for our long and bitter struggle against our enemies.<br /><br />The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, iniiated and directed by a core group of revolutionaries, is at the same time open to all forces and Palestinian groups, to meet in a broad national revolutionary front in order to achieve a national unity established between all factions engaged in armed struggle. The unity of all the freedom fighters is real demand for our people, as the battle is long and cruel and rupture is intolerable in the ranks of the national movement, and therefore the Popular Front is dedicated entirely to this requirement, because it has formed on this basis. Today our masses are marching through the doors of armed struggle and we believe that the masses' leadership in the armed struggle, bearing its standard as the only guarantee for the steadfastness of this struggle and its escalation up to the level of the Palestinian revolution, with all of its dimensions and content.<br /><br />Our fighting people...<br /><br />The only language that the enemy understands is the language of revolutionary violence. The armed struggle is the main curriculum for our protracted conflict that we are waging against occupation and against attempts to liquidate our struggle through attempts at settlement, which have begun again in some areas of the Arab homeland and impose a totally unacceptable occupation upon some parts of our Arab land. We are fighting against the enemy in every land where the feet of his soldiers march. This is our historical approach - where we are going until we reach the stage where we open a wider front against the enemy and turn our land into a burning hell for the invaders. The crossfire of armed struggle is not known to have limits and the armed resistance should not be confined to the militants, but also embrace all parts and sectors of the Palestinian resistance against the enemy at every level, dealing with the enemy militarily, but also a total boycott of all economic, civil and political institutions of the enemy and a rejection of all ties.<br /><br />The slogan of our masses must be resistance until victory, rooted in the heart with our feet planted on the ground in deep commitment to our land. Today, the Popular Front is hailing our masses with this call. This is the appeal. We must repeat it every day, through every breakthrough bullet and the fall of each martyr, that the land of Palestine today belongs to all the masses. Every area of our land belongs to our masses who have defended it against the presence of the usurper, every piece of land, every rock and stone, our masses will not abandon one inch of them because they belong to the legions of the poor and hungry and displaced persons. In order to liberate this land, and for our steadfast people, our fighters today fall with their heads lifted. The masses - Oh sons of our heroic people - are the lifebreath of the fighters, and it is the involvement of the masses in the battle that ensures victory in the long run. The popular support for the militants at all levels in every land form the basis for genuine, firm, and escalating struggle and steadfastness, rising until we crush the enemy.<br /><br />In this war for our occupied land, and the fate of collaborators and traitors and enemies of the people will be the fate of the occupying enemy, crushed in full. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is determined to reject delay and hesitation in engaging in the struggle in our occupied land and declares its determination to reject humility and humiliation and settlements. We stand today before our masses, our people, promising to provide them with the truth, the whole truth in every respect, regarding our struggles, achievements and obstacles facing our armed action. The truth must be the property of the masses because there is no other force more committed to their own interests. The masses must be fully aware of the achievements and problems of the armed struggle without exaggeration or hype because they are the custodians of the objectives of this struggle and their aspirations, which will be given to this struggle, include every possession, up to their blood. The active members, the fighters on the Palestinian land today pursue a new path of political action and deal with the masses with full openness and truth.<br /><br />People of the Arab nation ...<br /><br />This battle is long and harsh, and the armed resistance today is the vanguard of fighting along the steadfast Arab front. Every Arab demands today to providefull support for the march of the armed combat corps at all levels. The Palestinian fighting masses on the occupied land are actors of the Arab revolutionary march against imperialism and its proxy forces. In our response to the Zionist alliance and colonialism, we must make the organic link between the struggle of the Palestinian people and the struggle of the masses of the Arab people, facing the same risks and the same schemes, and therefore the work of the Palestinian armed struggle determines the position of the Arabs who stand by the struggle, against those who stand against it. The struggle of the Palestinian people is linked with the struggle of the forces of revolution and progress in the world, the format of the coalition that we face requires a corresponding governing coalition including all the forces of anti-imperialism in every part of the world.<br /><br />Our struggling masses everywhere on Palestinian land...<br />Fellow workers and peasants ..<br />Oh poor people and refugees ..<br />Fellow students ..<br />Clerks and traders...<br /><br />This is the beginning of a movement of the people flying the flags of sacrifice, steadfastness and challenge. We are on the ground and we promise that armed struggle is not a rosy dream, but more fighting, led by the political mobilization of the masses to defend the defenseless against reprisal and persecution. We are marching each fighting step today, preparing to fight a long, harsh and bitter battle with your leadership and commitment as the true owners of the cause. That battle is not easy nor quick, but it is the battle of destiny and its presence requires our deep commitment, ability to continue, and steadfastness.<br /><br />Glory to the steadfast of our Arab nation<br />Glory to the struggle of our people<br />Long live the unity of our fighters on the land of Palestine<br /><br />We will surely win<br /><br />December 11, 1967Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-5459723679861973092010-12-29T14:33:00.000-08:002011-01-04T23:41:30.258-08:00Public Meeting - the Implications of the Terrorism Suppression Act<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXd1rTrlUx0vURCe3cwyig_O9mE6BM0o9tjoTTsfD8ooDVGaFygD5L1xHgztdMOlQQKc7pgl_87eNt0NNiS0BmwsqlqEPRAKZvvpFslqqSiyVUbLvjoHOy8aQSUQKQIOvQPLOwZNlTcBp/s1600/Implications+of+the+TSA+-+Public+Meeting.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXd1rTrlUx0vURCe3cwyig_O9mE6BM0o9tjoTTsfD8ooDVGaFygD5L1xHgztdMOlQQKc7pgl_87eNt0NNiS0BmwsqlqEPRAKZvvpFslqqSiyVUbLvjoHOy8aQSUQKQIOvQPLOwZNlTcBp/s320/Implications+of+the+TSA+-+Public+Meeting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558603705272014050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXK8l15IePQT93f_B6JbdfiBKUWlpJT_b_Hmo7-AwMO8D4vahSBQ-0N_PSAu0HWjkxwCwJavIel2d1wqpBQrgisU4wdaSnXn-1j9vHgrMx0CP-5V3rd1G6X6S-5o6Tg0iuQXrqHRqtWDe/s1600/Implications+of+the+TSA+-+Public+Meeting.jpg"><br /></a>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-8367341609114107292010-12-25T12:47:00.000-08:002010-12-25T12:48:29.021-08:00Palestinian Organisations added to the NZ 'Terrorist List'<h2><a href="http://workersparty.org.nz/2010/12/07/palestinian-organisations-added-to-the-new-zealand-terrorist-list/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Palestinian Organisations added to the New Zealand ‘Terrorist List’">Palestinian Organisations added to the New Zealand ‘Terrorist List’</a></h2> <p><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><em>The Spark</em></span></strong> December 2010 – January 2011</p> <p>Mike Walker</p> <p>On the 12th of October 2010 John Key designated “a further seven international terrorist groups under the Terrorism Suppression Act”. He claimed it helped “implement our international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373″. Under this pretence the addition of Palestinian organisations, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the military wing of Hamas (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades), to the New Zealand list of designated terrorists, is especially problematic. To highlight the hypocrisy and contradiction involved in these designations I will examine parts of the Terrorist Designations Working Groups (TDWG) paper; “Statement of case to designate the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) as a terrorist entity”.