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Palestinian Refugees
and Non-Governmental Organizations
BOYCOTT AID of the US GOVERNMENT and USAID
(E/34/2002)
BADIL Resource Center
Fwd from: Popular Committees in Palestinian Refugee Camps - West Bank;
Palestinian NGO
Network (PNGO)
29 April 2002
For Immediate Release
1) Statement issued by
the Popular Committees in the Palestinian Refugee Camps - West Bank, 26
April 2002:
To Our Steadfast People,
To Our People Rooted in the Land of Palestine,
Jenin al-Qassam, the site of the massacre, heralds the voice of
Palestinian sacrifice and dignity from among the stench of the war crimes
committed in this steadfast and heroic camp. In each Palestinian town,
village and refugee camp, this voice is carried by our determination to
survive, to challenge the policy of genocide, to rise above the dust of
destruction and to remain steadfast in pride. Despite the bloody crime and
despite the silence of the world, there is no surrender. The people of the
Jenin refugee camp have refused to receive the aid sent to them by the US
government and its agency USAID.
The massacre was committed with US approval and weapons, which killed our
people and fighters and destroyed our homes, are weapons made in the
United States. The crime committed is large and extensive. Its traces
cannot be erased by the aid and assistance which is now being provided in
order to humiliate our people and to desecrate the blood of our
martyrs. All our greetings and all our respect to the people of Jenin, who
have returned this aid to its owners, partners in the crime.
The Popular Committees in
all West Bank refugee camps appreciate the position of the heroic people
of Jenin and its martyrs and affirm the following:
1. We refuse to accept any kind of aid and assistance provided by the US
government and its agency USAID.
2. We call upon non-governmental organizations in Palestine to refuse to
accept assistance and funds provided directly or indirectly by the US
government and its above mentioned agency.
3. We demand that the Israeli perpetrators be prosecuted by a war crimes
tribunal for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against
our people in the Jenin refugee camp and in other areas of the occupied
Palestinian territories.
Eternal glory to our martyrs -
Freedom for our prisoners and detainees!
2) Communique issued by the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO):
PNGO convened a meeting of its General Assembly on 25 April 2002 [...] the
Assembly affirmed the following positions:
1. PNGO praises the Palestinian civilian population's steadfastness
against the Israeli attack on Palestinian society and against the
decimation of the Palestinian National Authority in particular. It
also confirms the praise of the maintenance of public coherence, national
unity, and the spirit of heroism and resolve which materialized during the
attack, most manifested in Jenin camp and Nablus. All of these
attributes deserve focus and reinforcement.
2. PNGO declares its full support for President Yassir Arafat in his
steadfastness and persistence concerning the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people as well as his refusal to bow to pressures harmful to
the national scheme.
3. PNGO General Assembly recognizes the Arabic and International support
which materialized during the Israeli attacks through demonstrations,
marches, and public support campaigns. It makes special note of the
International Solidarity Movement volunteers who worked to protect the
Palestinian public and contributed, to a great extent, in reinforcing the
establishment of the Palestinian people on the International level.
4. The PNGO General Assembly regards that the position taken by the
administration of the United States constitutes a severe prejudice in
favor of Israeli aggression and harms American credibility to serve as a
peace process sponsor.
In this regard, we emphasize that any humanitarian aid donated by the US
government must go hand in hand with an impartial commitment to political
and moral recognition of Palestinian suffering under continued Israeli
recognition. It must also recognize the grave breeches of
international and humanitarian laws committed by the Israeli military in
terms of political and civil rights.
Hence, the PNGO General Assembly has decided to boycott the emergent
humanitarian aid and equipment that the US government has approved of
donating. It also calls upon official and public Palestinian
institutions to do the same to join in this protest.
5. The PNGO praises the eminent role that Arabic and International
institutions have played in the assistance of the Palestinian people
during the Israeli onslaught. It calls for an increase in
international and humanitarian activity to further fulfill their duties
towards their goals of easing suffering.
The PNGO holds in high regard the role of the Palestinian civil society
institutions as well as the profound performance of Palestinian medical
and aid teams, which exceeded their potential in conducting their missions
despite extreme danger.
Finally, the PNGO General Assembly wishes to highlight our strategic goal
for a just and real peace, which can only be based upon the successive
resolutions by the International Community and the United Nations. These
would guarantee the establishment of an independent Palestinian state
within the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital. It also
stresses that a just solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees must be
met according to UN Security Council Resolution 194.
Palestinian Non-governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
Palestine |