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http://www.vivapalestina.org

GEORGE GALLOWAY SPEECH IN LONDON 5 June 2010

SOCIALISTUNITY - 6 Jun 2010

Viva Palestina founder George Galloway, speaking to a crowd of around 20,000 protesting outside the Israeli Embassy in London, revealed the latest plan to bring about the end of the siege on Gaza.

Two simultaneous convoys - one by land the other by sea - will set forth on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12th bound for Gaza. Viva Palestina, the International Committee to break the Siege on Gaza and any allies who will join us will organise the two
convoys.

The land convoy will leave from London and travel across Europe to Turkey Syria and ultimately through the Rafah Gate into Gaza. Co-operation will be offered and sought with all relevant governments and agencies. It is expected the convoy will
pick up vehicles and volunteers in each country through which it passes. The target is to enter Gaza with 500 vehicles.

The sea convoy will travel around the Mediterranean gathering ships, cargo, volunteers from each country. The target is to enter Gaza with sixty ships.

The aim will be to arrive on Gaza's frontiers at the same time. And to enter with the world's largest ever aid convoys. And to thereby render the siege null and void.


From www.SpideredNews.com  

Eyewitness Kevin Ovenden from the Freedom Flotilla: 'I saw people shot'

SOCIALISTWORKER - Fri, 04 Jun 2010

Kevin Ovenden, a representative of Viva Palestina, was on the main ship of the Freedom Flotilla when Israeli soldiers descended onto the deck – he spoke from Turkey to Siân Ruddick

“We knew the Israelis were going to attack, or intercept us in some way. At 11pm we had the first contact. A visual warning was that two Israeli warships were approaching us, followed by a third.

“We were 90 miles north of the Israeli coast, and 22 miles away from the buffer zone that Israel has set from its shores.

"We had tight organisation procedures in place and people were prepared.

"The captain and the most experienced activists on board said that people should rest. Many people did while others stayed on the look out.

"At 4.25am the attack began. The warship had neared and commandoes were lowering themselves onto the deck from helicopters. There were two motorised dinghies, carrying 14-20 commandoes, on either side of the boat.

"It was clear they were armed – it was the equivalent to an SAS raid. They were all wearing paramilitary style balaclavas.

"The first soldiers landed on the roof of the ship, people responded instinctively with their bare hands and things you would find on a ship – pieces of wood and piping and so on. No sharp objects were used.

Two soldiers were overpowered and pushed below deck. They were disarmed to prevent further injury or death.

"The attack opened with percussion grenades.

"These don’t just make a noise but send shockwaves of heavy vibration. They were trying to create terror and panic.

"They also used rubber coated bullets in the earlier stage. But very quickly they turned to live rounds and we were taking heavy casualties.

"Niki Enchmarch was on the top deck standing next to a Turkish man who was holding a camera. An Israeli soldier shot him in the middle of the forehead. It blew off the back of his skull and he died.

"I was on the second deck. A man standing a metre in front of me was shot in the leg, the man to the right of me in the abdomen. There was pandemonium and terror.

"The youngest person on the ship was not yet a year old, the eldest 88. The crew included German and Egyptian parliamentarians, NGO workers and representatives from various charities. This is who Israel was targeting.

"While they opened fire we struggled in our defence and to limit the massacre.

"They attacked with lethal force to terrorise the movement for the end of the siege of Gaza and the wider movement of solidarity with Palestine. They used violence to instill terror for political ends. This is the definition of terrorism.

"But they failed. The people aboard, their families and the people who donated to the ㈔ million aid, are not afraid – neither are those in the wider movement.

"This must become a turning point in the lifting of the siege and an end to the policies pursued by governments in relation to Israel.

"Israel has completely isolated itself. Around the world we must redouble our efforts and commit to action to end the siege. This is a political opportunity in which big advances can be made.

"The statements of condemnation by David Cameron and William Hague betray how isolated Israel is. These are leaders of a pro-Israeli party, and yet these statements have been more damning than anything Gordon Brown said when Israel was bombing Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009.

"Governments claim to recognize the siege is unsustainable. We have to force the UN, the EU and all the other governments to turn their words of condemnation into action."


From www.SpideredNews.com  

Gaza activist Kevin Ovenden safe in Istanbul

EASTLONDONADVERTISER - Thu, 03 Jun 2010

ACTIVIST Kevin Ovenden has been deported to Istanbul after he was caught up in the Israeli attack on the convoy carrying aid to Gaza.

Mr Ovenden who worked in the Westminster and Bethnal Green offices of former Respect MP George Galloway was on the Mavi Marmara ship which was attacked by Israeli forces leaving nine people dead.

He arrived in Istanbul together with hundreds of activists this morning.

Mr Ovenden has been on two other aid convoys to Gaza and is the organiser of the UK-based Viva Palestina campaign.

In a statement today the Newham resident said: "The massacre on the Mavi Marmara must be a turning point. Passengers from 32 countries were murderously attacked by the Israeli forces.This is the Sharpeville and the Soweto of the movement for Palestinian solidarity. People of those countries around the world must now tell their governments that we are not prepared to continue to allow Israel to flout international law. The inhuman siege of Gaza must end now! The Israeli government has used terror for political ends, but we are not afraid. We who survived the Mavi Marmara massacre will redouble our efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine and end this siege."