</p> <p><strong>Terrorist Acts </strong></p> <p>A terrorist act is defined in the ‘Terrorist Suppression Act (TSA)’, section five, as an act which is carried out “for the purpose of advancing an ideological, political, or religious cause” or to “induce terror in a civilian population.” With outcomes such as “the death of, or serious bodily injury to, one or more persons”, “a serious risk to the health or safety of a population” or the “destruction of, or serious damage to, property of great value or importance, or major economic loss, or major environmental damage”. The case to designate PIJ features two case studies, used to highlight terrorist acts and support the case for designation. <a href="http://workerspartynz.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pflp.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3814" title="pflp" src="http://workerspartynz.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pflp.jpg?w=386&h=305" alt="" width="386" height="305" /></a><span id="more-3813"></span></p> <p><strong>Gaza Rocket Resistance </strong></p> <p>The first case study concentrates on a “Rocket campaign into southern Israel”. The case study details that during the “Gaza conflict”, “…these rockets killed 3 Israeli civilians. Between the year 2001 and May 2009 the rockets killed a total of 16 Israeli civilians. Since 2007, when a majority of Palestinians voted for Hamas, Israel has maintained a complete siege of Gaza that the United Nations has called a “crisis of human dignity”. Article 33 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions states that “No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed.” The Goldstone report on operation ‘Cast Lead’ stated that Israel used the “application of disproportionate force and the causing of great damage and destruction to civilian property and infrastructure, and suffering to civilian populations.” It details deliberate Israeli attacks on hospitals, schools, ambulances, civilian infrastructure and the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields. It also confirms the deaths of over 1600 Palestinian civilians, one hundred times the number of Israelis killed in almost a decade of rocket attacks. Israel’s ‘Cast Lead’ operation and the siege of Gaza, by definition, would appear to contradict not only international law, but would fit the TSA’s definition of a terrorist act.</p> <p><strong>Resistance to illegal settlers</strong></p> <p>The second case study details the “shooting of security guards at Nitzanei Shalom Industrial Park”. The document details that the “the Park is situated on the Palestinian side of the West bank border”, making it an Israeli settlement in occupied Palestine. The settlements in the West Bank that these security guards are paid to protect are in direct violation of Article 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention which states that “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” The case study sees the Israeli settlers, and their protectors, as a benign actor in the conflict. This is far from the truth, since the settlers are both armed and violent. </p> <p>A recent report by Defence of Children International concludes that “Apart from the loss of land taken for the settlements and their related infrastructure, settler violence, such as beatings, shootings and destruction of property are a common occurrence in the lives of Palestinians, including children.” From March 2008 until July 2010 there were 38 documented incidents of Israeli settlers targeting Palestinian children resulting in 45 deaths. The acts “serve a political and strategic goal, and are carried out by ideological settlers”. Once again this would seem to fit the definition of a terrorist act. </p> <p>The case for designation against PIJ then adds that these types of attacks carried out by Palestinian armed groups have an objective of compelling “Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territories”. This is an overt political motive which supposedly supports the acts’ definition as a terrorist one. But what is missing is that the Palestinian objective is in line with International Law, whereas the Israeli objective is in direct contravention.</p> <p><strong>The Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) & Violent Self-Determination </strong></p> <p>The TSA provides for one caveat to the definition of a terrorist act, being that it “is not an act that occurs in a situation of armed conflict…in accordance with rules of international law applicable to the conflict.” The document seeks to answer the question “does the LOAC apply?” This relates firstly to a “key distinction between armed conflict and other internal disturbances”, related to the “level, kind and consistency of violence”. It then comes to the conclusion “that it is not clear…whether that conflict is an international or non-international one”. </p> <p>The case study attempts to brush aside over 60 years of armed resistance to the state of Israel, concluding that “outside of the combat period” (of ‘Cast Lead’) the resistance does “not meet the threshold to be considered an armed conflict”. In a report produced by the International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL), it refutes the test applied by the TSA in determination of Armed Conflict and the intensity of hostilities:</p> <blockquote><p>As to the condition that the liberation movement should attain a minimum of effectiveness as a belligerent, i.e. it should be a party to a real on-going armed conflict: it is the whole approach of the Conventions that international armed conflicts are defined not as a function of the degree of intensity of hostilities, but in terms of its parties and the type of relations existing among them. It does not appear as a requirement in either Article 1 or Article 96 nor for that matter common Article 2 of the Conventions. </p></blockquote> <p>It is also clear that this is an international conflict. The UN General Assembly passed Resolution 3103 (XXVIII) which states:</p> <blockquote><p>The armed conflicts involving the struggle of peoples against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes are to be regarded as international armed conflicts in the sense of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. </p></blockquote> <p>The United Nations has also on many occasions reaffirmed the right for people to struggle, with violence if necessary. General Assembly Resolution 2649 (XXV) affirmed the “legitimacy of the struggles of peoples under colonial and alien domination recognised as being entitled to the right to self-determination to restore to themselves that right by any means at their disposal.” Resolution 3070 (XXVIII) of 30th November 1973 reaffirmed the right to struggle for self-determination “by all means, including armed struggle,” while Resolution 2787 (XXVI) in 1971 sought to clarify further, with the General Assembly identifying and recognising the legal characteristics of armed conflicts as wars of national liberation, i.e. involving peoples against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes, explicitly including those in South Africa and involving ‘the Palestinian people’. </p> <p>The ‘Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning the Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States’ resolves what would appear to be a controversial issue posed by cases of violent self-determination. It clearly states “that the ‘forcible action’ or force which is prohibited by Article 2, paragraph 4 of the Charter is not that used by people struggling for self-determination but that which is resorted to by the colonial or alien governments to deny them self-determination.” This in itself would provide for an interesting caveat to all of the designations so far in this country, putting the focus on the violence and brutality of the oppressor with their modern armies and war machines, and not the guerrilla struggles of the oppressed. </p> <p>The “Geneva Declaration on Terrorism” further reiterates this concept stating that the “terrorism of modern states and their high-technology weapons is far worse than the political violence practiced by groups who want to end oppression and live in freedom.” It concludes that “it is a cruel extension of the scourge of terrorism to classify the struggle against terrorism as ‘terrorism’.”</p> <p><strong>International Law and the state of Israel</strong> </p> <p>Why would you try to manipulate clear distinctions regarding the nature of the conflict and attempt to label it non-international? The answer is simpler than it would seem. If this is defined as an International conflict the LOAC and thus the Geneva Conventions apply, which validates the Palestinian National Liberation Struggle and condemns the Israeli state to being the terrorist. </p> <p>It should be patently obvious that International Law is vigorously applied to one side and ignored for the other. So while useful for highlighting the contradictions and hypocrisy involved in terrorist legislation, it also needs to be put into its own context. Terrorist Legislation should be seen as a part of a system that is used to maintain the imperialist powers’ spheres of influence in the third world. The truth is that many of the liberation movements condemned as terrorists represent a direct threat to western control of third world resources and politics and thus the maintenance of capitalism worldwide.