Commemoration of the “65th Anniversary of the “Yawm-an-Nakba” – “Day of Catastrophe”

08.05.2013

 

It was a series of unfortunate events leading to the 15th of May 1948, that more than half the Palestinian population was ethnically cleansed by the Zionist invaders, backed by the Imperial powers & the land colonized & occupied. Thus the Palestinians across the world refer to that sad day in their collective historical memory, as the Yawm-an-Nakba, or the “Day of Catastrophe”. The Imperial powers thus succeeded in establishing Israel as a colonial outpost & a military base in the Arab region, with disastrous consequences for the Arab people & the world. 
 
The genocide & ethnic cleansing continues unabated & since that dark day, the Palestinians are struggling & resisting against all odds to liberate their homeland from the brutal Zionist occupation. But the Palestinians are determined to return to their cities, villages & fields from where they were forced to flee in 1948. 
The Palestinian intifada has witnessed the growing popular support from across the world, where we are witness to the fact that the global Palestine solidarity movement is now the most popular & widespread international liberation struggle ever in the history of humanity.
Thus on the coming anniversary of the Nakba the “Asian People’s Solidarity for Palestine” (APSP, a forum of Asian peoples’ organizations), Arab and International civil society organizations, will initiate & organize global events in capitals, cities & towns across the world to demonstrate & reaffirm their support for the core Palestinian issues namely: 
1) Right of Return to Palestine
2) End of the Occupation
3) Arab Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine
4) Dismantling Settlements, the Apartheid Wall, all Check-Points & all racist structures of occupation
5) Release of Prisoners and Detainees
6) End the Siege of Gaza
 
Our Objectives:
 
1) To emphasize that Palestine is for Palestinians
2) Support the resistance and the popular movements in Palestine
3) Call for a boycott of Apartheid Zionist Israel
4) Further consolidate, rejuvenate & broaden the reach of the global Palestine solidarity movement.
 
 
Proposed programs:
1) Popular festivals to be held at the same time in:
· Gaza
· Ramallah
· Other cities, towns & villages across Occupied Palestine 
2) Popular festivals in the bordering countries of Palestine:
· Lebanon 
· Syria
· Jordan
· Egypt
3) Solidarity events and activities in capitals and cities across the world.
4) Thus many varied cultural events, demonstrations & seminars will be held in tandem across all these centres, with the primary objective to explain & spread awareness of the suffering of the Palestinian people from the impact of more than six decades of brutal occupation and racism. 
We also seek to expose the systematic destruction of the seven thousand year old ancient Palestinian civilization with its unique history & an inclusive culture where people of many faiths & cultures have lived together peacefully for centuries.
Yet, the Palestinian nation continues to resist against all odds & they shall continue to do so till Palestine is free. The Zionist occupation of Palestine is the central geopolitical crisis of our times & they stand at the very frontlines & are the vanguard of the international resistance to Imperialism & Zionism.
 
We therefore appeal to all the democratic & freedom loving people of the world who are committed to the values of peace, justice & liberty, to endorse the just demands, to actively support the call & organize programmes on the 15th of May, the Day of Catastrophe for the Palestinians. 
The struggle shall continue till Palestine is free!!
Committee for the “Return To Palestine March” (CRPM)
Asian Peoples’ Solidarity for Palestine (APSP)
 
Coordinator: Vida Warde