His friend and colleague Respect's Rob Hoveman has known Mr Ovenden for 25 years and spoke of his relief that he is safe.

He said: "Kevin is uninjured and I am very relieved. Everybody is delighted that he is out and safe.


From www.SpideredNews.com  

Respect Party : RELEASE THESE HEROES NOW

VOTEGEORGEGALLOWAY - Tue, 01 Jun 2010

The Respect Party is calling on the British government to act urgently to secure the release of 28 British nationals who are confirmed missing after the Israeli assault on the Gaza aid flotilla. These were members and supporters of Viva Palestina, the Free Gaza movement and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. So far, the Foreign Office has failed to reply to urgent requests for information regarding the fate of these heroic volunteers.

All were aboard ships taking 10,000 tonnes of construction materials and human assistance to Gaza in defiance of the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade. The flotilla was attacked in international waters and so far 19 aid volunteers are known to have died. This was an act of piracy and murder.

All five ships were boarded, commandeered and towed to Ashdod port in Israel . The aid was confiscated and all the aid volunteers were arrested. The Israeli government has failed to release any information on their whereabouts or health so they are missing at this time. The full list of those who we know are missing is below.

Among them is Kevin Ovenden, the international coordinator and leading force in the creation and development of Viva Palestina. He has led three aid convoys to break the siege of Gaza since March 2009 and is the epitome of tireless heroism and sacrifice in support of Palestine .

Kevin is a hugely influential and cherished comrade in the Respect Party. He is a member of the Executive Committee, the National Council and a leading figure in Tower Hamlets Respect. He led the Viva Palestina group that joined the Gaza aid flotilla this week and carries the pride and passion of our entire party and movement with dignity and intelligence in this daring mission.

We demand the immediate release of Kevin Ovenden. The Respect Party has firm information that Kevin was unharmed in the assault on the flotilla and we expect his unharmed release from detention forthwith.

We demand the release of all those detained in this murderous attack. These people are heroes who have risked everything to help Palestine . They will be honoured upon return. In particular, we draw attention to Ahsan Shamruk, who travelled with Viva Palestina and was injured in the attack. He is reported to be in a stable condition and we send our thoughts and wishes for his safe return home. 

The full list of British nationals (provisional) is as follows:
Laura Macdonald Stuart
Ebrahim Musaji
Jamal Sayed
Parveen Yaqub
Baboo Adem Zanghar
Ahsan Shamruk
Mustafa Cengiz Ahmet
Tauqir Sharif
Boudejma Bounoua
Mohammad Bounoua
Sakir Yildirim
Kenneth O'Keefe
Ali El-Awaisi
Mohammed Bhaiyat
Lort Phillips Alexandra Mary
Sarah Nancy Colborne
Ismail Adam Patel
Nader Daher
Mahi Mohammed Abid
Nur-E-Azom Choudhury
Kevin Ovenden
Peter Venner
Clifford Gardner Hanley
Muzzammil Layth Chogley
Jamaluddin Mohammad Farid Elshayyal
Hassan Al Banna Ghani
Lazrag Salah
Ali Altan


From www.SpideredNews.com  

Protest over Israeli aid convoy attack planned for Trafalgar Square - Concern for missing Kevin Ovenden

EASTLONDONADVERTISER - Tue, 01 Jun 2010

Demonstrators concerned about the welfare of an East London activist caught up in the Israeli attack on an aid convoy will gather at Trafalgar Square at the weekend.

Kevin Ovenden, a former aide to George Galloway, has been missing since being arrested as part of convoy taking aid to Gaza.

And those concerned about his welfare will link up with a massive demonstration protesting the attack, which happened on Sunday in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mr Ovenden, a member of Respect, worked in the party's Bethnal Green office for five years.

Friends believe he has been arrested by Israeli authorities who attacked the aid convoy, and is being held awaiting deportation.

The Trafalgar Square march starts at 1.30pm on Saturday.

----

From: "George Galloway .com" <georgegallowaydotcom @ gmail.com>

RAGE AGAINST ISRAEL NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION, LONDON, 5 JUNE 2010

The astounding turnout at Monday's emergency protest, when at
only a few hours notice, thousands laid siege to David Cameron's
residence in Downing Street and then marched to the Israeli
Embassy (see http://bit.ly/aEMHws), was a reflection of the
intense rage at Israel's deadly attack on the Gaza flotilla, felt
by millions worldwide.

Ours was just one of hundreds of protests that took place in
towns and cities across the globe.

A national demonstration in London this Saturday 5 June has been
called by Stop the War, CND, BMI, PCS and Viva Palestina. The Gaza
Flotilla March will assemble at Downing Street at 1.30 and march
to the Israeli Embassy (note below changed details for the
Islamophobia conference).

Monday's emergency demonstration showed how fast we can mobilise
if we use all available means to spread the word as fast as
possible. Please do all you can to publicise the demonstration
among your friends, in your workplace, in your trade union, in
your college or school, in your community group etc.