</p>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-8481313208196594472010-12-21T02:35:00.000-08:002010-12-21T02:46:50.013-08:00Workers Party (NZ) Solidarity with the PFLP on its 43rd Anniversary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnupucZuLayFbtyvDct-Mar12-sjSJbzJ6uw9DkyINcqMGTobaaoTqVEIMo8WKRbjyrU9kR2rnKtY8jR6ZqrGMekPgaPPz8BdV2N49mjb3PiUa820-bM5LlkrxmdE7UuCYwj8KOFHiCb0y/s1600/free-saadat.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnupucZuLayFbtyvDct-Mar12-sjSJbzJ6uw9DkyINcqMGTobaaoTqVEIMo8WKRbjyrU9kR2rnKtY8jR6ZqrGMekPgaPPz8BdV2N49mjb3PiUa820-bM5LlkrxmdE7UuCYwj8KOFHiCb0y/s320/free-saadat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553085048696447554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This statement was sent to the PFLP on the 43rd anniversary of its founding:<br /><br /><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" ><span style="border-collapse: collapse;font-family:arial,sans-serif;" ><div> <strong>"The Workers Party of New Zealand would like to send revolutionary greetings to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) on the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the front.<br /><br /></strong></div><div> <strong></strong> </div><div><strong>On this occasion we would like to acknowledge the leadership provided by the PFLP to the national movement, and their unwavering struggle for a free democratic secular socialist Palestine. We remember and recognise the leadership provided by George Habash and Abu Ali Mustafa, and continue to call for the release of the current General Secretary Ahmad Sa'adat, who was recently condemned to further isolation by a Zionist military court.<br /><br /></strong></div> <div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong>We beleive it is more important than ever to challenge 'Terrorism' laws that condemn National Liberation Movements such as the PFLP as terrorists. Terrorist Legislation can only be seen as a part of a system that is used to maintain the imperialist powers spheres of influence in the third world, including Palestine. And the truth is that many of the Liberation Movements condemned as terrorists represent a direct threat to western control of third world resources, economies and politics and thus the maintenance of capitalism worldwide.</strong></div> <div><br /><strong>To all comrades in the PFLP, it's supporters, workers and peasants fighting for a free Palestine, we take this opportunity to salute you."</strong></div></span></span>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-8642903828754917352010-12-13T01:41:00.000-08:002010-12-13T01:46:13.819-08:00Tens of thousands commemorate PFLP anniversary in Gaza City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YdJbDSWZ96VWObob2y-AZFhNVdb4HVazeJZjwlMYETX4RB1A4LIUSWDJ-7cTHsdTqp7i074MOH5cVsYFnJnYSfNJDZuNCXWjzyafJF-WaZ9cftUl-Tn1hafHoCtwZmJjBf4s_qKt29Vt/s1600/pflp_20101211011.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YdJbDSWZ96VWObob2y-AZFhNVdb4HVazeJZjwlMYETX4RB1A4LIUSWDJ-7cTHsdTqp7i074MOH5cVsYFnJnYSfNJDZuNCXWjzyafJF-WaZ9cftUl-Tn1hafHoCtwZmJjBf4s_qKt29Vt/s320/pflp_20101211011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550099957682021522" border="0" /></a>http://pflp.ps/english/?q=tens-thousands-commemorate-pflp-anniversary-gaza-c<br /><br />Tens of thousands of members and supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine gathered today, December 11, 2010, in Gaza City's Palestine Stadium, marking the forty-third anniversary of the PFLP's founding in a mass rally. Click here for PHOTOS of the event!<br /><br />Palestinians from all sectors - men and women, elderly and children, workers and farmers, attended the rally from all sectors of Gaza City, and traveling in groups from throughout the Gaza Strip, waving red flags that filled the stadium.<br /><br />Comrade Jamil Majdalawi, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP, delivered the main speech of the rally, emphasizing the need for Palestinian national unity to confront the occupier and build the resistance in the face of all repression. He emphasized that the Palestinian people have the right to all forms of resistance, including armed, popular and economic resistance, and that resistance is the only solution to the occupation.<br /><br />He denounced the accumulation of wealth, power and influence at the expense of the struggle of the Palestinian people, saying that it benefits the enemy only. He called upon Hamas and Fatah to move toward reconciliation and prioritize the national struggle of the Palestinian people.<br /><br />He denounced the path of "negotiations" and "peace talks" flowing from the Oslo accords and said that the masses of the Palestinian people must lead a collective reevaluation in order to learn the lessons of this period to continue the march of the Palestinian revolutionary struggle.<br /><br />He emphasized that for the PLO to fulfill its role as an umbrella uniting the people, it must be democratic and embrace all of the parts of the Palestinian national movement in a pluralistic manner, based on democratic elections and proportional representation.<br /><br />Comrade Majdalawi paid tribute to the Front's leadership and history, calling for the freedom of General Secretary Comrade Ahmad Sa'adat in the jails of the occupier, and the freedom of his comrades and all Palestinian prisoners, and saluting the legacy of past General Secretaries Abu Ali Mustafa and George Habash. He noted the strength and importance of the involvment of young people and women in all activities and at all levels of the Front and the Palestinian movement.<br /><br />Comrade Musab al-Bashir, a freed former prisoner, spoke about the struggle of prisoners, calling on all forces to prioritize the case of Palestinian prisoners, and pointing to the prisoners' movement as an example of ending the internal division. He discussed the ongoing crimes and abuses being committed against prisoners in the Zionist jails, and emphasized the commitment of the Front on the 43rd anniversary to its imprisoned comrades and all of the imprisoned sons and daughters of the Palestinian people.<br /><br />The festival included artistic performances, speeches and poetry and concluded with a new song performed by the Palestinian artist Ahmed Assaf entitled "The Backbone of the Front".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTh00QBWYI3lR7mBPv6wGTd7hewHpDobe-XXmYfChn9bjJdeAjTLhesvSZdedMCLIAIElakbsWGiiIT8KTKl1GS37ACjvWPfx7OCSIHWgKbGXS4OFaAYLJnBhSlGBtrCgBSakB2_g4jZA/s1600/43c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 196px;" 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRsXCzM6QKfeUb7qHoAKi8m-t29Lfe3tufe0Vh-5_glw8-0xRWhOhw0GSfAhr5Pe7U-w-wktnZop_kbOBwLTzafHhv6f6feg_WPucbVDFMw5VLrlz8uNLruMersKvRSaxdZRoFsuyu8SK/s1600/43g.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRsXCzM6QKfeUb7qHoAKi8m-t29Lfe3tufe0Vh-5_glw8-0xRWhOhw0GSfAhr5Pe7U-w-wktnZop_kbOBwLTzafHhv6f6feg_WPucbVDFMw5VLrlz8uNLruMersKvRSaxdZRoFsuyu8SK/s320/43g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550100385230081298" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJ5vJD2oPVUPX_xVriBm3Kd8Ixl6SfRaS_PkrdF-jehNQKGuGsbolU1IohsqLX6fHEwa5uuEStfjYuBPdjdmsaNwUcDOVVHHoV-JhyphenhyphenKoDUQUdgyJw_d0nFbGRg01x1PymdwSXaHC-xcU9/s1600/43k.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJ5vJD2oPVUPX_xVriBm3Kd8Ixl6SfRaS_PkrdF-jehNQKGuGsbolU1IohsqLX6fHEwa5uuEStfjYuBPdjdmsaNwUcDOVVHHoV-JhyphenhyphenKoDUQUdgyJw_d0nFbGRg01x1PymdwSXaHC-xcU9/s320/43k.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550100738302603826" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NAQ4yyCPvX2SzNkfR8z8pLh6rNbdWmeipivGcJKvUBSIRd0-ZeKFtsw3gwxhybDZSBopoBc0UP5z1_amdDLbI6BKo-9VxG7JXa7xU4oW06_Zyvb_vbKp0rchU2tDDOrEvHzEzMdovkDi/s1600/pflp_20101211010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NAQ4yyCPvX2SzNkfR8z8pLh6rNbdWmeipivGcJKvUBSIRd0-ZeKFtsw3gwxhybDZSBopoBc0UP5z1_amdDLbI6BKo-9VxG7JXa7xU4oW06_Zyvb_vbKp0rchU2tDDOrEvHzEzMdovkDi/s320/pflp_20101211010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550100628209058626" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSHQXAqGAL_nKZsIQMjOwFR6ye54pLg2BUvMX8FVUu-oEFjjqZ_HRZgEebKXvThHhkI3V0u14-Fzgr4Bfn1GMEqLlV5FLhVn-R0YQXvEe9-lsaLxBzRZQmoQVs0OgkKMaLitO8rflQoe6/s1600/43j.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSHQXAqGAL_nKZsIQMjOwFR6ye54pLg2BUvMX8FVUu-oEFjjqZ_HRZgEebKXvThHhkI3V0u14-Fzgr4Bfn1GMEqLlV5FLhVn-R0YQXvEe9-lsaLxBzRZQmoQVs0OgkKMaLitO8rflQoe6/s320/43j.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550100541279354978" border="0" /></a>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-10543886025887655972010-12-01T22:36:00.001-08:002010-12-01T22:37:09.544-08:00"Jenin" - David Rovics - PFLP Solidarity gig 2010<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NLEUoy7d8nA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NLEUoy7d8nA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-22727700537775637692010-11-25T02:47:00.001-08:002010-12-01T22:23:29.676-08:00Letter to Ahmad Sa'adat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQchyqzxc_lW32Ek9hzekP6p7Inf5dp97u5lwcLXUnL-RuqLGWkzQYPJ9xTJFLEWocmgx9RlHybmVcwebu20ElF4vsv0nTOKB0q89qL7DjT7tdeM6RjLlluBcg3ry4gsVeGXZfYHWgTftq/s1600/Saadat+500days.