----- Original Message ----- From: Taimor Hazou <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 12:53 AM Subject: [solidarity_palestine] 12 Nov Solidarity March in Melbourne The Solidarity March was a great success. The rally got media coverage on 7 & 9 news, 3LO and ABC news, and SBS radio, so overall it was pretty good, publicity wise!!! It also was quite good in terms of turn out and support with probably about 1000 people present. It was orderly and very loud and went well,,, with some excellent slogans/chants going over a pa/loudspeaker system. eg. Howard, Howard,,,Shame, Shame,,,Silence, Silence,,, Isreal's Gain. We also handed out over 2000 leaflets explaining the reason for the March, and got a lot public interest. Eveybody worked well together and the marshals were fantastic, and no incidents at all. People felt welcomed and did join in from the streets,,,, So over all it was a great effort. Below is the wording of an article from 'Southern News' and the wording of a petition we plan to get going nationally (any feedback, comments, etc please send directly to me or sari),,, cheers, In solidarity,,, Taimor... Friends of Palestine rally in Melbourne Melbourne: South News: Sunday Nov 12 Over a thousand pro Palestinian supporters rallied on the steps of the State Library calling on the Australian Government to condemn the excessive use of force by the Israeli military. Chanting "Shame Howard Shame" and holding placards they calling for an end to the slaughter and condemned Israeli violations of Human Rights and International Law. Jacob Grech speaking on behalf of Friends of Palestine at the Sunday Rally condemned Israel's shooting of civilians and demonstrators and its gross violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention and "its maintenance of its brutal military occupation of Palestinian land". "The violence in Palestine is a direct result of Israeli occupation", he said. " The Australian Government should immediately cut all military ties with Israel", he continued and called for "sanctions on Israel both here and internationally until such time as Israel complies". He called on the Australian Government to urge Israel to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland and compensate them in accordance with UN Resolution 194" and the group "calls on Israel to withdraw from the 1967 occupied Palestinian and Arab territories in accordance with UN Resolutions 242 and 338 and to remove its illegal settlements within the occupied territories." He further called on the Australian Government to establish full diplomatic relations with the "sovereign state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital." About 650 people then marched through Melbourne's city streets protesting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories to the steps of Victoria's parliament. The president of Australia's United Nations Association, former Labor senator Margaret Reynolds, sent a message to the protest saying the Federal Government should push for a peacekeeping force to be sent to the war-torn area. "To ensure that there is consistency of United Nation responses to crises and human rights abuses wherever it occurs," she said. Victorian Islamic Council president Shekh Fehmi Imam says the Australian Government must condemn what he says is Israel's violation of human rights. "The Israelis are invaders, the Israelis must be driven out of the occupied territories," he said. The march was jointly organised by the Australian Palestinian Coordinating Committee Of Victoria and the Friends of Palestine, who are a group of concerned Australians coming together to support the Palestinian people in their aspirations for the declaration of a soveriegn state of Palestine ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MESSAGE from Professor Margaret Reynolds, former Australian Labor Senator and National President, United Nations Association of Australia: As an Australian citizen I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence in the Middle East. It is especially shocking to see the targeting of civilians and the deaths of so many young people. I am particularly concerned that the Australian Government is failing to make strong overtures within the United Nations to halt this tragedy. I believe that every possible effort must be made to ensure that there is consistency of United Nations response to crises and human rights abuse wherever it occurs. Therefore calls for a peace keeping force to protect civilians should be supported by the global community . Here in Australia the national parliament should be prepared to give an all party agreement to such a humanitarian resolution My personal sympathy to you all at this time of grief. Margaret Reynolds ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PETITION TO THE HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT: We the undersigned condemn Israel's shooting of civilians and demonstrators and its gross violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949. We condemn Israel's brutal military occupation of Palestinian land and point out that the ongoing violence in Palestine is a direct result of Israeli occupation. We call on the Australian Government to: Join the over 120 nations who have recognised the State of Palestine and immediately commence full diplomatic relations. Strongly urge Israel to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland and recompense them in accordance with UN Resolution 194. Support the calls for Israel to withdraw from the 1967 occupied Palestinian and Arab territories in accordance with UN resolutions 242 and 348 and to remove illegal Israeli settlements within the occupied territories. To recognise the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and independence. To end all military ties with Israel and to urge its international friends and allies to act likewise. To not allow information from Australian satellite communications bases to be used by Israel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _____________________________________________________________________________ http://clubs.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! 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