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Friday April 13, 2007 21:11
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Comments (16 of 16)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77929
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Cheong
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/04/15/18398809.php
This appeal was posted on indybay yesterday, Sunday 15th April 07.
'A Personal Plea to Alan Johnston's Kidnappers'- by electronic Intifada (re-post)
Alan Johnston
Maybe our reporters in the Ireland-Palestine solidarity fraternity can help. They know so much... What a waste of a good life, for what?
Kate Burton, who penned the indybay article (above) was a human
rights activist and is working with the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights.
She is a friend of Alan Johnston and was herself kidnapped in Gaza
in 2005- she was released after 58 hours.
Johnston covered the story:-
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article6792.shtml
Reporters and photographers protest
The Israeli Goverment's finger prints are all over this one.
Alan Johnston lived and worked in Gaza, he was not 'embedded' and though working for a major
mainstream outlet his perspective was gained from that intimacy with place.
you don't often see red BBC official protest placards....
Has Tony Blair , Prime Minister of the UK commented on the situation where
a family in Britain are wondering if their son/brother/uncle is alive or dead?
Alan Johnston was kidnapped on the 12th of March- since then there has been
one unconfirmed report of his execution. There has been no contact from the
kidnap group.
The unconfirmed report of an execution came through on Sunday.
http://news.sawf.org/lifestyle/36033.aspx
interesting image
The images were taken in London and Gaza.
One protest by fellow workers which was subject to State Violence.(Gaza)
One in London which was attended by the parents of Alan Johnston.(London)
http://www.rsf.org/article/php3?id-article=21675
There is no report of the British Government asking for the safe return
of Mr Johnston- all appeals that are published have been by advocate
agencies/solidarity movements/unions/colleagues/family members and close
friends.
RSF image
Gaza image
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55264
Pity his parents had to stand in Trafagular Square and launch a campaign
to find out over a month later- the reported ransom request is $5 million dollars.
its forty days and there is to be a vigil.
But Abbas insists that the Palestinian secret service confirmed that Alan Johnston is
alive.(three days ago)
it is a pity that his parents had to go and launch a campaign in Trafagular
Square because no-one would talk to them.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21841
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6710863.stm
Hamas secures the safe release of Alan Johnston :
http://www.imemc.org/article/49308
+++Johnston was released after the Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and the Executive Force, which was formed by Hamas during the Hamas-led Palestinian government, surrounded the house where Johnston was held. Without resorting to violence, Johnston was released.+++
"Only Hamas could have done it."
Well I guess you are right there. Hamas controlled the area in which he was kidnapped, Hamas controlled the area in which he was held. Its not unreasonable to assume that the gang responsible were acting as proxies for Hamas. They hardly deserve any thanks for this.
Hamas took control about two weeks ago to avert a major US / Israel sponsored subversion of democracy by Fateh mercenaries and collaborators. Until then Gaza was a lawless freefire zone within which every two bit gangster or agressive agent with a balaclava could have his own little corner of the street. This mayhem is what the US and Israel want the West to believe is the natural Palestinians state of being. Truth is that when Hamas got control of the neighbourhoods they were free to put the pressure directly on those who everyone knew to be holding Johnston.
1.... Hamas took control of Gaza from the Lawless collaborationist factions.
2.... Hamas took control of negotiations for the release of Johnston.
3.... Hamas secured the release of the man after 114 days of captivity.
It will be interesting to see who will give the credit to where it is due.
+++Ismail Haniya, the leader of Hamas, which militarily controls the Gaza Strip claimed that the military coup which displaced Fatah from the territory had helped to free Mr Johnston. “Once Hamas cleansed Gaza of these people it became easier. Alan was really special for all of us Palestinians. This guy was very courageous and decided to stay with us and keep reporting the news from Gaza.” +++
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east...7.ece
Mr Johnson has just given a press conference in the city of Al Qods or Jerusalem. A city which is important to many different people for as many different reasons. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6270020.stm PaddyK's last comment reminded me of this one I left the other day http://indymedia.ie/article/83107?&condense_comments=fa...99802 in which you may see the logo which was used by the group who held Johnson. We ought now in our various local groups and networks return to a question which was raised by the last IAWM report put up on this site by MichaelY - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83240 coz things are gonna get less hazy now. Yes, we know how and why the democratic mandate for Hamas led to immediate punitive economic action by the Israeli state, the EU and naturally the USA. We also know why some of those who would "speak for the umah or Islam" were keen to forge a perceptional axis between Hamas and Hezbollah. But at the end the bottom line is the bottom line - sort out the Palestinians no matter where they are camped & end the war in and on Iraq. IT has been my published opinion since April (As a reminder the summit of US Congress speaker democrat Nancy Pilosi & Syria and of course the parallel espionage hostage exchange crises of the UK and Iran which I dubbed the "sometimes a powerless enemy solidier is the best diplomat gig") http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81703?&condense_comment...89009 that covertly and diplomatically we are now moving to an essential phase of conflict resolution across the combined theatres. hmmmmmmm. that doesn't mean people stop dying. no- not a bit of it. However we're going to get some music. they tell us.... You probably don't need to learn much about that logo that little group with no political wing or transnational friends or even manners used.
Mr Johnson is free - here you see him accompanied by Hamas guards. "nice BBC & nice Hamas"
The comments above both by PaddyK and Iosaf constitute, in my stricty personal opinion, such an important contribution to our understanding of what exactly is going on not only, and obviously, in Gaza but in the entire occupied territories, Lebanon, and, by extension, Iraq! I followed very carefully ealier on Sky Johnston's live interview in Jerusalem. Over and above his total relief for having survived his 100 day+ ordeal, his political analysis of the importance of the Hamas control of Gaza for the inhabitants of the territory and Hamas' focus on structuring an area with a modicum and a semblance of civil order....how sharply they contrast with the nonsense that emanates and it almost inevitably will soon come from the usual anti-Islamic suspects!! Once they catch their breadth, they digest what happened , IU am sure they will startt wafflinfg about the 'enemy of our enemy is not our friend' and similar shibboleths.
Paddy K, I read with care your comments in the other thread re:participation in conferences etc. Will respond with some practical ideas soon
This early afternoon, Newstalk 106 played an interview with Alan Johnson at 12pm. It was excellent with a good
political discussion on Gaza and on the incarceration period which included limited access by Mr Johnson to
TV , detailing where and how he accessed info about the campaigns for his release and how this helped his
awareness of how family coped with the issue.
The included link is to podcasts of highlights, I am currently trying to access a link to the whole interview
which was excellent, though he sounded tired.The most interesting bit was his ability to identify how his parents
were coping through being able to look at the images of the campaign and the contrast between his parents and his
colleagues in their dealing with the kidnap period:-
http://newstalk.ie/newstalk/podcasts/18/highlights-from...e.xml
http://www.newstalk.ie