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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 2, Number 9 April 7 - 13, 2002 Quezon City, Philippines |
Statement
of Artists for Palestine Back to Alternative Reader Index "They would love to see me dead," says the
Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwsih in one of his poems. We, undersigned UK writers and artists, categorically declare
that we believe in his right and the right of the Palestinian people to live
free of the nightmare that is now unfolding at their doorstep--the nightmare of
living in a city under curfew and siege, without electricity, telephones, or the
needs of daily life, cut off from the rest of the country and the world, cut off
even from other parts of Ramallah; free from the fear of having the same
nightmare spread to other Palestinian towns, cities and refugee camps; free of
the nightmare of having his home broken into, his sons ! rounded up, tagged, and
hauled away; free from the fear of crimes against his humanity; free of summary
executions whose purpose seems to be to incite further violence; free from the
fear of adding yet more names to the list of the over twenty-thousand disabled
and the nearly one thousand dead. We therefore call upon the all people of good conscience all
over the world to protest against the current onslaught on the Palestinian
people, their institutions, and the very fabric of their society, and to demand
the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli army so that the peace process may
resume. We call upon the Government of the United States to adopt an
even-hand approach to justice, and not to blame the victim for the crimes of the
oppressor. It seems the policy of the current government of Israel is to
eradicate the very idea of Palestine. What they have succeeded in doing instead,
is creating the grounds for vendettas for generations to come. Is this what the
Israeli government wants for its people, and is this what the Israeli people
want for themselves? We hope not, and therefore we call upon them to take to the streets in protest against the inhumane policies of their government. We call upon their writers and artists to take a stand with us. Let the future be bright for both peoples, so that art and literature may have room to blossom. Back to Alternative Reader Index We want to know what you think of this article.
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