GAZA FLOTILLA MARCH: SATURDAY 5 JUNE
END THE SIEGE OF GAZA: FREEDOM FOR PALESTINE
ASSEMBLE DOWNING STREET LONDON 1.30PM

We urge all local Stop the War groups and trade union branches
affiliated to Stop the War to bring their banners on the march.

FOR UPDATES, PLEASE GO TO THE STOP THE WAR WEBSITE REGULARLY:
http://bit.ly/aEMHws

--
Visit George's official website http://www.georgegalloway.com

Sign up to our mailing list here
http://www.georgegalloway.com/page.php? ... mlist.html


From www.SpideredNews.com  

George Galloway : Massacre in the Mediterranean

VOTEGEORGEGALLOWAY - Tue, 01 Jun 2010

Viva Palestina founder George Galloway released the following statement today:

"Israel has massacred unarmed peace activists aboard a flotilla taking emergency aid to the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza. This is a watershed that will change the perception of the world, as Sharpeville and Soweto did to the Apartheid regime in South Africa.

"It unmasks Israel which no-one can now consider a member of the 'international community' but is rather a rogue state, a pariah state.

"The embargo and blockade of Gaza must be brought to an end. This has been underwritten by the United States, by Britain and the European Union, but this has got to end now."


From www.SpideredNews.com  

George Galloway salutes Freedom flotilla!

VIVAPALESTINAARABIA - 30 May 2010

George Galloway founder of the worldwide Viva Palestina movement and  leader of three land convoys which broke the siege on Gaza today  hailed the heroic sea-borne aid effort steaming towards Gaza.

Speaking from Miami Florida where he is in the middle of a twelve city speaking tour of the US on Palestine Galloway hailed the Turkish humanitarian organisation IHH which has organised and leads the flotilla as "heroes" who are facing the hardships of the seas and the  threats of violence from Gaza's beseigers the Apartheid state of Israel.

Galloway called on all people and governments of goodwill to insist on safe passage for the hundreds of humanitarians on board the ships and  the unmolested delivery of the vital aid supplies on board.

Promising on behalf of Viva Palestina Arabia a second sea convoy later in the year - again in partnership with IHH - Galloway thanked the government of Turkey and it's incomparable prime minister Erdogan for showing the world the way to peacefully confront the international  crime being committed against the people of Palestine.


From www.SpideredNews.com  

Viva Palestina Arabia

VIVAPALESTINAARABIA - Sun, 30 May 2010

They said it was impossible but we did it, against overwhelming odds.

We organised and successfully delivered more than $5 million worth of humanitarian aid to the beleaguered people of Gaza. Three huge convoys,
hundreds of vehicles, scores of volunteers, medical equipment, drugs, through dozens of countries, past cheering crowds but also in the teeth of opposition from the governments of some countries.
But it doesn't end there. It cannot. While the illegal siege continues it's our duty to do what we can to pierce the blockade and help relieve the suffering Palestinians. Which is why we're launching Viva Palestina Arabia now.

You are closest to it, you feel it in your hearts, which is why I am asking you to help me, Viva Palestina Arabia and the starving, battered, but indomitable people of Gaza.

Please.

George Galloway


From www.SpideredNews.com  

The Mother of All Talkshows - A statement by George Galloway

After a run of more than four years the highly popular radio show - The Mother of All Talkshows - has been killed off by the TalkSport management.

I believe this is a business mistake, but then I don't run the radio station and such decisions are not mine to take. I will always be grateful to TalkSport for giving me the opportunity to launch the Mother of All Talkshows, and particularly to Bill Ridley and Sean Dilley who got me started there. Both taught me a lot - and Ridley encouraged what became my trademark - a stand up delivery which gave the thing its public platform feel.

The show became something of a phenomenon. An audience of hundreds of thousands of people switched off their televisions or gave up going out, on Fridays and Saturdays between 10pm and 1am. These impressive listenership figures nonetheless under-stated the audience. For statistical reasons the Friday night show was counted in with Ian Collins Sunday to Thursday audience then averaged out. Anyone who has heard Collins show and heard the Friday night MOATS will understand how seriously that must have skewed the audience figures. The show's huge popularity amongst minority ethnic communities was also difficult fully to catch with the blunt instrument of Rajar market research. And the substantial listenership in other countries on the internet was of course not counted at all.

All in all the show became something of real importance to the people who listened and contributed, whether they agreed with its political thrust or not.

It will be obvious that I consider its demise premature, and I am determined to try to keep it alive. It is unlikely that the TalkSport management will change their mind and re-instate the show - but you never know. They say they want me to stay at the station, but they have not said for what when or how. Other stations are interested but TalkSport's national platform is unique. The BBC doesn't allow presenters to have a point of view. For all its faults TalkSport was special in that, even if now all the points of view are of one particular kind. There is no-one left to speak up for the BA strikers, the Palestinians, or to speak out against the wars to mention just a few of the most obvious.

That there IS an audience which either supports my views on these kind of issues, or that just wants to hear these views aired, is self-evident. So..

