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News :: Civil & Human Rights |
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Mordechai Vanunu Released to House Arrest |
Current rating: 0 |
by Rayna Moss
Email: legalese (nospam) netvision.net.il
Phone: +972-507-368236 |
13 Nov 2004
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Mordechai Vanunu Released to House Arrest |
Free Mordechai Vanunu - Info & Action Alert #39
**NEWS RELEASE ON ARREST OF MORDECHAI VANUNU**
From the U.S. Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu
http://www.vanunu.com or http://www.nonviolence.org/vanunu/
** PLEASE FORWARD TO SYMPATHETIC LISTS **
1) VANUNU RE-ARRESTED BY DOZENS OF ARMED POLICE; LATER RELEASED TO
HOUSE ARREST
2) LETTER, FAXES, EMAILS, PHONE CALLS NEEDED - LIFT THE
RESTRICTIONS, FREE MORDECHAI VANUNU
=======================
1) VANUNU RE-ARRESTED BY DOZENS OF ARMED POLICE; LATER RELEASED TO
HOUSE ARREST
PRESS RELEASE
International Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu
November 11, 2004
For immediate release
Contact:
In Israel - Rayna Moss, 0507-368236, legalese (at) netvision.net.il
In the U.S. - Felice Cohen-Joppa, 520-323-8697, freevanunu (at) mindspring.com
For more information, see www.vanunu.co.uk, www.vanunu.com, www.vanunu.org
VANUNU RE-ARRESTED BY DOZENS OF ARMED POLICE; LATER RELEASED TO HOUSE ARREST
Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was released from
custody that evening, following his arrest in a dramatic and
excessive show of force early Thursday morning, November 18, at St.
George's Cathedral in East Jerusalem. He has been punished yet again,
and placed under house arrest for seven days. His cell phones were
returned to him, but he is still waiting for his laptop computers to
be returned.
Vanunu was warned that he is still bound by the severe restrictions
placed on him by Israeli authorities when he was released on April 21
after serving his complete 18 year sentence. Issues regarding his
re-arrest are under investigation, and no formal charges have been
filed. However, Vanunu was told that he may face charges for
interviews that he has given to foreign media.
When Vanunu was released from custody, he told the press, "Once,
twice, three times - how many times will I be punished for the same
act?"
Thursday morning, at least 30 armed police stormed the compound of
St. George's Cathedral, terrifying the clergy as well as pilgrims and
guests having breakfast. The force consisted of special unit
officers on motorcycles as well as additional police in other
vehicles. A reporter for Israel's Channel 2 evening news called the
raid "unnecessary and embarrassing" and wondered aloud why the police
hadn't simply asked Vanunu to report for questioning. By the time he
was released from detention, the general opinion in the Israeli media
was that, once again, Israel's security services had gone out of
their way to make Vanunu headline news.
After his release Vanunu told friends that he was well and glad to be
back at St. George's, but that as long as he is kept in Israel
against his will, he remains a prisoner. He thanked his supporters
for their immediate response to his arrest.
Daniel Ellsberg, author of the book "Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and
the Pentagon Papers," said: "The only secret Mordechai Vanunu has
left to tell the world is the one he revealed on the day of his
release from 18 years in prison, April 21, 2004: 'I am a symbol of
the will of freedom, that the human spirit is free. You cannot
destroy the human spirit.' That is indeed the most dangerous secret
in the eyes not only of Israel but of every state that withholds
vital information from its own citizens, including the U.S. and U.K.
Israel should let the foremost prophet of the nuclear age go forth to
be honored throughout the world -- and we call on them to do so --
but even if it returns him instead to his 6-by-9 foot cell, Mordechai
Vanunu will remain the most free man on earth."
Vanunu's adoptive American parents, Nick and Mary Eoloff, said after
learning of their son's re-arrest: "We are horrified that today armed
Israeli special police forces entered St. George's Cathedral compound
in order to kidnap Mordechai Vanunu for the second time. It is
further proof that the security forces have no respect for an
individual's human rights and dignity nor respect for a religious
site which is a sacred place of sanctuary. Mordechai has always acted
from a moral belief that nuclear weapons are immoral and illegal and
that all nations should begin the process of their disarmament."
In 1986, Vanunu was kidnapped, taken back to Israel for a secret
trial and convicted on charges of treason and espionage after
revealing information about Israel's secret nuclear arsenal to the
London Sunday Times. The restrictions include not being allowed to
leave Israel and not being allowed to talk to foreign press, among
other things restricting his freedom of movement and speech.
Supporters around the world continue to work for Vanunu's total
freedom, and join him in continuing to call for nuclear abolition in
the Middle East and around the world. Fifteen British supporters
vigiled at the Israeli Embassy in London on November 11 to
immediately protest Vanunu's arrest.
Felice Cohen-Joppa, coordinator of the U.S. Campaign to Free
Mordechai Vanunu said: "It is an outrage that Israel has re-arrested
nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu only six months after his
release from prison. The unjust and severe restrictions that have
forced Mordechai Vanunu to remain in Israel following his release
last April, and intend to muzzle his voice for nuclear disarmament,
are grave violations of his human and civil rights. After 18 years in
prison, he has no secrets to reveal. Israel must stop punishing this
man who has already suffered so much for letting the world know about
Israel's nuclear arsenal."
Rayna Moss, Israeli coordinator for the International Campaign to
Free Vanunu, said: "The attempt to silence Mordechai Vanunu on this
of all days, is an attempt to bury Israel's secret nuclear arsenal
together with Yasser Arafat. While the world media and attention are
focused on the burial of the Palestinian leader, the Israeli
government is attempting to disappear the nuclear whistleblower,
whose only crime is revealing the terrible truth that Israel is
trying to hide: weapons of mass destruction that are concealed from
Israeli citizens and from the world."
===============
2) LETTER, FAXES, EMAILS, PHONE CALLS NEEDED - LIFT THE
RESTRICTIONS, FREE MORDECHAI VANUNU
Contact the Israeli Embassy to demand that Mordechai Vanunu's
restrictions be lifted and he be allowed to leave Israel. Contact
information for other Israeli officials can be found at
http://www.nonviolence.org/vanunu/youcanhelp.html
phone:
202-364-5500
email:
ambassador_sec (at) israelemb.org
fax:
202-364-5607
Public & Interreligious Affairs
v.(202) 364-5542
Political Department
(202)364-5581/2
Press Office
(202) 364-5538
or contact Israeli ambassador in your country -
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/israel1.html
Felice Cohen-Joppa
Coordinator
U.S. Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu
POB 43384
Tucson, AZ 85733
Phone/Fax 520-323-8697
freevanunu (at) mindspring.com
www.nonviolence.org/vanunu |
See also:
http://www.vanunu.com
http://www.vanunu.co.uk
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This work is in the public domain |
