International Call For Freedom For Vanunu
Press Release
09 August, 2010
Countercurrents.org
Many hundreds of people from around the World have signed an InternationalPetition (http://humanrights.change.org/petitions/view/release_mordechai_vanunu), calling on President Obama, Prime Ministers Netanyahu and Cameron, and other world leaders, to ‘do all they can’ to gain the release from Israel of Mordechai Vanunu (the Israeli nuclear whistleblower).
Vanunu was released from Ramle Israeli Prison, on Sunday 8th August, 2010,after serving almost 3 months in solitary confinement under cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions.This further sentence was imposed on Vanunu for speaking to foreign media. Although now out of prison he is still not allowed to leave Israel.The draconian restrictions remain on him, and he is unable to speak to foreigners, foreign media, or move freely within Israel without Government permission.
Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, who together with Gerry Grehan, Chair of the Peace People, launched the International Appeal for Vanunu’s release, said today:
“It is unacceptable that Vanunu continues to be punished by the Israeli Government for telling the world that Israel has nuclear weapons.After 18 years in prison (12 years in solitary confinement), and a further six living under severe restrictions, including the recent 3 month prison sentence, how much longer will Israel continue to punish Mordechai Vanunu for telling the truth?”
The people of the world can do something to help by signing the International Campaign online petition(http://humanrights.change.org/petitions/view/release_mordechai_vanunu) which calls on world leaders to act to ensure Vanunu’s right to freedom of speech and freedom to travel - basic rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and many other International Laws, which Israel continues to break and act with impunity.
August 10th, is the Anniversary of Nagasaki, the day on which we remember those who died in the second nuclear holocaust, which followed on the first nuclear holocaust of Hiroshima.We remember too all those who are working to rid the world of nuclear weapons and ensure ‘No more Hiroshima’s’‘ No more Nagasaki’s’.It is fitting we act to support Vanunu in his struggle for a nuclear free Middle East, and a nuclear free world.He has paid a high price in following his conscious and calling us to do the same.He has suffered enough, time to let him go free.
President Obama, who has expressed the wish (as Vanunu does) for a nuclear free world, has the power to help free Vanunu, who 24 years ago expressed and acted to fulfill such a vision.
Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, Peace People, www.peacepeople.com
Help Free Vanunu Now! Please SIGN the Petition @
http://humanrights.change.org/petitions/view/release_mordechai_vanunu
