AsiaGaza Solidarity Caravan (Sindh Chapter) Karachi ST001, Sector X, Subsector V, Gulshan e Maymar Karachi, 02136351145, Fax:021336350354
November 29, 2010
Press Conference Civil Society, Trade Unions, Political Organisations, Intellectuals and Activists to
Welcome civil resisters from 17 Asian countries arriving in Karachi on December 7 2010 and march through 18 Asian cities of Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey to break the siege of Gaza through the sea route in December 2010 On behalf of the Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan Sindh Chapter we welcome you to this press conference. Through press conference we wish to introduce the journalist fraternity and the people at large about the 100 plus activists and intellectuals of Asia to Gaza Soliiarity Caravan arriving in Karachi from Lahore on December 7 2010. The Gaza Solidarity caravan will be joined by activists from Karachi as they proceed to Iran on way to Turkey and Gaza. The Caravan comprises intellectuals, activists, writers, trade unionists, religious scholars and students. It starts from Delhi on December 2, 2010 and comprises people from Bangladesh, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Nepal carrying relief material for the people of Gaza. On a greater level the caravan is a symbolic gesture aimed to expose the barbarity of the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza. You are well aware of the state of siege that people in Gaza are facing at the hands of the Israeli government. No words can express the extent of barbarity the people of Palestine face since the occupation of their land by a Zionist regime in 1948. The people of Pakistan regularly express their desire for the liberation of Palestine and the siege of Gaza has added to our anger. The Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan will help to express solidarity of the ordinary Pakistanis for the besieged Palestinians. The Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan is being organised by the Asian People’s Solidarity for Palestine, an alliance of peoples’ organisations, social movements, trade unions, and civil society institutions of Asia. This struggle is broadbased, multidimensional, humanitarian and for peace, freedom and human dignity of the Palestinians. It is against occupation, imperialism, apartheid, Zionism and all forms of discrimination including religious discrimination that the people of Palestine in general and half a million population of Gaza have to bear. A huge majority of Palestinian Muslims, Christians and people of other faith live the Zionist controlled apartheid. The Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan Sindh Chapter extends solidarity to the courageous people of Palestine in their struggle, resistance, and intifada against the Zionist Israeli occupation. We reiterate our commitment to Palestinian SelfDetermination; Ending the Occupation; Equal Rights for All within historic Palestine; the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees; and the Establishment of a Sovereign, Independent and Democratic state of Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital. The Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan Sindh Chapter joins the Asian People’s Solidarity for Palestine to commit to build solidarity of Asian people for the struggle for freedom of Palestinians by providing
materials, resources, and volunteers and demands the government to move beyond the rhetoric of bland solidarity while Israel condemns Palestinians with impunity. The Sindh Chapter of Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan comprises a number of civil society, political and trade union organisations and individuals including: Railway Workers Union, Pakistan Trade Union Federation, Home Based Workers Federation, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, International Socialists Pakistan, Port Workers Federation, Pakistan Mazdoor Mahaz, Peoples Unity PIA, Pukhtoon Fikri Jirga, HRCP, Jiay Sindh Mahaz, Pakistan Press Foundation/Peoples Resistance, Peoples Workers Union KESC, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research and Peoples Labour Bureau among many others. We plan to give a rousing welcome to the Asia Gaza Solidarity Caravan when it arrives in Karachi at Gaggar Phattak on December 8 and bring them to the city in a procession. We also plan to hold a public meeting at the Karachi Press Club on December 7, 2010 and a number of meetings and programs to express our solidarity. Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan Sindh Chapter Coordination Committee: 1. Sharafat Ali, Pakistan Institute of Labor Education & Research (Coordinator) 2. Farid Awan, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation 3. Latif Mughal, Peoples Labour Bureau, Karachi. 4. Riaz Ahmed, International Socialists (Pakistan)