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The latest from the Vanunu campaign
15/4/05:
Hello Vanunu Supporter and Friend,
Quite a lot has been happening in the last few days, so we thought it a good time to send you an update before the international delegation, supporting Mordechai on the anniversary of his release, starts to arrive in Israel this weekend.
You will most probably know that on March 17th Mordechai was charged with 22 violations of his restrictions: 21 for talking to foreign journalists and one for attempting to leave Israel. In fact Mordechai was trying to get to Christmas Eve, midnight mass in Bethlehem - hardly a dash for the border!!
The court hearing for these charges was heard on Tuesday, April 12th, after one postponement. Avigdor Feldman, Mordechai’s lawyer, apparently made a very good and rousing defence in court. During a one hour speech he attacked the very basis of the charges; he questioned thieir validity pointing out that there was no evidence to back up the accusations and further insisted that the prosecution must be compelled to give evidence, not behind closed doors , to show how what Mordechai said, and says, could threaten and undermine Israeli state security. Having made a number of rather powerful points he concluded that, on the basis of the charges presented Mordechai should have no case to answer. The judge directed that the prosecution has to present a better-prepared case by May 18th or at the next court hearing, the following day, he could throw out the charges.
Mordechai was clearly pleased with the morning events and, after the hearing, he made a positive statement to the assembled supporters and media (I don’t think there has been any news coverage of this here, except, maybe in Glasgow).
Also, over the last couple of days, regrettably, Mordechai has been served with papers that say his present restrictions will be continued and may even be made more severe; demanding that Mordechai speak to no-one about nuclear weapons or Dimona, the nuclear research centre where he worked. Mordechai has a very short time within which to appeal against the outrageous continuation of these restrictions.
Meanwhile, preparations or the international delegation continue. The delegation will number about 40 people: smaller that last year’s but still a good number. Our first get together with Mordechai will be next Monday, April 18th, at St. George’s Cathedral, where most of the delegation will be staying.
On April 19th there will be a special meeting of the Knesset’s prestigious Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, convened at the request of Issam Makhoul, an Arab member of the Israeli parliament. That session will hear arguments against the restrictions and why they should not be continued - a bit late! We will have three people putting forward this case: two lawyers - one Israeli and one British - and one other, a trustee from the Campaign, Jakob von Uexkull. This committee does not make policy; it functions like our parliamentary committees; it reports and recommends. If it came out against the restrictions, unlikely, that would cause quite a stir, and represent an important shift of opinion.
Later in the week, after various vigils at ministries and a candlelight vigil in West Jerusalem, the delegation will go to Dimona, on April 21st, for another demonstration against that nuclear research centre and in solidarity with Mordechai’s opposition to its existence.
We hope that on April 21st, the anniversary of Mordechai’s release from prison, as many people as possible will join our ‘snowstorm’ protest, suggested by the US Campaign, and e-mail, fax, telephone and send letters to any or all of the attached names - see attachment for suggested points to make. Please make this effort as well supported as possible and circulate it through as many other networks as you can reach.
A number of different groups, worldwide have also decided to hold vigils over this period, mostly on April 21st or 22nd. In Hiroshima, Shinji Noma will be holding a vigil at the Atom bomb memorial with friends and colleagues. His wife will be with us in Israel, on the delegation.
Other vigils will be held in America. Here there will be vigils in Oxford and London, and in Glasgow University, on April 22nd, there will be a ceremony to install Mordechai as rector.
In London the vigil will be on Friday, April 22nd off High Street Kensington and opposite the entrance to Palace Green, where the Israeli embassy is situated.For more information about Hiroshima contact Shinji Noma: snoma@do7.enjoy.ne.jp
For Oxford - Irene Brennan: Irene.brennan@ukgateway.net
For Glasgow - Mick Napier: michaelnapier@blueyonder.co.uk
We know you will do all you can, over the next few days, for Mordechai and his continuing fight for full freedom. And thank you to everyone for your continuing concern, support and solidarity in this long running struggle in pursuit of justice for Mordechai in his fight against Israel’s brutal policies.
With my best wishes,
Ernest Rodker
Last modified: Friday, April 15, 2005
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Previous stories
International
Arguments against G8
Whistleblowers with all this information we can still do nothing to stop corruption and we have no government to protect the rights of Americans why?
Whistleblower given early trial date
Reports from Bishkek
Vanunu's Plight I spoke on him last night
Journalists call on Yushchenko to solve Gongadze case
'A shocking abuse of journalists’ rights and press freedom'
MEDIA MONITOR: Justice for Vanunu
MEDIA MONITOR: Thumbs Down for Berlusconi
More MidEast links
The National Conference on Media Reform - 7-9 November 2003
Who does he think he is?
Latest GATS News
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LEGALISED PIRACY
The Shayler Trial
Legalised Piracy
The Response of the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom to the Department of Trade and Industry Consultation Document Liberalising Trade in Services.
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