The Villagers of Bil’in Commemorate the First Anniversary of Basem Abu Rahmah
The Popular Committee of Bil’in organized a ceremony on April 16, 2010 to commemorate the death of Basem Abu Rahmah, who was murdered last year when he was shot with a tear gas canister in the chest during one of the weekly protests.
Following the Friday prayer several speakers took the stage to talk about the resistance of the village and Palestinians in general throughout the conflict. The Popular Committee welcomed the crowd and invited everyone to join the protest. The family was represented by Basem’s brother, Ahmad Abu Rahmah, who spoke about Basem’s contributions to the village and especially to the struggle against the wall.
After the short ceremony, protesters set out toward the wall carrying Palestinian flags and calling for national unity against the Israeli occupation, land confiscation and stating their refusal of new military orders to deport several thousand people from the West Bank.
When the protest reached the wall, an Israeli army unit was stationed behind a concrete block. The gate that leads to the confiscated land was already closed and barbed wire was in place in front of it. The army fired teargas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators, causing dozens to suffer gas inhalation.
The Popular Committee of Bil’in condemned the recent military order, number 1650, which orders the transfer of Palestinians and possibly international from the West Bank. According to international law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention, the new order is illegal. The Fourth Geneva Convention calls for the protection of civilians under occupation and states that the transfer of any population under occupation is illegal. The Popular Committee calls for unity to confront these new threats.
The Popular Committee of Bil’in also announces that next week it will hold its fifth annual International Conference on Grassroots Popular Resistance, starting on Wednesday, April 21 and continuing through Friday, April 23. The Committee invites all interested to join the conference.
For more information:
Dr. Rateb Abu Rahmah - member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bil'in
saborahmeh42@yahoo.com 0597117673
|
|
