Police clear seized Gaza aid vehicles

Louise Nousratpour
Tuesday February 17, 2009
The Morning Star

THE three vehicles seized on their way to join a Gaza aid convoy were free to continue their journey on Tuesday after being released by anti-terrorism officers.

The two vans and an ambulance had been travelling to London to link up with the convoy when nine men were arrested in an intelligence-led investigation on the M65 motorway in Lancashire.

Six of the men were released without charge following Friday's operation while detectives have until tomorrow to question the remaining three men in custody.

A spokeswoman for Viva Palestina, the umbrella group organising the convoy, accused police of engaging in a "smear campaign."

She insisted: "The arrests were unjustifiable because the men have done nothing wrong.

"The police knew that the media could not ignore the convoy and the arrests was an attempt to divert attention from the good deed by trying to portray those involved as Galloway's terrorist group."

Palestine Solidarity Campaign general secretary Betty Hunter questioned police claims that the arrests were part of an ongoing "intelligence-led" investigation.

She said: "I would be very surprised if terrorists decided to use a very high profile aid convoy to Gaza.

"The initiative to take 100 vehicles to Palestine is to be applauded and I hope the police will not use this to further prevent Palestinians from receiving aid."

Police continued to search a number of homes in the Burnley area, where some of the arrested men are understood to be from.

Local Labour councillor Wajid Khan said that Muslims in the area were concerned that the operation was aimed at preventing aid reaching Gaza.

"If this was because the aid was going to Gaza, then it would have a very devastating consequence for community spirit," he added.

Organisers doubted that whether the six men released will be able to catch up with the convoy, which leaves Spain today for Morocco.

The convoy carrying medicine, clothing and shoeboxes of toys set off from London on Saturday and is expected to reach Gaza in early March.

Speaking from the convoy in the suburbs of Madrid, organiser Kevin Ovenden said: "We have received tremendous support along the way."

Asked if he was concerned about Israel's attempt to stop them entering Gaza, he said: "No-one is going to turn this convoy around. We will deliver the aid."

Student occupation ends in 'huge victory'

Louise Nousratpour
Thursday February 5, 2009
Morning Star

SCOTTISH students who occupied their university in solidarity with Palestine ended their protest in victory on Thursday after the authorities conceded most of their demands.

Some 60 students at Strathclyde University in Glasgow hailed the outcome of the 24-hour occupation as a "huge victory" for the Scottish wing of an ongoing national campaign against universities' links to Israel.

After a meeting with student representatives, the university's vice-chancellor agreed to stop purchasing water coolers from Israeli-owned company Eden Springs.

"This has sparked an unprecedented move by other Scottish universities to consider terminating their contract with Eden Springs," student union activist Miriam Rose beamed.

The authorities also agreed to fund up to three scholarships for Palestinian students as well as publicising the Disasters Emergency Committee's Gaza appeal on the university website.

The BBC and Sky News sparked widespread protests last month when they refused to air the humanitarian aid appeal.

"Unfortunately, the university did not move on our demand for an end to investment in arms companies," Ms Rose said, but she vowed to continue to press for a resolution on the matter.

"We will be linking with students from other universities across Britain to push this vital demand through."

More than 150 students at the University of Manchester, who began their occupation on Wednesday, are still holding fort as their demands have so far been rejected by vice-chancellor Alan Gilbert.

Following a 500-strong meeting on Wednesday, the students proposed a set of demands, including a boycott of Israeli goods on campus, a day of fundraising with proceeds to the Gaza appeal and an end to research into manufacturing arms.

On Thursday, they organised a day of alternative lectures on subjects such as racism and resistance in Britain, the Israel boycott campaign, media and war and university investment in the arms trade.

Katan Alder of the Palestine Action group, which organised the event, said: "We are channelling students' anger over the Gaza crisis into progressive political activity and direct action.

"We take inspiration from the resistance movement in Palestine and will not end our occupation until all our demands are met."

Students at other universities across Britain have taken similar actions over the last three weeks and have been successful in their demands.