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQchyqzxc_lW32Ek9hzekP6p7Inf5dp97u5lwcLXUnL-RuqLGWkzQYPJ9xTJFLEWocmgx9RlHybmVcwebu20ElF4vsv0nTOKB0q89qL7DjT7tdeM6RjLlluBcg3ry4gsVeGXZfYHWgTftq/s320/Saadat+500days.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543438017028623826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Below is the text of a letter sent to Ahmad Sa'adat, imprisoned leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> 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10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Workers Party New Zealand</p> <p class="MsoNormal">PO Box 10, 282 Dominion Road</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Auckland</p> <p class="MsoNormal">New Zealand</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Date: 25/11/2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ahmad Sa’adat </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ramon Prison</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ramon Area, PO Box 699</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Postal Code 80600</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Israel</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Dear Comrade Sa’adat,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Workers Party of New Zealand condemns the continued isolation of Ahmad Sa’adat, general secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and his conviction by an Israeli military court on spurious terrorist charges.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Workers Party (NZ) sends it warmest greetings to Comrade Sa’adat and expresses its solidarity with him as he endures an extended term of isolation. We condemn the arrest and detainment of Palestinian National leaders and all Palestinian political prisoners and further, condemn the punitive punishment handed out to Comrade Sa’adat for his attempts to organise prisoners in Zionist jails. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We recognise that the on-going incarceration and isolation of Comrade Sa’adat is a part of the Zionist strategy to deny the Palestinian people their right to self-determination.<span style=""> </span>Comrade Sa’adat has been targeted because he leads a faction of the Palestinian resistance that refuses to negotiate away the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We acknowledge the courageous leadership provided by the PFLP for over 40 years in the struggle to liberate and establish a free democratic secular and socialist Palestine. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We call for the release of Ahmad Sa’adat, all Palestinian political prisoners, and the removal of the PFLP as a designated ‘terrorist organisation’ from terrorist lists around the world. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yours sincerely,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Paul Hopkinson – PFLP Solidarity Campaign co-ordinator</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mike Walker - PFLP Solidarity Campaign co-ordinator</p>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-45969954668290227372010-10-27T01:24:00.000-07:002010-10-27T01:37:38.808-07:00Occupation Courts Sentence Sa'adat to Six Months More of Isolation - Take Action!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium5lSkoBD31vLSTJm8lnEgG8sFO6ASxMZor97m9hT91UJDVmZldG8-e_Jq9-ex7GFpKCU3uAMZAbdEFXjD_F7r9-Knt_HCek7abYGfRuJkDy0CMihc_o7wAvN2QvzWgnDPxSZeA0e8nGT/s1600/IMG_2314.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ4dF5m7zZbLLu9w3MjJ0Ro9HRdgjJM20kBiXhw21T9Daq4UOuwZXej8SrbW2vrJfpar-5D2OtSMMBfL4JmiNlJvqTaP8cdysU1fqVl_MwQ64FywW9PN9LxDko7F6YdrYUL8ik5hpC8Qd/s1600/jihad-gefang.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ4dF5m7zZbLLu9w3MjJ0Ro9HRdgjJM20kBiXhw21T9Daq4UOuwZXej8SrbW2vrJfpar-5D2OtSMMBfL4JmiNlJvqTaP8cdysU1fqVl_MwQ64FywW9PN9LxDko7F6YdrYUL8ik5hpC8Qd/s320/jihad-gefang.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532640378784378690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Occupation Courts Sentence Sa'adat to Six Months More of Isolation -Take Action!</span><br /><br />*The Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat* www.freeahmadsaadat.org<br /><br /><br /><br />In yet another outrage and attack upon the humanity of Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinian people, Ahmad Sa'adat was sentenced to an additional six months in isolation inside Israeli prisons, an extension that will last until April 21, 2011.<br /><http: org="" html=""><br />As actions and events took place throughout Palestine and around the world - in the United States, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere - in support of Sa'adat's<br />struggle to end isolation and hundreds of letters and petitions were<br />delivered to prison officials from concerned human rights advocates<br />around the world, the Israeli authorities have sentenced this<br />Palestinian leader to another six months barred from human contact.<br /><br />Sa'adat has been held in isolation for over 500 days, since March 19,<br />2009. He has been confined without access even to the other prisoners<br />in the isolation unit and deprived of basic human rights. His personal<br />books have been confiscated and he is routinely denied access to media<br />and reading material in any language other than Hebrew. He has been<br />denied family visits, including from his wife Abla, and his lawyers<br />have several times been barred from visiting him. His recreation time<br />has been limited repeatedly.<br /><br />Isolation and prevention of human contact is widely understood by<br />human rights advocates to be ill-treatment that amounts to torture<br />and/or cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment, in violation of the<br />Geneva Conventions. Ongoing and repeated isolation that will now<br />stretch to over two years, justified by vague declarations of<br />"security" needs, indicate that the Israeli regime is dedicated to<br />attempting to isolate Sa'adat not only from his fellow prisoners, but<br />to isolate and silence his voice among the Palestinian people.<br /><br />Sa'adat's ongoing isolation only serves to make clear time and again<br />that the Israeli courts are merely an arm of the occupation, dedicated<br />at all levels to maintaining the oppression of the Palestinian people<br />and providing a "legal" pretext for ongoing brutality and human rights<br />abuses.<br /><br />Sa'adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation<br />of Palestine, has been held in Israeli jails since March 14, 2006,<br />when he was abducted from Jericho prison, where he had been held in a<br />Palestinian Authority prison under U.S. and British guard. While<br />imprisoned in the PA jail in Jericho, he was elected to the<br />Palestinian Legislative Council. He was sentenced to thirty years in<br />prison on December 25, 2008 by an Israeli military court for his<br />political activity, and has spent over 500 days in continually-renewed<br />isolation at the present time.<br /><br />The Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat salutes the human rights and<br />Palestine solidarity activists around the world who have rallied to<br />struggle for Sa'adat and the approximately 7,000 prisoners held in the<br />jails of the occupation. This work defeats the occupation's plans - it<br />refuses to allow the Palestinian prisoners, on a Palestinian, Arab or<br />international level, to be isolated. The voices of Ahmad Sa'adat and<br />the Palestinian prisoners will be heard, and no bars or isolation will<br />prevent that.<br /><br />The Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa'adat calls upon all to confront this<br />outrage - to continue to write, speak out, demonstrate, and demand<br />that Ahmad Sa'adat and all Palestinian prisoners achieve their<br />freedom. Isolation will not silence Ahmad Sa'adat, the Palestinian<br />prisoners or the cause of the Palestinian people!<br /><br /></http:><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium5lSkoBD31vLSTJm8lnEgG8sFO6ASxMZor97m9hT91UJDVmZldG8-e_Jq9-ex7GFpKCU3uAMZAbdEFXjD_F7r9-Knt_HCek7abYGfRuJkDy0CMihc_o7wAvN2QvzWgnDPxSZeA0e8nGT/s1600/IMG_2314.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium5lSkoBD31vLSTJm8lnEgG8sFO6ASxMZor97m9hT91UJDVmZldG8-e_Jq9-ex7GFpKCU3uAMZAbdEFXjD_F7r9-Knt_HCek7abYGfRuJkDy0CMihc_o7wAvN2QvzWgnDPxSZeA0e8nGT/s320/IMG_2314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532641447825125554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">PFLP Solidarity Campaign members in Lyttelton (NZ) during the international days of action in support of Ahmad Sa'adat<br /></span></span></div><http: org="" html=""><br /><br /><br /></http:>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-3691660013503212152010-10-23T15:22:00.000-07:002010-10-23T15:32:01.491-07:00PFLP Solidarity Gig<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJy5ex4zc4laDR5cdt6P5BN_FseIBnyvDWhtTjWeq4qVd0s0Yt4lamFbVCkXVuTVWndIG6uT9rJJCifXIdgToF2xS6-41-xk_IDEJvnd83HkY64EYeRn1sAig9mDteGd_-ku6Sh0KKojk/s1600/PFLP+Rovics+Gig.