and Supporters of Kevin Neish
Protest at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 1, at the Constituency Office of Conservative MP Gary Lunn
Kevin Neish, a determined supporter in Victoria of human rights and social justice may be in the hands of the Israeli Military. He was kidnaped from the Free Gaza Flotilla when Israeli Commandos attacked the flotilla, killing more than 10 peaceful civilians trying to take humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
The people of Gaza have suffered for three years from an illegal Israel-imposed blockade. In December 2008 and January 2009, 1400 Gazans were killed by the Israeli Defense Forces in Operation Cast Lead, condemned as a war crime. Since then the Israeli government has refused to allow the import of material for rebuilding the extensive destruction of homes, schools, mosques, hospitals and public infrastructure which Israel destroyed. It also continues to starve Gazans of essential foods and medicines. The Free Gaza Flotilla aimed to break the illegal blockade to deliver needed humanitarian supplies.
Kevin Neish has spent many years of his life supporting and working for human rights and it was no surprise to those who know him when he joined the hundreds of volunteers who accompanied the Flotilla to deliver essential humanitarian aid to Gaza. So far we have no word on whether he is alive, injured, or in an Israeli prison. The Harper Conservative Government has taken no action to determine his status or to secure his release and return to Victoria.
We are protesting at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 1, at the Constituency Office of Conservative MP Gary Lunn to demand that the Harper
Conservative act immediately to determine the status, whereabouts, and to secure the freedom of Kevin Neish. The record of this government in protecting Canadian citizens in need in foreign lands is deplorable. We are not prepared that Kevin will be left under the control of the Israeli Military. We are prepared to act in direct and surprising ways to ensure that the Harper government acts to secure his release.
