[mobglob-discuss] ISM-Vancouver calls for the immediate release of Jaggi Singh

[Macdonald Stainsby]

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 Vancouver, January 9, 2003

 ISM-Vancouver calls for the immediate release of Jaggi Singh

 ISM-Vancouver denounce the Canadian government's unwillingness to
 protest and intervene in Singh's Arrest.

ISM Vancouver demands the immediate release of Jaggi Singh, held
by the Israeli Security Police. "Jaggi was kidnapped as he visited a
friend's home in Jerusalem," said representatives of Solidarity for
Palestinian Human Rights.

 While the Canadian government representatives are unwilling to
 protest Singh's arrest, ISM Vancouver and ISM in Palestine, are attempting
to make contact with him, to assure that he is safe and has legal
representation.  Singh is reportedly being held at the Russian
Compound in Jerusalem, an Israeli jail notorious for torturing
Palestinians. No details are being released as to the nature of his charges --
if
any are being laid -- or how long he will be held.

 "We believe that Jaggi should not have been banned from entering
 Palestine, because the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian
 territories is illegal," said ISM-Vancouver Coordinator Reem Alnuweiri. "As
part of the occupation authorities, the Israeli Supreme Court does not
have any jurisdiction over Palestinian occupied lands under international law."

 Jaggi Singh is a Montreal based writer and activist visiting
 Israel and Palestine as an International Solidarity Movement volunteer
 (ISM-Montreal). He went to assist and report on the work of ISM in
 the occupied territories. ISM is a Palestinian-led non-violent direct
action movement of Palestinian and international activists who support
 the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice, and call for an end
to the Israeli occupation.

 Singh stated on December 17, 2002 (via an internet report), that:
 "the real fear here is that I, along with other internationals, might
 be involved in active solidarity work with Palestinian activists....
 how [can] I allow an occupying power to dictate whether I can visit
the territories they occupy illegally".

 Singh also acknowledged that he had "incredible support of Israeli
 peace activists" at his hearing in Tel Aviv. "All part of a very real
 emerging alliance between Israeli dissenters and international activists,
together in solidarity with the Palestinian-led struggle for self-
determination."

 Please contact Reem Alnuweiri, Coordinator of ISM-Vancouver, at
 604.461.8409, or Macdonald Stainsby at 604.525.9171.

-------------------------------------------
Macdonald Stainsby

--
In the contradiction lies the hope.
                                     --Bertholt Brecht