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJy5ex4zc4laDR5cdt6P5BN_FseIBnyvDWhtTjWeq4qVd0s0Yt4lamFbVCkXVuTVWndIG6uT9rJJCifXIdgToF2xS6-41-xk_IDEJvnd83HkY64EYeRn1sAig9mDteGd_-ku6Sh0KKojk/s320/PFLP+Rovics+Gig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531372208640020898" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">David Rovics and Don Franks perform at PFLP Solidarity gig</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine solidarity campaign held a benefit gig at Canterbury University on Friday August the 20<sup>th</sup>. The gig featured David Rovics from the United States and Don Franks from Wellington.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Don Franks, a Workers Party activist, opened the gig and performed songs about the class struggle in New Zealand. “One more Thursday in Black” tells the story of Louise Nicholls and every victim of Police rape, with the chorus “in closing the law showed who it works for”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Don finished a great set with a song written about the 2001 Police ‘Terror Raids’ in New Zealand. Detailing the polices brutal raid of the Ruatoki and the arrest of activists from around the country it was summed up with the line “Safer communities together, Yeah fuckin right!”.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">David Rovics then took to the stage, sporting a ‘Resistance is not Terrorism’ t-shirt, and performed a mix of poetry, storytelling and politically inspired music that kept the audience captivated throughout. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There was a campaign stall at the gig selling both ‘Resistance is not Terrorism’ and Leila Khaled t-shirts, Palestine pamphlets, PFLP Badges and the Spark (the monthly paper of the Workers Party (NZ)).</p><p class="MsoNormal">More video can be found <a href="http://wpnz-pflp-solidarity.blogspot.com/p/david-rovics-don-franks.html">here </a><br /></p><b>David Rovics - "All aboard the Mavi Marmara"</b><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1oMC5ER5PIw?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1oMC5ER5PIw?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-70810441084146306252010-10-16T12:25:00.000-07:002010-10-16T12:32:25.664-07:00Free Ahmad Sa'adat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hBgVWJvhwnjGuKMrfINlho1F25Te-JdeHc7wJNiZfbhFuYUJFxFyP0ikByBXZmhxbys3IXrWwt7PG9m1GYriSIXiim9YgCeuznKAAv0_5wtv6fCn1DxIH_dAii5Udaze5F1Jmw_vmn9y/s1600/oxy_news_please-sign-letter-to-the-un-free-ahmad-saadat-and-all1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hBgVWJvhwnjGuKMrfINlho1F25Te-JdeHc7wJNiZfbhFuYUJFxFyP0ikByBXZmhxbys3IXrWwt7PG9m1GYriSIXiim9YgCeuznKAAv0_5wtv6fCn1DxIH_dAii5Udaze5F1Jmw_vmn9y/s320/oxy_news_please-sign-letter-to-the-un-free-ahmad-saadat-and-all1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528729024137490178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />by Mike Walker<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"This is your court and you possess the force to celebrate the trial and convict me on the basis of your lists of accusations, the public one and the secret one, and you can dictate a sentence prepared by the political and security apparatuses that are behind this trial. But I too possess a will obtained from the justice of our cause and the determination of our people to reject any decision from this ‘kangaroo court'..." -Ahmad Sa'adat</span><br /><br />Currently there are over 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners being held in Israeli jails. This number is increasing daily as IDF Military Incursions and searches in the West Bank total over 500 separate incidents and 300 arrests each month, mainly targeting political ideology. This is not an unusual part of Palestinian political life and has been a crucial part of the Zionist strategy to eliminate political opposition to the state of Israel. An example of this can be seen when examining the political life of the current General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); Ahmad Sa’adat. Between the years of 1967, when Sa’adat joined the PFLP led Palestine Student Union, to 2002 when he was abducted by the IDF from a jail in Jericho, Sa’adat had been arrested 9 times and jailed for close to ten years for his involvement in the PFLP.<br /><br />Ahmad Sa‘adat, General Secretary of the PFLP, was arrested again on the 15th of January 2002 by the Palestinian General Intelligence Service. He was then transferred to Force 17 (the Palestinian Presidential bodyguard), and held after that in President Arafat’s compound in connection with the killing of the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Rehavam Ze‘evi, on 17 October 2001. The PFLP claimed responsibility for the killing, although Ahmad Sa‘adat was not formally charged with any recognisable criminal offence. This assassination was a response to the killing of Abu Ali Mustafa, General Secretary of the PFLP, who was killed in a targeted assassination by two rockets fired from an Israeli helicopter as he sat at his desk in Ramallah on August 27, 2001.<br />A petition was presented to the Palestinian High Court of Justice in Gaza calling for the immediate release of Ahmad Sa‘adat. This caused the High Court of Justice to request that the PA General Intelligence Service bring evidence against him. The Intelligence Service failed to do so and on the 3rd of June 2002 the High Court ordered the immediate release of Ahmad Sa‘adat as he had never been charged or brought before a judge.<br /><br />“Following the decision of the Palestinian High Court of Justice in Gaza ordering that Ahmad Sa‘adat be released immediately, Amnesty International is calling on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to respect this decision and free him from detention without further delay. Amnesty International is also calling on Israel to publicly guarantee that Ahmad Sa‘adat will not be subjected to any extrajudicial measures, including assassination.<br /><br />The United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) must also ensure that the PA and Israel respect Ahmad Sa‘adat’s rights. Both countries were involved in concluding the agreement whereby Ahmad Sa‘adat was being kept in detention, and are providing a team of observers who are monitoring his detention.” – Amnesty International<br /><br />The Palestinian Authority insisted that it was keeping Ahmad Sa’adat for his own safety after a statement by Ra‘anan Gissin, an Israeli government spokesperson, warning that if "he is not brought to justice, we will bring justice to him. You can’t let murderers free." It is widely believed that Yasser Arafat sold out Sa’adat, in exchange for an end to a month long IDF siege of his own compound, and agreed to transfer him to a Jericho prison where he was to be guarded by British and American soldiers. While in prison in Jericho with no charges or evidence levelled against him, Sa’adat’s younger brother Muhammed Sa'adat, was assassinated by Israeli special forces and his wife arrested when attempting to travel to a conference she was scheduled to speak at outside of Palestine. In March 2006 fearing his imminent release Sa’adat was abducted, along with other prisoners, by the IDF and taken to Israel to stand trial. This followed the sudden withdrawal of American and British monitors, that where guarding Sa’adat, arising suspicion that America and Britain where once again conspiring with Israel.<br /><br />An Israeli military court found Sa’adat guilty of heading “an illegal terrorist organisation” and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment. The PFLP slammed the verdict; "When the Israelis arrested him, they accused him of having killed Zeevi, but this accusation did not appear in the sentencing which proves that his arrest was political and was not related to security issues.", along with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who called the court's decision "unfair" and "not legally justified." Ahmad Sa’adat is the General Secretary of a legitimate political and military organisation who received approx 40,000 votes in 2006 making them the third largest party behind Fatah and HAMAS. The PFLP holds 50 seats on city councils and is the largest party in the governing city of Ramallah, while also currently holding the mayors office in Bethlehem. Since the 1980’s the PFLP has been active in building popular organisations in the fields of health, women’s rights, agriculture and the workers union movement.