[Imc-beirut] "forget about the past..."

[John Shafer]

fyi
Canada's foreign affairs minister

[5] RELEASE: Delegation calling for ceasefire makes no headway with MacKay

   August 4th, 2006 | Posted in [6] War and Terror, [7] Solidarity


   Cornwall, 4 August 2006 - A delegation of community members from
   Ottawa, Gatineau, the Cornwall area and Montreal calling for an
   immediate ceasefire in the Middle East was refused the opportunity to
   speak to the Conservative caucus for 15 minutes this afternoon.The
   group - members of organisations and individuals outraged by the
   Conservatives' uncompromising support for Israel's attacks on Lebanon
   and Gaza - had made the emergency request to the Conservative party
   earlier in the week. Upon arrival in Cornwall, however, they were not
   permitted entrance to the grounds of the conference centre.

   Under pressure of television cameras and a very determined crowd, the
   Conservative party eventually agreed to allow two women to enter, but
   refused entry to a third, the francophone Quebec delegate. Dahd Al
   Saady of the Cornwall area, who has family living under the
   bombardment in Lebanon, and Rana Abdallah, representing the
   Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians of Ottawa and Gatineau, met
   with Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and International
   Cooperation Minister Josée  Vermer to present the group's four
   demands: immediate ceasefire and halt to the assault on Lebanon and an
   end to the seige of Gaza; bring to justice those responsible for the
   war crimes taking place; delivery of humanitarian aid proportional to
   need in devastated Lebanon and Gaza; and work towards addressing the
   root causes of the conflict, such as the occupation of Palestine.
   (Full prepared statement is below.)

   Although the Ministers were willing to speak about Canada's
   contributions to humanitarian aid under the continuing destruction of
   Lebanon, MacKay refused to condemn the aggression of Israel. He simply
   reiterated the Canadian government's position that Hamas and Hezbollah
   are "terrorist organisations". When pressed, however, he was unwilling
   to define the word "terrorist". The delegation had already pointed out
   that Israel is systematically targetting civilian infrastructure, has
   killed 900 civilians, wounded 2400 and forced the displacement of
   900,000 in Lebanon in the past two weeks alone.

   Minister MacKay stated that he has been strongly advocating the
   cessation of violence and that he decries the loss of life. However,
   he did not commit to calling for a ceasefire.

   The delegation was also unable to enter into a serious discussion of
   the root causes of the conflict. MacKay responded, "Forget about the
   past and let us live together", asking whether he should go back to
   Scotland to fight for his ancestral land. The flabbergasted delegates
   tried to point out that Palestinians are currently stateless, and
   currently living under the continuing violent occupation of Israel,
   but got nowhere. Their pragmatic argument that until basic oppression
   is addressed, violence will continue fell on deaf ears.

   The meeting happened hours after another major series of air strikes
   on the  southern suburbs of Beirut, another round of targetted
   destruction of civilian infrastructure throughout Lebanon, and another
   devastating attack on Tyre (see minute-by-minute newsfeed:
   www.lebanonupdates.blogspot.com). Many of the delegation members have
   friends and relatives currently living under Israeli bombs.

   -30-

   More information: 514 571 7806 or 514 222 0205

   Source: Tadamon!, tadamon at resist.ca, tel 514 690 8499
   Background: [8] http://tadamon.resist.ca[/lang_en]


References
   0. http://tadamon.resist.ca/index.php/?p=121