The convoy of hope from London to Gaza has been attacked. Members injured & hospitalised, also arrested, including a Malaysian student. This was because the convoy members protested against the Egyptian government’s refusal to allow some 50 trucks into Gaza. Bear in mind that the convoy complied with all of Egypt’s demands before this.

I spoke to Mr George Galloway via telephone Wed, 6th Jan at 7.36 am (M’sian time) & he said there was “massive violence” by the Egyptian police. Stones were thrown, beatings, tear gas. Some members have been hospitalised & some arrested. Those arrested include a Malaysian student studying in the UK. Currently 10 Turkish MPs are negotiating with top Egyptian officials. Egypt has just proven to the world that there is indeed a siege on Gaza.

Viva Palestina Malaysia is very concerned for our fellow Malaysians & all the rest in the convoy. Malaysia has 9 vehicles carrying aid to the people of Gaza.

VPM will be handing over a memorandum to the Egyptian ambassador this afternoon expressing our outrage at this latest incident and demanding that the Egyptian government ensures the safety of the convoy and the quick delivery of badly needed aid.

VPM calls on all our friends to join us this afternoon when we hand over the memo and bring about a conclusion to this journey which began a month ago over thousands of miles.

Date: Wed, 6th January, 2009
Time: 1.45 pm
Place: Outside Egyptian Embassy
12, Jalan Rhu, Off Jalan Ampang Hilir, 55000, KL.

See you there & do circulate this widely.

regards

Azra Banu
Secretary
Viva Palestina Malaysia
016 209 4500

1,400 dead, 5,000 injured, 20,000 homeless & 50,000 displaced. Schools, hospitals, universities, ministries, homes, shops – nothing was spared. The people of Gaza were simply bombed to death.

All around the world civil societies are marking the first anniversary of this cowardly and genocidal crime and Viva Palestina Malaysia (formerly COMPLETE) calls on all Malaysians to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people by doing the following:

1. Display the Palestinian scarf on 27th December everywhere you go. Drape it around yourself, tie it to your bag, display it in your car. Just let it be seen.

2. Boycott the following companies, supporters of the Zionist regime of Israel, from 27th December to 18th January – Nestle, McDonald’s, Coke and Loreal. Do not buy any of their products!

3. Put up Boycott Israel car stickers, available for free. They can be collected from 6, SS1/24A, Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya. Or call Jemaimah at 013 231 4596

4. Observe one minute of silence at exactly 12 noon on 27th December. Turn this silence into a deafening roar against the injustice suffered by the Palestinians.

It is highly encouraged that you get together with family and friends on 27th December. Do take pictures and videos of your activities and email them to complete2009@gmail.com. We will be posting them on our website and Facebook. Viva Palestina Malaysia members and volunteers will be at the open court of Mid Valley Shopping Mall at 11 am on 27th December. Do join us.

Gaza is still under a blockade. The attack gave the Palestinian struggle a global dimension and civil societies all around the world are stepping in to bring about a change. In the words of  Abraham Joshua Heschel,

Please circulate this email far and wide. Lets get together and remember a people long forgotten by the rest of the world.

For more information do contact the following

Azra                    azrabanu@gmail.com 016 209 4500
Jemaimah            jemma.mustapha@gmail.com 013 231 4596

Bowling competition and ice skating for all interested. Do let us know if you are.

For more info, contact Jemaimah at jem_clarke_1@hotmail.com or Azra at azrabanu@gmail.com

COMPLETE will be screening The Iron Wall. This is one documentary not to be missed. The documentary very clearly depicts the catastrophic effects of the wall on the lives of the Palestinians. Close to 90% of the wall’s construction is inside the West Bank, effectively cutting people off from families, schools, farmlands, hospitals, workplaces… In other words, completely isolating them.

Through animation, the wall’s destructive and divisive path is clearly illustrated, as are the systematic demolition of homes, destruction of olive trees, the pain and anguish of an occupied people and the terror faced by them

You’d be shocked at the wanton aggression of arms bearing settlers, terrorising an already oppressed people.

Don’t miss this special screening. Come witness the crimes committed against the Palestinians, who perhaps can stake a claim to being at the epitome of the world’s neglect and ignorance the longest.

Date: Sunday, 5th April
Time: 9.30 am – 1 pm
Place: DBKL Auditorium, Jln Raja Laut, KL
Entrance: Minimum contribution of RM 20 & RM 10 for students

Program:
9.30 am Arrival of Guests
10.00 am Welcome address by COMPLETE Chairman
10.15 am Official Opening by YB Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim
10.30 am Screening of The Iron Wall
11.30 am The Iron Wall Forum
12.30 pm Q & A
1.00 pm Palestine Awareness Campaign at PLUS toll booths

Panelists include the Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia, a senior official from Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia & another Ambassador of a major stakeholder in this issue.

The Awareness Campaign will see our volunteers heading out to designated PLUS toll booths, distributing leaflets on this issue in all the 4 major languages of Malaysia. For those who are interested in volunteering for the awareness campaign, please email me at azrabanu@gmail.com.

PACE (Palestine Centre of Excellence) will be conducting a training for COMPLETE.
The session is called TOPS or Training of Palestine Speakers.
The objective is for the participants to be well versed in this issue.

Date: Saturday, 21st February
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Place: Basement room, Damansara Specialist Hospital
Trainer: Dr. Hafidzi Mohd Noor
Cost: RM 20
Booking: Azra at 016 209 4500 ( BY THURSDAY 19TH FEB)

Please note that training materials & lunch will be provided. As seats are limited & lunch has to be catered, you MUST book a place.

Bonus – Dr Fauziah Hassan of Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, who was in Gaza will be there to share her experience.

All COMPLETE members are encouraged to attend.

Apart from the usual stuff one finds at a bazaar like household items, sports apparel, books, magazines, etc, there’ll be naan baked on the spot, loads of other foodstuff, art & craft activites & even a brand new bike, sure to go at a bargain.

So do come , have a good time & do a little for Gaza.

* Also looking for items to be donated to be sold at this bazaar, including food.