<br /><br />The PFLP rejects Imperialisms two state solution that would limit a Palestinian state to less than 20 percent of the land mandated by the British in 1947. George Habash, the founder of the PFLP, vehemently opposed the American lead peace process that started in Madrid and culminated in the Oslo accords, which caused major rifts in the PLO and lead to the PFLP withdrawal from the organisation, albeit temporarily. Ahmad Sa’adat opposed the new “Road Map” for peace proposed by the Quartet from his prison cell, on the grounds that it is designed solely to provide security for Israel's occupation and criminalise opposition to it as terrorism. For Sa’adat and the PFLP today, any resolution is tied to the right of return of Palestinian refugees that where forced from their land during the Nakba (Catastrophe), and an eventual single secular democratic state where all people regardless of race or religion have equal rights. The PFLP’s continuing military struggle and its associated political ideologies threaten the very existence of the inherently racist Israeli state and Imperialisms grip on the Middle East. The labelling of the PFLP as a “terrorist organisation”, by Israel and other Western state’s, is nothing but an attempt to vilify Palestinian resistance, imprison its leaders and provide justification for Western intervention.<br /><br />The Workers Party of New Zealand is calling for the immediate release of Ahmad Sa’adat and all Palestinian political prisoners being held illegally in Israeli and Palestinian jails, and for the immediate removal of the PFLP from “terrorist designation lists” in the EU and North America.<br /><br />The Campaign to free Ahmad Sa’adat<br /><br />http://www.freeahmadsaadat.org/Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-51092404632933885602010-10-09T01:01:00.000-07:002010-10-09T01:03:21.526-07:00Free Ahmad Sa'adat<a title="View Free Ahmad Saadat Leaflet on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/38996623/Free-Ahmad-Saadat-Leaflet" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Free Ahmad Saadat Leaflet</a> <object id="doc_643319416394988" name="doc_643319416394988" height="600" width="100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;" > <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=38996623&access_key=key-1r32ewlop30g1e4s2k6x&page=1&viewMode=list"> <embed id="doc_643319416394988" name="doc_643319416394988" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=38996623&access_key=key-1r32ewlop30g1e4s2k6x&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="100%" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-70253240338112354942010-10-09T00:21:00.000-07:002010-10-09T00:30:19.348-07:00Free Ahmad Sa'adat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fv5gG4Ob5r27H9WVftVkrEaR2su8u1JDiGdQmlMdS5kfCWhKIEOnsbnXIIaeG3Dd2oVQ-cfU9jcsTU19pdDblAzdOY3OIUVrf8tZCBvzuLJopxJz5PHBbUdGKI_2Gs5FUuMoDhhCV8sU/s1600/photo_4.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqYeqvgxN5s9AOTs_3JQ5gaAQ9E-hUjaonPJp5z8ciI7iN39Y1uCBQnsI5_ttMopruWqIPjwXgCxQ2MphYPwJ3C2XAYUl76F0j8YFzSaNo-u5eLcmSg1RmzhjlC7SgHqjR-9hB_zMebZ/s1600/photo_4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqYeqvgxN5s9AOTs_3JQ5gaAQ9E-hUjaonPJp5z8ciI7iN39Y1uCBQnsI5_ttMopruWqIPjwXgCxQ2MphYPwJ3C2XAYUl76F0j8YFzSaNo-u5eLcmSg1RmzhjlC7SgHqjR-9hB_zMebZ/s320/photo_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525945124668208082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgCcn6iiJ0hEwSyWV2r6svasUv4G-P3A_8aZ9DPGeiPAcJ9wuFB-WdbDLx6EraoZ_gtJCoZ9kApCiB1G1QzOBeQ1Wb8gt9II2XBZQd56LOalFOmsoPke2q1DwtxKH_wWXEfhha_arei7b/s1600/Free+Ahmad+Sa%27adat+Poster+-+October+2010+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgCcn6iiJ0hEwSyWV2r6svasUv4G-P3A_8aZ9DPGeiPAcJ9wuFB-WdbDLx6EraoZ_gtJCoZ9kApCiB1G1QzOBeQ1Wb8gt9II2XBZQd56LOalFOmsoPke2q1DwtxKH_wWXEfhha_arei7b/s320/Free+Ahmad+Sa%27adat+Poster+-+October+2010+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525943473785236546" border="0" /></a><br />The PFLP Solidarity Campaign is taking to the streets this October in Christchurch, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin in support of Ahmad Sa'adat, the imprisoned General Secretary of the PFLP.<br /><br />There will be street stalls, where we will be selling 'Resistance is not Terrorism' t-shirts, film screenings and pickets around the country.<br /><br />If you would like to get involved in any of the above centers drop us an e-mail at wpnz.pflp.solidarity@gmail.comWorkers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-69230130902626322642010-10-05T12:48:00.000-07:002010-10-05T12:50:37.871-07:00David Rovics interviews PFLP Solidarity Campaign organiserhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/davidrovics/2010/10/06/interview-with-mike-walker<br /><br /><table id="ShowDetailsTable" class="showattributes"><tbody><tr> <td class="attribute"><br /><span class="hidden"><br /></span> </td> <td class="value showDescription"> <div id="divDescription" class="divdescription collapsed"> <div class="KonaBody"> <div class="TextAdBody">I interview Mike Walker of Christchurch, New Zealand for the hour. Mike is an organizer with the "Resistance is not Terrorism" campaign of the Workers Party in New Zealand to send material aid to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). You can read more about the campaign here: http://wpnz-pflp-solidarity.blogspot.com/</div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Tune in today at 4:00 p.m.Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-36000392375444314032010-08-30T01:51:00.000-07:002010-08-30T01:59:15.286-07:00"PFLP Solidarity Campaign interviews Leila Khaled, Palestine’s leading revolutionary woman"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg3g2lZXuu3TUAqxiGq0UMsDfwANQ8OOYVf_TbbKez-79lEozmDc33d_rDtEiYUzxZKtNiRMlfAa7dOaEdYNC5WsZKH4ptTZofa6B-DEgkMBsjsq7HazXJqFTaric9fx4aCsFfNwsYS85/s1600/khaled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg3g2lZXuu3TUAqxiGq0UMsDfwANQ8OOYVf_TbbKez-79lEozmDc33d_rDtEiYUzxZKtNiRMlfAa7dOaEdYNC5WsZKH4ptTZofa6B-DEgkMBsjsq7HazXJqFTaric9fx4aCsFfNwsYS85/s320/khaled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511123648368517874" border="0" /></a><br />Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Press Release:<br /><br />PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"PFLP Solidarity Campaign interviews Leila Khaled, Palestine’s leading revolutionary woman"</span><br /><br />Date: 29/08/2010<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Mike/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><br />The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Solidarity Campaign is happy to announce the release of the first part of an interview with Leila Khaled. PFLP Solidarity Campaign co-ordinator Mike Walker conducted the interview via Skype with Leila at her home in Amman, Jordan on the 6th April this year.<br /><br />Leila Khaled is often referred to as a terrorist by her enemies, the United States and the State of Israel. But in the Occupied Territories, the Gaza Strip and the countless refugee camps scattered throughout the Arab world she is a revolutionary hero, a freedom fighter and the embodiment of the Palestinian militant struggle against Zionism and Imperialism in the Middle East and for freedom and self-determination.<br /><br />Leila Khaled and the PFLP shot to international attention when Leila became the first woman to hi-jack a commercial airliner on August 29th 1969. Leila made the pilot divert the plane over Haifa, where she was born but has never been allowed to visit, eventually allowing the plane to land in Damascus, Syria. The passengers were disembarked and the plane was blown up in front of the international media. Golda Meir had stated that June that "There was no such thing as Palestinians", but Leila Khaled and the PFLP had put the Palestinian struggle firmly onto the world stage, where it could no longer be ignored.<br /><br />Today Leila is a core member of the PFLP and serves on its Politburo, dealing primarily with the ‘right of return’ for Palestinian refugees. Walker stated that “Leila is a true revolutionary woman that has dedicated her life to the struggle of Palestinians for their right to self-determination, and to return home.” “Leila is an inspiration to us all,” he continued.<br /><br />Leila Khaled finished the interview by stating that she had “a message for the New Zealanders.” She then warned that we should all “beware Zionism. Nazism caused humanity twenty two million casualties and the destruction of Europe. What do you think that Zionism will do, do we need a third world war? We have to stop the expansion of the Zionist ideology and policy.”<br /><br />The full interview is available at <a href="http://wpnz-pflp-solidarity.blogspot.com/p/leila-khaled-interview.html">here<br /></a><br />A full transcript or audio is available on request.<br /><br />ENDS<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1k_NuQ-ZRog?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1k_NuQ-ZRog?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-11428542645005872032010-08-27T03:18:00.000-07:002010-08-27T03:25:28.368-07:00David Rovics Interviewed on RDUNetta Egoz interviewed David Rovics prior to Davids first gig on his New Zealand tour, a PFLP/Palestine benefit gig at Canterbury University with Don Franks.