I'm going to launch an internet radio station. It will be called Rebel radio, it will host the Mother of All Talk Shows as well as other shows by me and other rebel voices, including radicals from other sides in politics. It will be free speech radio, beyond Ofcom and the kind of fate which killed off Top Cat on TalkSport. It will be controversial, funny, campaigning, informative, it will be Talk radio for thinking people. It will be radical and above all it will never ever be dull. In the beginning it will have to paid for by donations or by subscriptions or by both, we're working on that. If we can build and show a substantial audience, advertisers and sponsors may be attracted. But one way or another we will launch this rebel radio. The radio insurrection will begin soon. Stay tuned register your interest and be ready. Its just over the rainbow. And we are all going to get there, together.

George Galloway
House of Commons
March 2010

The Mother of All Talk Shows

George Galloway's 'The Mother of All Talk Shows' will have the last broadcast on talkSPORT radio before the general election this Saturday 27th March 2010. The date of the next broadcast is uncertain, but George aims to bring back the show as soon as possible, including, if necessary, as an internet broadcasted show.

If you are interested in receiving the details, please sign up to the mailing list at :
http://www.georgegalloway.com/page.php?page=content/contact_mlist.html

You can also keep up to date by visiting : http://www.GeorgeGalloway.com

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Letter from Ivan Lewis at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in response to George Galloway's letter about the Spirit of Humanity

Dear George
 
Thank you for your email of 2 July to the Foreign Secretary on behalf of your constituents, about the Free Gaza Movement and the Spirit of Humanity. I am replying as Minister responsible for our relations with the Middle East.
 
The Israeli Navy took control of the Spirit of Humanity on 30 June, diverting it to Ashdod port in Israel. All those on board, including six British nationals were handed over to the immigration officials. British consular officials had good access to the British detainees and established that they were treated well. The Israeli authorities deported the detainees on 6 July.
 
The Foreign Secretary said in the House of Commons on 30 June that it was "vital that all states respect international law, including the law of the sea. It is also important to say that we deplore the interference by the Israeli navy in the activities of Gazan fishermen". When the Foreign Secretary spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, on 1 July he raised the issue with Mr Lieberman and asked for clarification about whether or not the Spirit of Humanity had been intercepted in international waters. We will continue to press the Israeli authorities for clarification.
 
We regularly remind the Israeli government of its obligations under international law on a variety of issues, including with respect to humanitarian access to Gaza as well as Israel's control of Gazan waters and the effect this has on Gaza's fishing industry. The UK has been unequivocal in its calls for Israel to lessen restrictions at the Gaza crossings, allowing the legitimate flow of humanitarian aid, trade and reconstruction goods and the movement of people. This is essential not only for the people of Gaza, but also for the wider stability of the region.
 
I should also point out the the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice makes clear that we advise against all travel to Gaza, including its offshore waters. It is reckless to travel to Gaza at this time and medical and other specialist staff needing to travel to Gaza should coordinate their entry to Gaza with the major international humanitarian organisations already on the ground. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate-General in Jerusalem have also similarly advised those wishing to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza to do so through existing humanitarian organisations, which can advise, particularly with regards to medicines, on which items if any are currently required.
 
I hope this addresses your constituents concerns.
 
Ivan Lewis
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
 
17 July 2009
Viva Palestina!

George Galloway’s letter to the Charity Commission

George Galloway has written a damning letter to the Charity Commission after its leaks to the media and intimidation of banks led to Viva Palestina's account being frozen - exceeding its remit and smearing a campaign aimed at breaking the siege of Gaza


Click here to read the letter in full


George Galloway on CBC's The Hour

George interviewed on CBC’s "The Hour"

The interview you won't want to miss. George Galloway appeared on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, Canada's award-winning late-night TV talk show, on Monday, March 30 -- the day a Canadian federal court denied Galloway's appeal to enter the country. Check out George’s interview here

George Galloway’s show on Press TV

George’s two shows on Press TV!
"Comment" and "The Real Deal"

George presents a one hour programme live on Press TV called "Comment". It is live at 10.30pm every Thursday, and is repeated on Friday at 3.07am, 9.07am and 3.07pm. It can be viewed on both the Press TV website and on Sky Channel 515 (see below) .

The exciting thing about this show is that it is live and George invites people from all over the world to phone, text and e-mail him with comments, views, queries etc.

The second show on Press TV is called THE REAL DEAL. This is on air 10.07pm on Sunday and is repeated on Monday at 3.07am, 1.07pm. This programme is a pre-record and there is no interaction with the viewers as yet.

You can watch archives of both shows at http://www.presstv.com/programs/


Now on Sky Channel 515

These are the regular scheduled times for Georges Press TV programmes on Sky Channel 515
 
Comment

Join the big conversation each week with George and viewers from around the world, for 45 minutes of lively debate about the most pressing challenges facing us today.

comment@presstv.co.uk
SMS: + 44  78 0000 8066

Live on Thursdays at 9.33pm  
Repeated on Fridays at 2.06am. 6.06am, and 1.33pm

                                                       
The Real Deal

Shooting from the hip and shooting from the lip, George brings you news and views you cannot find in the corporate media.

Sundays at 8.06pm 
Mondays at 2.06am, 12.06pm

George Galloway & 10Shott - buy the single, support George

Help Tin Soldiers hit gold!

