"Spirit of Rachel Corrie" Refuses Egypt Demand Deliver Sewer Pipes to Gaza via Israel Port

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6 PM (Malaysian Time) 26 May 2011 (Thursday)


PRESS STATEMENT

The Spirit of Rachel Corrie Mission hereby objects to the use of an Israeli land port to deliver its humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

The team is thankful to the Malaysian Government for their negotiations with the Egyptian Government in securing the docking of MV Finch into the El-Arish Port since May 16th.

We have been informed that the Egyptian Government has imposed a condition on the Malaysian Government, that the cargo be transported via Karem Shalom, at the Israeli border in Gaza.

This is against the principle of the team’s mission, which is to break the illegal Israeli siege of Gaza.

Had we agreed to the cargo being unloaded via Israel, we would have agreed on the 16th of May, when the Israeli navy demanded that we proceed to Ashdod.

However, we insisted in proceeding to Gaza Port and were then attacked brutally by the Israeli navy.

On 28th April 2011, the Foreign Ministry of Egypt issued a statement that the Rafah Crossing would be permanently opened to enable humanitarian aid to pass through Gaza.

It is therefore in contradiction and inconsistent with our intent that our cargo should now be diverted via Israel and with the expressed permission of Israel which we did not and will not seek in any circumstances.

To comply with this unreasonable demand would abrogate the fundamental principle by which we embarked on this mission – to break the illegal siege of Gaza.

In addition, we are not assured that this cargo would in fact be delivered to Gaza, as in the past, all assurances given to previous missions were not fulfilled and most of the humanitarian aid were laid to waste, only 40% was allowed to enter Gaza.

For the past 10 days, we were given repeated assurances by the Egyptian Government that the cargo of PVC pipes to restore the destroyed sewage system would in fact be transported via Rafah.

This turn of events demonstrates the insincerity of the Egyptian Government and their implicit endorsement of the illegal siege when they explicitly stated they would permanently open the Rafah Crossing to humanitarian aid, and as this aid will prevent the spread of infectious diseases the cargo carried by the Spirit of Rachel Corrie must be considered humanitarian aid.

We are therefore compelled to take drastic action to uphold the dignity of the Palestinian people and the justice of the cause. Any compromise of this fundamental principle would undermine the heroic struggle of the Palestinians in the last few years to resist the cruel and inhumane blockade of Gaza, the largest open prison in the world and a collective punishment of the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza.

This is a unanimous decision of the team which consists of a crew of 5 comprising 3 Malaysians and 2 Indians, and 7 activists made up of 4 Malaysians, 2 Irish and 1 Canadian, expressing and representing the aspirations of all people who support the just struggle of the Palestinians to break the inhumane and illegal siege.

This illegal siege by Israel is a contravention of the Geneva Conventions which inter alia provides that a nation under occupation is entitled to have access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation.

As a result of the barbaric invasion codenamed “Operation Cast Lead” in 2008, 7.5km of sewage pipes were destroyed. This destruction has created a medical emergency causing serious health problems among Gaza’s population. Our cargo of 7.5km of PVC pipes is a vital humanitarian necessity required to restore the existing sewage system, assist in alleviating current illnesses and help prevent the spread of further disease. In this light, our aid should be viewed as essential humanitarian aid.

We appeal to all just and peace loving people to support our stand on this issue and the struggle of the Palestinians to live in peace and dignity.


ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM,
MATTHIAS CHANG,
MISSION LEADER,
THE SPIRIT OF RACHEL CORRIE MISSION,
MAY 2011,
EL-ARISH, EGYPT

>>Press Release 5.doc

>>Press Release 5.pdf


About PGPF

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

“The Palestinian struggle is nothing more than a struggle for justice, to which they, as much as everyone else, have a right.” Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, President of PGPF.
>>Click to view reports on water issue in Gaza

Previous updates:

Commentaries: The Spirit Of Rachel Corrie Mission, 25 May 2011
Twelve Days of Breaking Siege, 24 May 2011
The Other Side of the Siege, 23 May 2011
MV Finch Still Stranded, Water Supply Running Out, 23 May 2011
Crew have Palestinians very much on their mind, 20 May 2011
Experiences Of Those On Board The Spirit Of Rachel Corrie Vessel, 19 May 2011
Spirit of Rachel Corrie – Message of Support, 18 May 2011
Shocked, but mission still ‘a success’, 18 May 2011
Conveying My Concern for the Safety of All On Board the Malaysian Ship, 17 May 2011

Press Release:

The Spirit of Rachel Corrie attacked by the Israeli naval forces – Press Release 1
The ship’s 12 crew and passengers are safe – Press Release 2
PGPF condemned the act of aggression by the Israeli Naval Forces – Press Release 3
MV FINCH to make Another Attempt to Enter Gaza – Press Release 4