January 1, 2010
Press TV - 31 December 2009
Organizers of the “Gaza Freedom March” report the death of a French citizen from injuries sustained at the hands of security forces during a demonstration in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Marie Renee died in the Cairo Hospital. She was traveling with a French delegation of approximately 300 nationals, Ma’an news agency reported.
The French delegates had earlier been camped out on the grounds surrounding the French Embassy in Cairo, reportedly flanked by two lines of Egyptian police.
Hundreds of activists with the “Gaza Freedom March” have continued demonstrations and sit-ins in Cairo to protest the Egyptian government’s refusal to allow them to cross the border into the besieged Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Egyptian security allowed 84 of the 1,300 who registered to participate in the Gaza Freedom March into the impoverished Palestinian coastal enclave All were traveling with the Codepink delegation, which organized two earlier trips into the blockaded Palestinian coastal sliver since the Israeli war on Gaza last year.
Another 1,200 activists from about 40 states remained in Cairo after Egypt refused entry for the group because of what they called the “sensitive situation” in the Palestinian territory.
The “Gaza Freedom March” activists were hoping to march into Gaza on the anniversary of Israel’s 22-day offensive on the territory as a sign of solidarity with its people, carrying with them aid and supplies.
Israel has continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The illegal Israeli imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the coastal enclave.
Some 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education. Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% respectively in the Gaza Strip.
Egypt with the Palestinian Authority’s blessings has sealed its borders with the Gaza Strip, effectively cutting off the coastal enclave from the rest of the world.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
I have been tracking this Press.tv article for activist Ali Abunimah, who is in Cairo in the streets.
ReplyDeletePlease do not put this forward as accurate information.
Please see the statement of the dead activists group.
Thank you
http://www.france-palestine.org/article13639.html
It has made its final journey to Gaza, militant labor and determined it was for peace in the Middle East.
We will make it in France homage it deserves.
Without waiting we want to express to her husband Jean-Loup, present also in Cairo for the March of Freedom, and his family, our profound sadness and ensure all our affection.
Jean-Claude Lefort, President of the AFPS
Press
That Gaza had been his last trip for us is symbolic of the commitment of a lifetime.
Marie-Renée Le Grand, our friend, our comrade, died in Cairo.
She arrived alongside militants AFD the march of freedom, determined to break the blockade of Gaza. She died suddenly of cardiac arrest December 31.
Marie-Renee, we have known in Angers in 2001 early in the local group of the AFPS. She was among those with and those that never dulls the ability to revolt and was therefore quite naturally took his place in the struggle for Palestine. Seeing her, one was immediately struck by the energy, determination in his eyes.
Always available for a militant response, she went several times on missions in the Palestinian territories and especially in Jenin under curfew in October 2002. Suppressed without explanation after a night of detention at the airport in Tel Aviv in 2003, she was furious at not being able to go back now and had naturally found in the march for freedom
Member of National Council of the AFD, and BN until our last convention, she had to retire leaving Anjou and its investment in the professional world of psychiatry to join the UK where she had once shared the struggles of peasantry.
That Gaza had been his last trip for us is symbolic of the commitment of a lifetime.
A Jean-Loup Septier his companion, his children and all his family, we extend our sympathy. Let them know that we share their ordeal.
Jean-Paul Roche for the AFPS
Thank you for never updating this article. Refusing to keep current information does everyone in the pro-Palestinian activist community a disservice.
ReplyDeleteEven Presstv has retracted the story. YOU need to do as well.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=115049§ionid=351020202