If you missed George interviewing 10Shott and playing his brilliant track Tin Soldiers on his Sunday evening TV show on Press TV you can buy it at the address below and help put it into this week's Top 20.

Tin Soldiers is a compelling and moving song about the disillusionment of a young soldier after a tour of duty in Iraq. Its powerful anti-war message will embarrass the government if it charts. You can make it happen if you buy the download this week! The download costs 79p (don't download more than once or it won't count) and half of that goes towards our anti-war campaigning.

It's easy. Don't hang about, do it now by clicking this link!

"We did it with our War track a few months ago," George said. "Make it happen again. Send the message to Brown and his fellow warmongers in music. Tin Soldiers in the charts and 10SShott performing it on TV would be the ultimate anti-war message."

George Galloway's website commended - BCS names best MP websites

COMPUTERWEEKLY -

"Many MPs are sceptics of technology but blogging and websites are becoming essential to politics in the same way that the printing press was when it was invented."

The judges also commended the websites of Tory Nadine Dorries, Tory London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson, and Respect MP George Galloway.


From www.SpideredNews.com  
Respect Renewal
George meets Indian film star Shah Rukh Khan

George writes from Bahrain

At a charity event in the Bahrain capital Manama on Monday I helped raise half-a-million dollars for charity relief in Gaza.


The event was put together at short notice in the Crowne Plaza hotel and the response to my appeal was stunning. In a few minutes we raised $500,000. I put up a signed copy of my book The Fidel Castro Handbook in an auction and it raised $22,000 - that's £11,000!


It just shows you the depth of feeling in the Arab and Muslim world to the tragedy we are helplessly witnessing in Gaza. Well, not so helplessly because this money will assist in putting food on the tables and clothes on the backs of children. If only the world's leaders were as willing to help.

‘Time for openness over Parliamentary expenses’ says Respect MP

Respect MP George Galloway has written to the House of Commons authorities supporting a ruling by the Information Commissioner in favour of greater disclosure of MPs’ expenses.

Mr Galloway was named as one of the high profile MPs information about whose expenses a member of the public wanted disclosed. “I have no reason to hide the information,” says Galloway. “The House authorities have pursued a particular route in opposing the Information Commissioner’s ruling. Whatever the claimed merits for that on the grounds of privacy, there is no way it can be justified, especially in the new climate of public concern over these issues.

“Whatever other parliamentary colleagues decide, I have told the House authorities that I have no objection to the disclosure of the information pertaining to me. I don’t claim for a second home; I don’t have family members on the payroll and I don’t claim for travel.”

Please find below the text of the email sent today to the House of Commons official responsible for data protection issues:

Dear Mr Castle,

I noted that the Sunday newspapers have now reported that I am one of several members whose expenses details have been requested by a member of the public – a matter you’ve already corresponded with me on.

I am writing to inform you that I do not wish you to appeal this matter on my behalf. I don’t know about the other parliamentarians involved, but I have no reason to hide these details and rather than expend any further public money appealing this matter I would rather you provided the member of the public in question with my details.

I’ve been mindful over the past few months that the House has wanted to take a collegiate and collective approach to this issue. However, in the light of current circumstances and the understandable concerns of the public, I don’t feel this matter should be resisted any further.

Yours sincerely,

George Galloway

"No return to Life on Mars policing"

Respect MP George Galloway has tabled a parliamentary motion today (EDM 839) condemning the rush to return to 1970s style policing, which targeted young black and Asian people, criminalising a generation, poisoning community relations and eventually erupting in flames.

"It would be Ashes to Ashes indeed, if Gordon Brown - in a race to the bottom of the
barrel with David Cameron - were to scrap the lessons of the Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence and unleash untrammelled police powers back into the same communities," says Galloway.

"We are calling on the public to demand their MP signs this motion. This is an issue
across Britain, but nowhere more than in London, where I am determined to intervene to ensure that bigotry and institutionalised racism is beaten back at the ballot box when London votes on 1 May."

Early Day Motion #839, 31 January 2008

Stop and Search, and social cohesion

This House recalls the systemic use of police stop and search powers in the 1970s and 1980s, and the social consequences - in the form of the inner city riots of 1981 and 1985 - which followed; is mindful of the increased use of stop and search in recent years and the deleterious consequences that has had for social cohesion; is further mindful of the evidence which shows that not only is stop and search an ineffective method of dealing with crime and terrorism, its widespread use leads to the alienation of the very communities whose cooperation is vital to tackling extremism; this House is therefore alarmed at the apparent willingness of the Government and the official Opposition to encourage still more use of stop and search, and the abandonment of checks and balances which were part of the lessons learned from the tragic murder of Stephen Lawrence.

George Galloway MP

Galloway condemns strike ban for prison officers

Reacting to a statement by Justice Secretary Jack Straw in Parliament this afternoon, Respect MP George Galloway condemned New Labour’s move to reimpose a ban on industrial action in the prison service.

Galloway said, “New Labour’s assault on trade unionists is, incredibly, getting worse under Brown than it was under Blair. Three years ago the government lifted the Tory-era ban on the right to strike for prison officers in return for a no strike agreement. The Prison Officers Association in return got a pay review body that was supposed to ensure decent pay rises.