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=12388398-73d" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=12388398-73d" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-48657939176582596092010-08-24T15:13:00.000-07:002010-08-24T15:15:36.114-07:00"End the Siege of Gaza", but then what?<h2><a href="http://workersparty.org.nz/2010/06/24/end-the-siege-of-gaza-but-then-what/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: “End the Siege of Gaza”, but then what?">“End the Siege of Gaza”, but then what?</a></h2> <div class="snap_preview"><p>Mike Walker, <em>PFLP Solidarity Campaign co-coordinator<br /></em><em>First Published in The Spark </em>July 2010</p><p>and on www.workersparty.org.nz<br /></p> <p>On the 31st of May commandos from the Israeli Defence Force stormed a boat carrying aid and activists to the besieged Gaza strip, opening fire and killing 9 people on board. In a typical official Israeli response, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon accused the flotilla’s organisers of `having ties to Hamas and al-Qaeda terror organisations’. This has been followed by so-called `universal condemnation’ of the attack by the `International Community’ and calls for an end to the siege. In practical terms this means allowing more goods into the Gaza Strip. What it doesn’t mean is an end to Israeli control of the borders, the airspace, the coastal waters and literally every aspect of Palestinian life. <span id="more-3263"></span></p> <p><strong>Zionism</strong></p> <p>The seeds of the modern day conflict between the Zionist state of Israel and Arab resistance were firmly planted not in 1948, but with early Jewish settlers. Ahad Ha’Am (Asher Ginsberg) was a Russian Jew and Zionist, and a very prominent pre-state Zionist thinker, who visited Palestine from 1891 onwards. He explained that the Jewish settlers “treat the Arabs with hostility and cruelty, rob them of their rights in a dishonest way, hurt them without reason and then pride themselves on such actions.” He concluded that “no one attacks this despicable and dangerous tendency…” Why this aggression against the indigenous population of Palestine? The answer to this question lies in what Zionists are attempting to do in Palestine which was summarised by David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of the Israeli state, in the introduction to `The History of the Haganah’. He wrote:</p> <p style="text-align: right;">“At the present time we speak of colonisation, and only of colonisation. It is our short-term objective. But it is clear that England belongs to the English, Egypt to the Egyptians and Judea to the Jews. We will say to the Arabs: `Move Over’; if they are not in agreement, if they resist, we will push them by force.”</p> <p>The Israeli state is the modern manifestation of the Zionist colonial project that early Jewish settlers spearheaded in the late 1800s. Its actions throughout its history, the continuing oppression of Palestinians and the outlandish attack on solidarity activists should not be seen in isolation from Zionist goals in the Middle East.</p> <p><strong>Imperialist domination Prior to WWI</strong></p> <p>Chaim Weizmann, an early Zionist political leader, recognised that for the Zionist project to succeed in Palestine it would require, an `intermediary stage’ during which the `fair country of Palestine will be protected by such a Mighty and just Power as Great Britain.’ He explained that `under the wing of this power, Jews will be able to develop, and to set up the administrative machinery which…would enable us to carry out the Zionist scheme.’ Under the British mandate in Palestine and with the protection and political support of British imperialism the foundation of the Zionist state was firmly laid. In fact Zionism’s expulsion of three quarters of a million Palestinians, al-nakba, and declaration of statehood in 1948 could not have been achieved without the British quashing of a Palestinian revolt, which had lasted from 1936 until 1939.</p> <p>The post-WWII balance of world power shifted and Zionism proved to be politically dynamic, as it was able to realign itself with the new dominant imperial power, the United States. The US State Department noted in 1945 that oil reserves in the Middle East constitute “a stupendous source of strategic power, and one of the greatest material prizes in world history.” In 1973 Senator Henry Jackson exposed American reliance on Israel to defend these interests, stating that its job was to “inhibit and contain those irresponsible and radical elements in certain Arab States….who, were they free to do so, would pose a grave threat indeed to our principal sources of petroleum in the Persian Gulf”. Today the United States provides $US three billion in military aid every year to Israel, and has helped Israel to build one of the most powerful militaries in the world. In exchange Israel was, and continues to be, America’s “attack dog” in the Middle East and protector of American interests. Imperialist backers also provide political cover. Barack Obama’s administration recently blocked a Security Council resolution to have the flotilla raid impartially investigated, suggesting instead that Israel investigate itself.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly seized on this opportunity to clear Israel of wrong-doing and announced a commission featuring three elders of the Israeli state and two international observers, one of whom recently joined the `Friends of Israel’ in Britain. The United States hailed the decision and released a statement saying that “Israel has a military justice system that meets international standards and is capable of conducting a serious and credible investigation.” A fair investigation by Israel into the events leading to the deaths of nine activists and into the legality of the siege of Gaza, is highly unlikely. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called the Israeli commission a “transparent attempt to justify murder and piracy”. <em>Haaretz</em>, an Israeli newspaper, ran an article which surmised that the intention was to “placate the world…especially the United States.”</p> <p><strong>Investigating the raid on the freedom flotilla</strong></p> <p>Calls for `investigations’ though, regardless of who conducts them, expose a blatant and recurring amnesia in the West in terms of Israeli violations of Palestinian rights. In September 2009 a UN fact finding mission presented its findings to the Council of Human Rights in Geneva, after impartially investigating Israel’s “Operation Cast Lead”. Known as the <em>Goldstone Report</em> it concluded that “The tactics used by Israeli military armed forces in the Gaza offensive are consistent with previous practice”, which was described as the “application of disproportionate force and the causing of great damage and destruction to civilian property and infrastructure, and suffering to civilian populations.” This was unacceptable to the United States so the House of Representatives passed a resolution stating that “the report [was] irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy.” The US pledged to “stand by Israel in the fight against the <em>Goldstone Report</em>“, and the reach of American influence was visible when the Palestinian Authority also deferred endorsing the report’s findings. Any investigation that condemns Israeli actions will realistically be ostracised by the US, Israel and its allies rendering it impotent.</p> <p><strong>A complete end to Israel’s brutality?</strong></p> <p>While we should condemn the killing of the flotilla activists, we should also remember that Palestinians face this kind of oppression and brutality every day of their lives at the hands of the Israeli state, as it continues its expansionist project that is funded and politically supported by the world’s imperialist powers. It is time to start concentrating on the real causes of their oppression and the means by which Israel’s domination is maintained in the Middle East.</p> </div>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-47329080837119545662010-08-13T17:50:00.000-07:002010-08-13T17:56:49.201-07:00Resistance - David Rovics<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zeA21uHatP0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zeA21uHatP0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-28011968103078056272010-08-06T17:10:00.000-07:002010-08-06T17:14:14.809-07:00Musician David Rovics condems placement of PFLP on 'anti-terror' list<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAWNOtx_LRl3cliqdDwk-EgehYLs6dtNpJZIWubH1JnIvb9NpaGK10v6ggXce_U5PLFfhCJvJGcp9eoFr5TyUwLmv-i5OP72CEoRRAyYBBath-DpOCSc3aQjjgXqa_V_nzBjaC3toWwzB/s1600/david_rovics_may2006.