Open brief van Gazavloot aan Griekse premier

De Freedom Flotilla, een internationale vloot schepen die de blokkade van Gaza wil doorbreken, wordt op het moment tegengehouden in Griekenland. Vrijdag 1 juli verbood de Griekse staat onder druk van Israël en haar machtige bondgenoten de vloot uit te varen. Zo is een kapitein aangehouden en werden schepen op zee gedwongen terug te varen door de Griekse marine. De opvarenden geven echter niet op. Daarom hebben zij onder andere een open brief geschreven aan de Griekse premier Papandreou. Deze publiceren wij hier.

Foto: het Amerikaanse deel van de vloot, The Audacity of Hope

Corfu, 3rd of July

Dear Mr. Papandreou,

We, members of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II, are outraged by your
government’s decision to close the ports of Greece to our humanitarian
initiative, even by force if needed. From all parts of the world we
have come to the shores of Greece, leaving behind our work places and
families, in order to peacefully put into practice our solidarity with
the oppressed people of Gaza.

This decision not only violates the consecrated principle within
international law of the freedom of the seas and the ancient tradition
of freedom of the Mediterranean, but also disregards the claims for
democracy and self-determination of the people of Palestine as well as
of the non-governmental organizations we represent.

It is totally incomprehensible to us and fills us with just wrath that
the Greek government closes the ports to our ships at the very moment
in which you, Mr. Papandreou, have been constantly expressing the need for solidarity with the Greek people. You and your government acting as an ally of Israel in the Palestinian question means you also seem to have forgotten the struggle against the military dictatorship in
your own country.

The members of this international peace mission therefore demand, on
behalf of the people of Gaza, for us the same right to move that has
been granted for centuries to the Greek people in our countries.

MR. PAPANDREOU, LET US SAIL!