“Now Brown’s government is imposing a 1970s-style pay freeze across the public sector. It has refused to implement the review body’s recommendations, just as it is set to swindle half a million teachers by imposing a pay award less than the rate of inflation.

“The response from prison officers has been justified indignation which boiled over into wildcat strike action last year. The only people to blame for that are the government. But the government is now seeking to punish prison officer trade unionists by reviving one of the very few Tory anti-union measures it ameliorated.

“It is an outrage, particularly from a party that continues to rely on trade unionists dues to keep going. Every trade unionist and everyone who cares about rights for working people should stand with the Prison Officers Association in opposing this mugging of their rights.

“This is not simply a matter for the POA and it would be foolish to be sidetracked into the minutiae of the rights and wrongs of prison officers. This is a sign of the anti-union measures Brown is prepared to invoke in order to slash working people’s pay while food and fuel bills go through the roof and the banks start foreclosing on mortgages.

Blackpool Pleasure breach - convention cancelled at the last minute

We are now trying to contact everyone who bought a ticket or expressed an interest in going to Blackpool for the convention, cancelled at the last minute by David Cam, a director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach Ltd.

Personally, I can only apologise once more. But we wll be meeting when all of this is sorted.

George

Claiming a refund on the cancelled conference

Please post the following information to Miranda Media, 10 Abington Close, London SE1 5RW :

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Full Name:

Ticket reference number:

E-mail:

Phone number:

Transport cost:

Accommodation cost:

Any other loss (days taken off work):

These losses should include any irrecoverables like fares or hotel deposits, together with documentary proof if available.

Sign

Full Name

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- The above form does NOT not have to be printed out from the website - it can be typed/written.

Please include copies of receipts/tickets/confirmation of booking/employer letters. Please do NOT send originals

Mark Steel

Mark Steel: Why should Galloway be the only fall guy?

http://marksteelinfo.com/writing/default.asp?id=35

Perhaps the explanation is their procedures were taken from 'Alice in Wonderland'

Wednesday, July 18, 2007


At last a politician has been suspended for their role in the Iraq war. You'd have thought it would have happened before now, and you might have thought when it finally happened, it wouldn't be the politician most prominently against the war.

Suspending George Galloway for his conduct in Iraq is as if last week's trial of those failed suicide bombers ended with the judge saying "This was a monstrous crime. So I'm going to let you off, and jail the bloke who chased you through the Underground."

The main reason given for the suspension is that some of the money for Galloway's charity came from a dodgy Jordanian businessman. Is this the normal attitude with charities, that no donation should be accepted without the donor being investigated? Maybe it's a new culture, and in next year's "Children in Need", Terry Wogan will say: "And how about this? We've had a grand donation of £25 from Mrs Wimthorpe in Derby. Well I've got one thing to say - who the hell are you, Wimthorpe, and what's your game? We're going to go through you with a microscope and if you've put one finger out of line you can keep your dirty money you old scallywag, spina bifida doesn't need you."

Another source of friction is that Galloway's charity, The Mariam Appeal, which assisted sick Iraqis who were suffering from the effects of sanctions against their country, was political in that it was against those sanctions. In other words, it was against the thing causing the suffering. And that's wrong, apparently.

So presumably there will also be investigations into appeals for victims of earthquakes. How dare these people oppose earthquakes in the name of charity? At least they should be balanced, and allow space for supporters of earthquakes to present their side of the story.

The original investigation into Galloway's dealings in Iraq came when The Daily Telegraph accused him of taking money from Saddam, an allegation that cost them £150,000 when they lost the libel case. Now, despite their acceptance he didn't take a penny for himself, the parliamentary committee says his charity "damaged the reputation of the house". So there's the explanation - the full report probably went: "You mean you weren't on the take? How the bloody hell does that make the rest of us look, you bastard?"

Somehow, however, the diligent committee seems to have missed other possible examples of the house being brought into disrepute, such as a Prime Minister taking the country into war because "I have no doubt that Saddam possesses weapons of mass destruction - absolutely no doubt, no doubt whatsoever."

And insisting we could be attacked in 45 minutes when he knew this was bollocks; and ignoring his own intelligence that this would make us targets for terrorism; and ignoring the UN and the weapons inspectors, so assisting in the creation of mass carnage, while he swans off to make millions from his memoirs.

If they want to investigate corruption in the Middle East, they could look at the $300m taken in cash from the Central Bank in Iraq, and secretly flown to Beirut in a chartered jet to buy arms, organised by the Iraqi Defence Minister whom we helped put in place. This led to his colleague, national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie saying: "I am sorry to say that the corruption is worse now than in the Saddam era." No wonder Blair resigned - how do you top helping to make Iraq more corrupt than under Saddam? In his new job, is he planning to make Afghanistan less keen on heavy metal and women's football than under the Taliban?

Or the committee could glance at the billion pounds in illegal payments made to Saudi Arabia in order to secure arms deals for British Aerospace. Unlike Galloway's crime, parliament decided this matter was too trivial to warrant an inquiry. And if they did find them guilty, they'd have probably ordered them to pay it back at one dollar a week.

