CPTnet
5 December 2005
AT-TUWANI: Palestinians gather in support of CPT, ask for release of CPTers
held in Iraq
[Note: People wishing the Arabic translation of this article may request a
copy from kkcpt@earthlink.net.]
On Friday, 2 December 2005, Palestinians from the village of At-Tuwani
organized a demonstration in support of CPT, asking for the release of the
CPTers currently missing in Iraq: Tom Fox, Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney and
Norman Kember. More than 100 Palestinians from the southern Hebron
district, including adults and children, marched from the school to the
clinic in At-Tuwani, holding photos of the CPTers and banners. The banners
read, "CPTers sacrifice their blood to help us and to help the world know
about our struggles. The people, women and children of At-Tuwani ask for
the captors to let the CPT free."
Villagers spoke about their daily struggles living under Israeli occupation
and how CPTers have stood with them in their resistance to occupation. One
Palestinian said, "I request from the Iraqi resistance to release the
kidnapped CPT members. That is due to the fact that they have defended
innocent Palestinians in the past. My proof is that one day, Israeli
extremist settlers stole my flock of sheep and beat up my children. Members
of the CPT videotaped the whole incident while putting themselves in harm's
way. People who do such things are good friends, not the enemy. I plead with
the Islamic resistance in Iraq to help in freeing these people and I would
like to thank all those exerting the efforts to secure such a release."
Another Palestinian said, "We have been suffering from the Israeli
occupation since ages. CPT members came here two years ago. They have
documented such suffering, and were badly beaten by the Israeli settlers for
that. As such, we have to stand by them because they hold a message of
peace as we call upon the kidnappers to release the kidnapped CPT members in
Iraq. They have become human shields for our children against Israeli
aggression. We demand that they are to be set free as a reward for their
good deeds here in Tuwani and in the rest of Palestine."
The mayor of At-Tuwani stated, "In Tuwani, CPT members walk on daily basis
with the students of Tuwani for a distance of more than two kilometers to
assure they arrive to school and home safely. This accompaniment program has
been carried out over the last two school years. As such, we plead with the
kidnappers to grant clemency for our friends in Iraq CPT. God willing, our
message will reach them as we hope all the best for the Iraqi resistance
movement from the marginalized people of Palestine. Thank you.
"With all the injustices we face as Palestinians and Iraqis we do not want
to be unjust especially towards those who are helping us in these difficult
times. So I plead with the kidnappers to release CPT members in gratitude
for their humane services."
CPT photos of the demo can be found at:
http://www.cpt.org/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=village_demo_for_cpt
Photographer Nayef Hashlamoun took additional photos; they may be found at
www.palestinetoday.org/gallery/cpt
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