[antiwar-van] IFCO / Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba Update

[Tamara Hansen]

Dear Friends, Co-fighters and allies,

We are very happy to hear that the IFCO/Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba has made it successfully through the border between the US and Mexico and is now on its way to deliver aid and Caravanistas to Cuba!

Unfortunately during the US/Mexico crossing 5 computers were seized by US customs due to the United States' 50 years of immoral and illegal blockade against Cuba. Those computers were from Vancouver for a Cuban hospital or school. However the border crossing to Mexico was a great victory, as more than 100 tons of aid, including medical equipment and other computers has made it through the border and is on its way to Cuba.

We thank you for your ongoing support of the IFCO/Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba! Please visit http://www.pastorsforpeace.org to continue following the caravan's progress.

In Solidarity,
Tamara Hansen
Coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba


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PRESS STATEMENT


IFCO / Pastors for Peace

Dear friends and supporters of IFCO/Pastors for Peace,

We write to you at 6am from McAllen, Texas about a very urgent and
threatening development in this year’s Caravan to Cuba.

On Tuesday night, we were on the verge of calling on our friends and
supporters to activate our international emergency network. For the
first time in 20 years, it was indicated to us by Mexican customs that
there would be a full stop to passage of our humanitarian aid through
Mexico.

During a meeting on July 20th Mexican customs officials at the Pharr
border crossing declared that the Caravan would effectively be stopped
from completing it’s mission of love and solidarity. The results of
this decision would have been disastrous, leaving over 100 tons of
humanitarian aid, nine buses and one car stuck interminably in Mexican
customs.

Late last night, during a strategy session for planning an
international campaign to seek the reversal of this draconian
position, we received notification that the central offices of Mexican
customs had relayed an order to the Pharr border officials to allow
the Caravan to continue through the Mexican border as it has been the
previous 20 years.

We applaud the Mexican officials for backing away from what would have
been a disastrous policy regarding the Pastors for Peace Caravan and
the delivery of humanitarian aid to Cuba.

In the face of these hostilities we were confident that we would have
your to support to mount a strong international campaign in support of
the Caravan.

Now, we ask that you place a call the office of the Mexican Ambassador
to the US, Arturo Sarukhan to thank Martha Oropezev at 202-728-1640
for their intervention on our behalf.

We are writing you now at 6am on July 21st to give you the last update
before we depart for the border. We are determined that the Caravan
will make it to Cuba and are confident in your continued support.

While we have been struggling with the Mexican customs, we also have
no indication of what we may face from US customs. This morning we
face US AND Mexican customs, but we do not do it alone. We ask you to
be on the alert for whatever may be necessary to ensure that the 21st
Caravan arrives in Cuba with all humanitarian aid.

The work of peace and justice is hard work, we are prepared with your
support to continue to certain victory.

Si se puede! We shall overcome.