But instead, the person suspended is the one who opposed these things. The only explanation is the Commons procedures were originally taken from a chapter in Alice in Wonderland, in which you get charged by the authorities for being an un-criminal. And maybe that's the plan for our whole legal system, so you'll be sent to prison for being an un-corrupt arms dealer, or an un-robber, while liberal types complain that prison doesn't work because most un-criminals re-offend, and if you lock someone up for not stealing a car, when they're released they'll do something even worse such as not rob a bank.

Meanwhile robbers and murderers will be allowed to stay free, but only if they remember to ask you to draw a line under robbery and murder, and accept that, hand on heart, you thought that robbery and murder was right at the time.

Oily cretins (latest attack on Galloway)

Oily Cretins - latest attack on Galloway
Tuesday, July 17, 2007.


You remember, I think, some years ago there was a libellous story in the Telegraph. The newspaper, still then under the control of the now convicted felon Conrad Black, ran a story about documents purporting to show that George Galloway was in the pay of Saddam Hussein. Galloway was awarded £150,000 in compensation for the defamatory claims, and also full legal costs, amounting to over £1.5m. Justice Eady defined the claims in the newspaper's coverage as containing four basic claims that any ordinary reader would take away:

a) Mr Galloway had been in the pay of Saddam Hussein, secretly receiving sums of the order of £375,000 a year;

b) He diverted monies from the oil-for-food programme, thus depriving Iraqi people, whose interest he had claimed to represent, of food and medicines;

c) He probably used the Mariam Appeal as a front for personal enrichment;

d) What he had done was tantamount to treason.

This was libellous, and these remain defamatory claims to make. However. Immediately upon hearing of the allegations, a pro-war hard-right Tory MP named Andrew Robathan wrote to the Committee on Standards and Privileges to demand that an inquiry be made into them, reminding them as he did that he had fought in the Gulf War. Subsequently a prolonged inquiry was held into this matter, and the Committee has now concluded that George Galloway will be suspended for 18 days from the House of Commons for "damaging the reputation of the House".

This may seem curious. After all, the Commissioners accept Eady's definition of the libellous claims, and the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards either acknowledges that George Galloway did not personally benefit from "moneys derived from the former Iraqi regime", or accepts that George Galloway did make many declarations of interest over Iraq, eleven times. Further, he finds no instance in which monies from the appeal were improperly spent. There is no suggestion that George Galloway attempted to deceive anyone about his involvement in the Appeal or his interest in the matter. The Commissioner does not believe that George Galloway's views or advocacy were a result of receiving money from Saddam Hussein, because he doesn't accept that George Galloway's views changed or that he received money from Saddam Hussein. The complaint made by Andrew Robathan is clearly unsubstantiated: this should have concluded the matter. So, what gives?

Well, here's a clue: the majority of the Committee voted for the war on Iraq. Two of its members are former chairs of the Labour Friends of Israel. One of them, Kevin Barron MP, played a pivotal role in the witch-hunt of miners’ leader Arthur Scargill in 1990. Seasoned red-baiters and warmongers, then, and they had to find him responsible for something. Here is the basis of the suspension: he called into question the motives of the inquiry and therefore brought the House of Commons into disrepute. That is to say, because he dared to suggest that a committee of ten members of parliament might have a political motive, he is suspended. This is pathetic.

Now, the committee did make other complaints, which Galloway disputes, but they say these would have resulted merely in a request for an apology. Namely, they say, George Galloway: didn't use his parliamentary resources in a "reasonable" fashion by using them to help the Appeal (this is stretching the definition of what is "reasonable", but those are the breaks with a bunch of pro-sanctions, pro-war MPs); didn't cooperate with the inquiry and tried to conceal "the true source of Iraqi funding" from them (in fact, the claim that Galloway didn't cooperate is belied by the record of transactions which is available on the website of the committee, in which the Commissioner notes as late as November 2006 that he was very content with Galloway's cooperation); wasn't quite forthcoming enough about declaring his interests (despite the fact that he did discuss it in the House of Commons numerous times, widely advertised the appeal, held meetings in the house, and consequently was satirically known as 'the MP for Baghdad Central'); did not register the Appeal in the Miscellaneous Category (although as they concede, he was not directed to do so when he consulted the previous Commissioner in 1999). This ragbag of petty complaints is the sum of a great effort made over several years to try and impugn the reputation of an antiwar MP.

