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Here
you can find news about ISM-Vancouver activities. For the latest
news about ISM campaigns in Palestine, please visit their website
at www.palsolidarity.org.
For general news about the situation in Palestine, we suggest you
visit electronicintifada.net.
News
Release
For
Immediate Release
Vancouver, Friday December 27, 2002
ISM-Vancouver
Delegate Arrives in Palestine
Vancouver
activist Drew joins direct non-violent resistance to the
Israeli Occupation
Drew, 28, a resident of Delta BC, has arrived in Palestine committed
to resisting the Israeli Occupation through direct non-violent action.
Pendland
is a delegate of the Vancouver chapter of the International Solidarity
Movement (ISM-Vancouver). His background in international human
rights includes working as a UN Accredited Electoral Observer for
the UN Consultation on East Timor in 1999.
"I
want to focus on how the fundamental human rights of Palestinians
are being violated," Drew stated. "I hope to make a
small contribution to their struggle."
Drew
will be working with other Canadian and international ISM delegates
to support the Palestinian non-violent resistance to the occupation
forces and settlers.
The
role of ISM delegates is to document and report the humiliation
and injustices Palestinians face daily from the Israeli Occupation.
Activists engage in a variety of activities including: helping Palestinian
families get food and water during 24 hour curfews, accompanying
Palestinian people and ambulances through Israeli roadblocks, assisting
Palestinian farmers to work their lands safely, and protecting Palestinian
homes from demolition.
During
the last 26 months of the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation,
Israel has killed more than 2000 innocent men, women and children
while injuring more than 40,000. Many human rights organizations,
such as Amnesty International, have expressed deep concern about
Israeli policies of collective punishment, arbitrary arrest and
detention without access to basic legal rights, and extra-judicial
killings.
The
International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led initiative
of Palestinian and International activists who support the Palestinian
struggle for freedom and independence. "We utilize nonviolent
direct-action methods of resistance to confront and challenge the
illegal Israeli occupation forces and policies," said George
Rishmawi, ISM Co-founder.
ISM
calls for Israel compliance with all UN resolutions pertaining to
the end of occupation, and the right of return for Palestinian refugees,
as well as for an immediate international intervention to protect
the Palestinian people and to ensure Israel's compliance with International
Law.
ISM-Vancouver
is a local affiliate of ISM. Our mandate is to assist activists
from Western Canada who want to join the nonviolent resistance in
Palestine.
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Drew is available for interviews by phone and email.
Drew's eyewitness reports are available online at valis.indymedia.org/ism-vancouver.
For
more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Reem, Coordinator of ISM-Vancouver by email at
info@ism-vancouver.org.
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