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAWNOtx_LRl3cliqdDwk-EgehYLs6dtNpJZIWubH1JnIvb9NpaGK10v6ggXce_U5PLFfhCJvJGcp9eoFr5TyUwLmv-i5OP72CEoRRAyYBBath-DpOCSc3aQjjgXqa_V_nzBjaC3toWwzB/s320/david_rovics_may2006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502454538416451762" border="0" /></a><br />Originally posted on the english PFLP site here:<br />http://www.pflp.ps/english/?q=mus<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Musician David Rovics condems placement of PFLP on 'anti-terror' list</span><br /><br /><br />David Rovics, a well-known progressive U.S. singer-songwriter, denounced the listing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and other national liberation movements on so-called "anti-terrorism" lists on August 1, 2010 as he planned to participate in a New Zealand concert supporting Palestine and protesting the designation of the PFLP on such lists. Rovics, a mainstay of labor, international solidarity, anti-racist and social justice politics and culture, has produced over 11 albums and over 200 songs (including an album of songs for Palestine entitled "Al-Awda/Return.") He will play a fundraiser concert in Christchurch, New Zealand on August 20, organized by the Workers Party of New Zealand's PFLP Solidarity Campaign, a campaign protesting the criminalization of national liberation movements and demanding the removal of the PFLP and other Palestinian organizations from 'anti-terror lists' by selling t-shirts and holding grassroots fundraisers to support the PFLP and the Palestinian national movement.<br /><br />Rovics told the Workers Party of New Zealand that "the criminalization of the PFLP and other organizations by various governments is sheer hypocrisy. These same governments are signatories to UN conventions that make it clear -- the PFLP and the Palestinian people generally are not criminals. They are resisting a criminal occupation -- it is the militaristic, apartheid state of Israel which is the criminal here, which needs to be treated as such, not the PFLP." The concert, which is part of Rovics' Australia/New Zealand tour, will take place at Canterbury University in Christchurch, and feature Don Franks, a New Zealand-based singer/songwriter in addition to Rovics.<br /><br />Rovics, based in the United States, performs around the world at cafes, pubs, universities, churches, union halls and protest rallies, and his music has been featured on Democracy Now!, BBC, Al-Jazeera and other networks. The PFLP salutes Rovics and the Workers Party of New Zealand for their courageous and principled support for the Palestinian movement and their commitment to refuse and resist criminalization of resistance and to support the national liberation struggle of the Palestinian people.Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-81286455135450865732010-08-05T02:06:00.000-07:002010-08-05T02:09:49.661-07:00Irish protest calls for freedom for Comrade Sa'adat, all Palestinian prisoners<a href="http://www.ipsc.ie/">The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC)</a> and <a href="http://www.eirigi.org/">éirígí (the socialist republican party formed in 2006)</a> organized a strong protest commemorating Palestinian prisoners' day on April 17, 2010, outside the Israeli embassy in Dublin, carrying signs and banners calling for freedom for Comrade Ahmad Sa'adat and all Palestinian prisoners and flags of Palestine, Ireland and the PFLP.<div><br /></div><div>The focus of the demonstration was on a call for the release of ALL Palestinian political prisoners imprisoned by the Israeli State - those 'convicted' in Israeli Military courts and those interned without trial under the 'Administrative Detention' regime.</div><div><br /></div><div>The demonstration specifically focused on the cases of two prisoners - Ahmed Sa'adat, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Abdallah Abu-Rahmah, coordinator of the Bil'in Popular Committee Against the Wall. Also remembered at the protest was Bassem Abu Rahmah of Bil’in, a cousin of Abdallah’s, who was murdered by the Israeli military this time last year while protesting against the apartheid separation wall.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to ADDAMEER, the Palestinian prisoners' rights organisation, more than 6,800 Palestinians are currently imprisoned by the Israeli state for resisting oppression and the apartheid system. Of those, 337 are children, including 37 under the age of 16. A further 15 are elected Palestinian representatives and almost 300 are 'Administrative Detainees', that is they have been interned without trial and have not been charged with any ‘crime’. 103 are anti-apartheid wall activists and human rights defenders. The 'convicted' prisoners were jailed by non-jury Israeli Military Courts (all Palestinians in the Occupied Territories [OPT] are subject to Israeli military law), which act as an arm of the Israeli state and cannot be considered – by any measure – to be fair in their treatment of Palestinians.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over four decades of illegal Israeli military occupation, Palestinians from all walks of life have been illegally detained by Israel. Since the beginning of the occupation in 1967, over 650,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel. This forms approximately 20% of the total Palestinian population in the OPT. Considering the fact that the majority of those detained are male, the number of Palestinians detained forms approximately 40% of the total male Palestinian population in the OPT. This is an astonishing figure and should be a cause of huge international concern.</div><div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(81, 93, 82);" class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://www.pflp.ps/english/files/images/ireland-sm.gif" style="border-style: none;" class="image image-preview " title="ireland1" alt="ireland1" width="500" height="127" /></span> </div><div>The protest and rally outside the Israeli embassy yesterday was aimed at highlighting this reality and intended as an act of solidarity with the many imprisoned Palestinians. The IPSC was delighted by the large turnout, which was especially appreciated on a rare sunny day when most of the city was heading to parks or to the beaches. The attendance included people from all walks of life and several passers-by stopped to listen to the speeches. Members of Dublin’s Basque community also joined in, having postponed their own demonstration yesterday until next week in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. There were also honks of support from many passing motorists.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>First to speak was Mr Mac An Mhaistír, representing éirígí, who began by referring to why this country should have a particular empathy with Palestinian prisoners: “There is a strong tradition of solidarity between Irish republicans and Palestinians, especially when it comes to the issue of prisoners. The histories of both Ireland and Palestine are replete with the suffering of those imprisoned for their political beliefs and for resisting occupation. That political prisoners have been and continue to be a feature of the political life of Palestine and Ireland is emblematic of the failed nature of attempts to pacify an occupied people.”</div><div><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(81, 93, 82);" class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://www.pflp.ps/english/files/images/irelandsm3.gif" style="border-style: none;" class="image image-preview " title="ireland2" alt="ireland2" width="500" height="375" /></span> </div><div>He went on outline the savage treatment of Palestinians in custody and then focused on the case of Ahmed Sa’adat, general secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine: “Comrade Sa’adat was abducted by Palestinian Authority security officials in January 2002 at the behest of Israel and imprisoned without trial. In March 2006 Israeli forces laid siege to the prison before kidnapping Sa’adat and five of his comrades. Sa’adat, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was finally tried by the Israeli state in the summer of 2008, and on December 25 2008, he was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. He was convicted of membership of a prohibited organisation (the PFLP), holding a post in a prohibited organisation, and incitement, for a speech he gave following the Israeli assassination of his predecessor, Abu Ali Mustafa, in August 2001.” He called for the immediate release of Sa’adat and all Palestinian political prisoners.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w8WBPPcc5Zc&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w8WBPPcc5Zc&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695119700518509401.post-67660028116597705652010-07-22T03:06:00.001-07:002010-07-22T03:07:39.701-07:00Occupation and Resistance Exhibition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVt9MsI36fAJh2fJjDFTzmGwooOrn2jA5iC3EFW10sHyHf48oxyYLcOcUAuCfm_mhTsQ0vjPyBsmry9aE6yqDBamL5kD66ZuxNh32sD2HdBajPQq31iWRbq4USqmm2jYmodJOPNSifgGb/s1600/Occupation+and+Resistance+-+Christchurch+AUG+2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVt9MsI36fAJh2fJjDFTzmGwooOrn2jA5iC3EFW10sHyHf48oxyYLcOcUAuCfm_mhTsQ0vjPyBsmry9aE6yqDBamL5kD66ZuxNh32sD2HdBajPQq31iWRbq4USqmm2jYmodJOPNSifgGb/s320/Occupation+and+Resistance+-+Christchurch+AUG+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496670101296182482" border="0" /></a>Workers Party NZ - PFLP Solidarityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03600043076600175094noreply@blogger.com0