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For immediate release
15 groups from Quebec unite for peace in Palestine
Montreal, March 7, 2008 – a large range of community groups, NGOs and trade unions call for peace in Palestine.
“The bombardment of an important health care centre in Gaza is the last drop of water that makes the glass overflow”, affirmed Louis Roy of the CSN in the name of all the groups that were present. This bombardment did not only destroy the building, but also an ambulance, the stock of drugs and the equipment for people with disabilities.
“As people with disabilities, we are particularly sensitive to the fate reserved for our alter ego of the whole world. The destruction of the thin infrastructure intended for the Palestinians living with a disability touches us particularly,” underlined Leon Bossé of COPHAN, which unites organizations that promote the rights of people with disabilities in Quebec.
“For months, more than one million people have been taken hostage by the Israeli government and the uninterrupted operations of its army. The daily bombardments and the regular military incursions are accompanied by locking up of territories. Every day, civilians, very often children, are killed, this has to end immediately,” affirmed Réjean Parent of the CSQ. “According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, based in Gaza, at least 120 dead (including 95 civil) and more than 300 wounded were counted during the last week," continued Dalia Merhi de Tadamon.
For Rene Roy of the FTQ, “It is imperative that violence on both sides ends immediately and that the human rights of all are respected.”
In this humanitarian crises, the coalition sets forth two demands:
First, they ask that the Canadian government publicly denounce the bombings and pressure Israel for an immediate end to the attacks.
Second, they have launched a fundraising campaign to rebuild the clinic in Gaza destroyed by the Israeli army. The objective is to raise $100,000. To reach this goal, they are inviting everyone to visit the site www.unecliniquepourgaza.org where they will be able to make a donation.
Alternatives
Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale, AQOCI
Centrale des syndicats du Québec, CSQ
Centre internationale de solidarité ouvrière, CISO
Comité de solidarité de Trois-Rivières
Comité pour la justice sociale
Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec, COPHAN
Confédération des syndicats nationaux, CSN
Fédération des femmes du Québec, FFQ
Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, FTQ
Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec, FNEEQ
Palestinian and Jewish Unity, PAJU
Solidarity with Palestinian Human Rights
Tadamon!
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