four quick points
An early start this morning, to bring to you all these important announcements:
1. I am about to board a bus to Cambodia, and thus my new mobile phone number will be not usable for the next week or so, until I return to Thailand.
2. I got my haircut last night, short, and it looks baaad - as a result there will be no more photos of me on here for a while. Hehe.
3. On a serious note - you may recently have heard about four human rights observers who have been kidnapped in Iraq, all of them members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) who do fantastic work in not only Iraq but also places like Colombia and Palestine. Three of the four captured have been previously themselves to volunteer in Palestine in a very similar capacity to what I and my friends were and still are, in regions like Hebron, Jenin and Nablus. One of them has, in the past, been a volunteer himself with ISM and was planning on going for another, more long-term stay next week. While I myself do not know any of these people personally, good friends of mine do, and I know that they are obviously hurting and worrying greatly about their capture. I urge you to give thought to these innocent activists and if you are in any inclined to do so, to keep them in your prayers. They were doing, and hopefully can continue to do, crucial work for the people of Iraq and Palestine.
4. And related: a friend in ISM, Andrew from Scotland, is about to be deported for his work in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron. You can read a passionate and well-worded statement written by Andrew's parents here.
bless for them and for you too :)
ReplyDeletepatt
I will pray for them. And i love readin your blogg!! /jacob
ReplyDeleteChris, I just read of the most recent development of the men captured (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/02/iraq.hostages.ap/index.html) and I can't even imagine how terrifying that must be. They're in my prayers for sure, as well as everyone else trying to do good everywhere. I really admire everything you've done, and I continue to love and miss you!
ReplyDelete-eve
For follow up:
ReplyDeleteThis is a recent statement of solidarity by a whole lot of significant Palestinian organisations which was written in Arabic and sent to those who have taken these four men hostage:
Lets hope it carries some weight:
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Statement about kidnapped CPT members by Palestinian political parties
(Arabic & English)
Statement, Various Palestinian Factions, 30 November 2005
Following the abduction of four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq, Palestinian political factions gathered in Hebron to issue a statement in Arabic about their experiences of seeing the CPT working in Palestine, and their personal knowledge of the three kidnapped members and their
important work on behalf of the Palestinian people. Original Arabic version provided by CPT Hebron. English translation by the Electronic Intifada, posted for informational purposes.
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In the name of God, the Compassionate and Merciful
"O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done."-The Holy Qur'an, 49:6
The Islamic and National forces in the governorate of Hebron/Palestine express their deep regret for the kidnapping of four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Iraq.
The Islamic and National forces in the governorate of Hebron/Palestine have had long experience confronting Israeli crimes and violations with the CPT
since 1995, and wish to confirm that the members of this group have had and still have a major role in confronting Israeli crimes and violations, and in the protection of the property and the lives of the Palestinian citizens.
More than once they placed themselves in front of the occupation's tanks, and they confronted Israeli occupation bulldozers with their bodies
defending Palestinians' homes against destruction. They accompanied our children when they were threatened and attacked by Israeli settlers on their
way to and from their schools. Because of what they were doing, the CPT members were subjected to arrest, beating and pursuit by the Israeli soldiers and settlers in more than one location in Palestine. Many of them were denied entry to Palestine, or deported by the occupation authorities because of their activities in confronting the occupation.
We appeal to our brothers in the resistance and all those with alert consciences in Iraq, with whom we consider ourselves to be in the same trench confronting American aggression and occupation, to instantly and
quickly release the four kidnapped persons (two Canadians, one Briton and one American) from CPT, in appreciation for their role in standing beside and supporting our Palestinian people and all the Arab and Islamic peoples.
Freedom for the Iraqi and Palestinian people.
Shame and disgrace on the Zionist and American occupation.
The Islamic and National Forces in the Governorate of Hebron:
Islamic Resistance Movement/Hamas
Palestine People's Party
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Democratic Union of Palestine/FIDA
Fatah
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Palestinian Liberation Front
Palestinian Popular Struggle Front
Hebron, 29 November 2005