By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net,
Kozhikode: The 130 delegates on board the Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan of the Asian People’s Solidarity for Palestine will reach Syria tomorrow (December 20). Asia’s first humanitarian aid convoy is on its way to Palestine with medical and other aids seeking to break the siege on Gaza.
“The idea of the Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan came up last year when it was known that a lot of Asians were unaware of the Palestinian cause and the siege of Gaza,” said Bishruddeen Sharqi, state committee member of India’s Solidarity Youth Movement, while addressing the media prior to the arrival of the caravan in Damascus. The press meet held in Yarmouk, a Palestinian camp in Damascus, was attended by Khalid Abd al-Majid (Secretary General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front), Ahmed Abdul Karim, Sheikh Alaa Zaatari (representative of the Grand Mufti) and Sheikh Yusuf al-Abbas (representative of the Caravan in Syria). They appreciated the support and cooperation extended to the suffering people of Palestine by the Syrian people and government.
Mr Sharqi and Salim Gafuri of Iran’s Ummah al Wahida left the caravan from Tabriz, Iran, for Damascus for some preparatory works ahead of the convoy entering Syria. They are to arrange visas and reception of the convoy in Syria, Egypt and Palestine as well as coordinating the participants from Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait who are joining the convoy afresh. The two visited the Palestinian camp of Yarmouk on Friday. They, along with the Assistant Mufti of Syria Mr Alauddin Zuaitiri, also met some Palestinian support groups in the city.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Parliament has reportedly decided to send seven of its members along with the Asian convoy to Gaza. The Turkish Prime Minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan is also reported to send his representatives along with the convoy.
The caravan arrived in Turkey on Friday and covered the Kurdish area of Vann, receiving the support and cooperation of the Turkish government and other non-government organizations. Earlier the convoy had received hearty welcome in Iran, where people were on the zenith of enthusiasm as the caravan entered the country in the eve of the Muharram. “The Iranians connected the fight of Imam Hussien, grandson of Prophet Muhammed, against the oppressive rulers and his subsequent martyrdom with the suffering and resistance of the people of Palestine,” said Bishruddeeen Sharqi to TwoCircles.net. “The people shouted ‘Kullu yaum ashura, kullu arzin karbala, haihata mina zzilla’ meaning ‘Everyday is ashura, every land is Karbala, no more subjugation to oppression’. The convoy had a dinner at the Iranian Parliament where Ali Akbar Abu Turabi, vice-president of the Parliament, received them. Feroze Mithiborwala of the Awami Bharat delivered the vote of thanks at the function.
The Asian convoy left New Delhi on December 2 and passed through Pakistan and Iran before arriving in Turkey. It is expected to sail to the Al Arish Port in Egypt from the Latakiya Port in Syria. The convoy plans to enter Gaza through the Rafah Border with Egypt on December 27, the second anniversary of the war on Gaza by Israel after the completion of the six-month truce in 2008. The convoy is carrying aids from India, Iran and Syria etc.
The 130-member convoy includes people of all faiths and religions, men and women, from India, Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Bahrain and Azerbaijan. People from Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan are yet to join the convoy as are the Iranian Parliamentarians, representatives of Turkey and others from Egypt. The Indian Lifeline to Gaza, as the Indian team is called, consists of 50 people from different states, representing various student organizations, civil society groups and trade unions etc like the Awami Bharat (Feroze Mithiborwala), Solidarity Youth Movement, Student Islamic Organisation (Shaheen K Moidunni) and the New Trade Union Initiative (Ashim Roy).
The Palestinian Premier Ismail Haniyya has stated that he would receive the convoy in Gaza, according to reports. However, the world is still watching what will come of the convoy. The Gaza Freedom Flotilla carrying aids to besieged Gaza strip was raided by Israeli soldiers killing around 20 onboard in May this year. And formerly, an attempt of renowned human rights and civil activists like Yvonne Ridley to enter Gaza and demand an end to the siege was dealt with strictly by the Egyptian government at the Rafah Border. However, the present Asian convoy is not the representative of any religion or group but that of several countries and peoples. And it is nearing Gaza receiving the love and prayers of people all over.
The siege of Gaza started in 2007 when Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza strip. The support to the siege by the governments of Egypt (with which Gaza shares the Rafah Border) and the USA has made it harsh for the people of Gaza. Several countries and human rights organizations around the globe have criticised the blockade which consists of a sea blockade and blockade of land along the borders with Egypt and Israel. It is said to be one of the rewards that the people of Gaza had to suffer for electing the Hamas to victory in 2006.