Added to it are several bizarre implications, which occur throughout the deliberations, but not in the recommendations. At one point, the Commissioner raised a 'suggestion' that had been made to him that Elaine Galloway, George Galloway's former spouse, received £13,000 in payments from the appeal. The Commissioner then claimed to have 'forgotten' who 'suggested' this to him. This allegation of criminal behaviour rests on the person of Ms E Laing, who received payments from the appeal: the implication was that Ms E Laing could be made to look like 'Elaine'. But, as the Commissioner acknowledges, George Galloway tracked down Ms E Laing and passed on the details to him, and so there is no mystery about who Ms E Laing is and what the sum was paid for (secretarial work), and who paid it (Stuart Halford, since she has his personal assistant). So, this smear was introduced into the proceedings and instead of being removed or clarified, was deemed 'peripheral'. Additionally, a photocopy of a purported "minute" of a meeting between Galloway and Hussein in 2002 was introduced at the last minute, having landed on the commissioner's desk some hours before a meeting with Galloway. It was without any explanation as to its specific provenance or how it remained secret until then. It purports to show Galloway suggesting that some of his work on behalf of the Mariam Appeal might be financed by "an oil-related mechanism". The only possible explanation as to its provenance, provided by Ms Alda Barry, was stricken from the record. She explained that it would have been a tape recording. However, since Galloway supplied the Commissioner with the evidence that there had not and could not have been such a tape recording, a letter of apology was sent by the Commissioner on 17th April 2007 to George Galloway, in which he apologised for having tried to prove that such a tape existed. His report nevertheless left open the 'possibility' of such a tape. We are told that it comes from 'intelligence' and that the commissioners "take the view that the alleged record of the meeting between Mr Galloway and Saddam Hussein in August 2002 is authentic", even though they acknowledge that it has not been "substantiated". Similarly, the Committee members decide, citing only one of the experts who looked at the Telegraph's documents (while ignoring the existence of other forged documents), that on balance they think they're probably not forgeries: whether they are forgeries or not, the information contained in them is certainly untrue, as the Commissioner also concedes. They breach their own standards, too, by insisting on including claims made by utterly discredited witnesses, including one "Tony" Zureikat, whose evidence supposedly supports the claims in the 'minute', but who manages to get the time of the meeting wrong by at least six months (he is vague: it happened in Christimas time or New Year, according to him).

Given that the nature of the evidence they adduce is so flimsy, and so disreputable, the Committee's decisions are naturally sparse. You might have thought that a Committee that was confident in its various assumptions would be a bit more harsh than asking for an apology for not having registered the appeal in Miscellaneous and so on. You might have thought that the basis of a suspension from the House of Commons for bringing it into disrepute would be somewhat stronger than that George Galloway said mean things about the committee's motives. Instead, they have produced a great many conclusions, which proceed from ommissions and distortions, and as such the best that they could do with it was trump up some sort of headline-grabbing charge. How pathetic, and how risible. If the Commissioners don't realise that they have brought themselves into disrepute with this disingenuous charade, this can only further confirm the impermeability of the Westminster village to the real world.

Galloway response to 18-day suspension

17/07/2007
"Once more and yet again I have been cleared of taking a single penny or in any way personally benefiting from the former Iraqi regime through the Oil for Food programme or any other means.

The Commissioner's report states that unequivocally no less than six times. The Commissioner further states that it would be a "travesty" to describe me as a "paid mouth-piece" and that my actions on Iraq stemmed from "deep conviction."

This is therefore an argument about the funding of a political campaign to lift non-military sanctions on Iraq, which killed one million people, and to stop the rush to a war which has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands more.

The Committee appear utterly oblivious to the grotesque irony of a pro-sanctions and pro-war Committee of a pro-sanctions and pro-war Parliament passing judgment on the work of their opponents, especially in the light of the bloody march of events in Iraq since this inquiry began four years ago.

They describe that as questioning their integrity and bringing Parliament into disrepute. The House would do well to honestly calibrate exactly how its reputation on all matters concerning the war in Iraq stands with the public before deciding who precisely has brought it into disrepute.

After a four year inquiry - costing a fortune in public funds - the report asks me to apologise for not registering consistently the Mariam Appeal I established (the Commissioner concedes that I did so, but randomly) and for using House of Commons resources allocated to me to campaign against the policies of those now sitting in judgment on me.

The Committee of MPs acknowledges that "had these been the only matters before us, we would have confined ourselves to seeking an apology to the House."

However, in a surprisingly thin-skinned rejoinder, the MPs complain that because I questioned their impartiality and made trenchant criticisms of evidence and witnesses (which, incidentally, they don’t attempt to refute in most cases) I am to be suspended for 18 days.

I reiterate that the Commissioner is right to state that he found no evidence that I benefited personally in any way from any Iraqi monies and moreover I never asked any of the Mariam Appeal's donors - the King of Saudi Arabia, the Emir of UAE, or Fawaz Zureikat, the chairman of the Appeal - from where they earned the wealth from which they made donations to a campaign to end sanctions and war."

George Galloway



Click Here to view George's TV Interview on 17th July 2007

George Galloway speech in Parliament, Friday 23 March 2007 on the UK Government cutting back on English lessons to the detriment of disadvantaged minorities, and increasing isolation

UK Parliamentary Debate on "Community cohesion and the English language (Mr George Galloway)", Fri, 23 Mar 2007 2:30 GMT


Click Here to listen to debate (30 minutes)

Iraq January 2007

"There is no Iraqi government"

George’s speech to the House Of Commons (UK Parliament) on Iraq, 24 January 2007


"The Foreign Secretary says that we stand by our soldiers. We stand by them so much that we pay them so little. We had to give them a Christmas bonus to make up their wages. Their families are claiming means-tested benefits and living in houses that you would not put a dangerous dog in. We send them, ill clad, ill equipped, ill armed, without armour, on a pack of lies into war after war after war."




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