Mukhriz on Gaza aid mission: ‘We will not be foiled’

The humanitarian aid ship MV Rachel Corrie, sponsored by the Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO), will not be foiled by any attempt to derail its mission to send aid to the people of Gaza by sea.

PGPO advisor Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said these include the decision by Egypt to open up the border crossing at Rafah to enable the aid to be transported by land to the Gaza Strip.

“Gaza has suffered from the blockade for three years. If the Rafah crossing were to be opened, it should have been a long time ago. I see this as a tactic to discourage us from sending humanitarian aid straight to Gaza by sea,” he told reporters after opening the ESQ Training Grand Event 2010 here today.

Mukhriz said the mission organisers would also not be deceived by the statement by United States Vice-President Joe Biden for the aid to be handed over to Israel to be sent to Gaza.

He said Israel’s suspicion over the supplies carried by the ship was unfounded as these had been checked and the ship confirmed to be not carrying any arms before making its journey to Gaza.

“They (Israel and the US) have been making ridiculous excuses as the passengers onboard the humanitarian aid flotilla are peace activists and we (aid mission organisers) have ensured that the ships did not carry any firearms.

“Israel should not give excuses but to allow our ships to reach their destination without any interference,” he said.

Biden, when interviewed during the Charlie Rose show on the US Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on Wednesday, defended Israel’s attack on one of the ships in the flotilla to prevent smuggling of weapons to Gaza and questioned the mission organisers’ insistence of sending the aid straight to Gaza.

On US’ stand in defending Israel, Mukhriz said it was a mistake and that the US should have instead taken the opportunity to correct the situation.

“We know that Israel has to date violated 80 United Nations resolutions, meaning it has no respect at all for international law.

“Such a belligerent country should be isolated; it cannot be supported so that it will not act as it pleases,” he said.

Mukhriz, who is also International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, had earlier witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between ESQ Leadership Centre Sdn Bhd and Primeworks Studio, TV9, Koperasi Serbaguna Anak-Anak Selangor (Kosas), Institut Perubatan dan Pergigian Termaju (IPPT), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Felcra Training Centre for ESQ training be conducted at the organisations or companies involved.


comments


That Perdana Leadership is under HIS father. His father got the funds whilst he was able to pump when in office as Malaysia's PM. So what turns? What burns? Cannnot Dr M and his son be on board the ship too? That will scare away the Israelis and the US...and the ships can go through