freepalestine
1st February 2011, 20:53
PFLP backs Egypt uprising
Published today (updated) 01/02/2011 19:55
http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng-1.jpg http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng+1.jpg
Palestinians rally marking the 42nd anniversary of the leftist PFLP faction
in Gaza City, December 2009. [MaanImages/Wissam Nassar, File]
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- "At this great and pinnacle moment for the Arab people," the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced Tuesday, "we totally and unwaveringly stand by the choice of the Egyptian nation for democracy and progress."
In the first public statement issued by any Palestinian faction, the PFLP came out in vehement support of the Egyptian protesters who have taken to the streets of Cairo and elsewhere demanding the ouster of 30-year ruler Hosni Mubarak.
"We pay tribute to the Egyptian people who have rebelled for the sake of their dignity, freedom, and social justice; to the masses of the Arab nations who strive for the freedom of their homeland and the right to be human," the party said in a statement received by Ma'an.
With governments in both the West Bank and Gaza silent on the events in Egypt and Tunisia, much of the Palestinian press has printed and broadcasted little about the uprising.
Analysts have compared the silence to the PLO's support for Saddam Hussein when he waged war on Kuwait in the 1990s; they say this could be why Palestinian officials have refrained from speaking publicly.
Others say the Palestinian leadership would be wise to reflect on its own dubious legitimacy and call a vote in the near future. In the West Bank, Fatah officials are now discussing elections.
"The people must grasp hard for their rights, they must insist on the construction of modern institutions that reflect their own interests and serve their ambitions," the PFLP said.
"Arab regimes must learn from these lessons and listen to the voice of the people, they must listen to their demands for dignity, freedom and sovereignty."
The party said its own aims for national liberation were aligned with those of the Egyptian people: "Emancipation affects not only the people who are freed, but change itself."
All people must stand by Egypt and its choice without interference, the leftist movement said.
The statement came a day after police in the Gaza Strip shut down a demonstration in support of the uprising in Egypt. Activists said six women and eight men were arrested in Gaza City.
Human Rights Watch slammed Gaza's Hamas rulers for breaking up the rally.
"The Hamas authorities should stop arbitrarily interfering with peaceful demonstrations about Egypt or anything else," said Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East director, in a statement.
"Police committing unlawful arrests and abusing demonstrators should be held to account," she said.
A day earlier, Palestinian Authority security forces shut down a demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy in Ramallah, after calling in one of the organizers for questioning multiple times a day earlier.
Forces pushed demonstrators and a man who identified himself as a police commander said the demonstrators were in a "security area" and would have to disperse, they said.
The PA banned a similar demonstration in solidarity with the uprising in Tunisia last week.
Human Rights Watch urged the PA to stop its "arbitrary interference with peaceful demonstrations."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=356196
Published today (updated) 01/02/2011 19:55
http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng-1.jpg http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng+1.jpg
Palestinians rally marking the 42nd anniversary of the leftist PFLP faction
in Gaza City, December 2009. [MaanImages/Wissam Nassar, File]
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- "At this great and pinnacle moment for the Arab people," the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced Tuesday, "we totally and unwaveringly stand by the choice of the Egyptian nation for democracy and progress."
In the first public statement issued by any Palestinian faction, the PFLP came out in vehement support of the Egyptian protesters who have taken to the streets of Cairo and elsewhere demanding the ouster of 30-year ruler Hosni Mubarak.
"We pay tribute to the Egyptian people who have rebelled for the sake of their dignity, freedom, and social justice; to the masses of the Arab nations who strive for the freedom of their homeland and the right to be human," the party said in a statement received by Ma'an.
With governments in both the West Bank and Gaza silent on the events in Egypt and Tunisia, much of the Palestinian press has printed and broadcasted little about the uprising.
Analysts have compared the silence to the PLO's support for Saddam Hussein when he waged war on Kuwait in the 1990s; they say this could be why Palestinian officials have refrained from speaking publicly.
Others say the Palestinian leadership would be wise to reflect on its own dubious legitimacy and call a vote in the near future. In the West Bank, Fatah officials are now discussing elections.
"The people must grasp hard for their rights, they must insist on the construction of modern institutions that reflect their own interests and serve their ambitions," the PFLP said.
"Arab regimes must learn from these lessons and listen to the voice of the people, they must listen to their demands for dignity, freedom and sovereignty."
The party said its own aims for national liberation were aligned with those of the Egyptian people: "Emancipation affects not only the people who are freed, but change itself."
All people must stand by Egypt and its choice without interference, the leftist movement said.
The statement came a day after police in the Gaza Strip shut down a demonstration in support of the uprising in Egypt. Activists said six women and eight men were arrested in Gaza City.
Human Rights Watch slammed Gaza's Hamas rulers for breaking up the rally.
"The Hamas authorities should stop arbitrarily interfering with peaceful demonstrations about Egypt or anything else," said Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East director, in a statement.
"Police committing unlawful arrests and abusing demonstrators should be held to account," she said.
A day earlier, Palestinian Authority security forces shut down a demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy in Ramallah, after calling in one of the organizers for questioning multiple times a day earlier.
Forces pushed demonstrators and a man who identified himself as a police commander said the demonstrators were in a "security area" and would have to disperse, they said.
The PA banned a similar demonstration in solidarity with the uprising in Tunisia last week.
Human Rights Watch urged the PA to stop its "arbitrary interference with peaceful demonstrations."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=356196