Free Vanunu request by Irish Nobel Laureate to Obama and Perez
international |
rights, freedoms and repression |
press release
Tuesday May 25, 2010 20:09
by Mairead Maguire - Peace People
new sentence of whistleblower deplored
Irish Peace Nobelist Mairead Maguire Calls on Peace Nobelists President Obama and President Shimon Perez to do all they can to Free Mordechai Vanunu
PRESS RELEASE
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Mairead Maguire, has written to President Barack Obama, USA and President Shimon Perez, Israel, asking them to ‘do all they can’ to obtain the release of Mordechai Vanunu from Eshel Prison, Israel, and also for Vanunu to be given his freedom and allowed to leave Israel.
Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli Nuclear Whistleblower, was convicted by an Israeli Court in l986 and sentenced to 18 years for passing on information about Israel’s nuclear weapons. He served 1l of his 18 years in solitary confinement. Vanunu was released from Prison in 2004 but instead of being allowed to leave Israel, as was his wish and legal right, he was placed under strict restrictions depriving him of many of his civil and fundamental rights, including the right to move freely, and the right to have contacts with foreigners. For exercising this latter right Mordechai Vanunu has been returned to prison on 23rd May, 2010 for three months detention.
Maguire said:
‘I join my voice with many others around the world, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Mordechai Vanunu. The restrictions put on Vanunu are not parole restrictions since he served his full18 year term.
These restrictions arbitrarily limit his right to freedom of movement, expression and association, and are therefore in breach of International Law.
After 24 years held within Israel against his will, it is time for Mordechai to be allowed to leave the country, so he can get on with his life. He has suffered enough and is no threat to Israeli National Security.’
In her letter to President Obama, Mairead Maguire thanked him for all he is doing for a Nuclear Free World and a Nuclear Free Middle East.
Maguire went on to say:
‘Twenty four years ago when Mordechai Vanunu, as a young technician in Dimona, Israeli's Nuclear Weapons Plant, in conscience told the world about the Israeli Nuclear Bomb, it was his attempt to do what he could for a Nuclear Free Middle East and a Nuclear Free World. History will remember Vanunu as a man of courage, integrity and peace. But today all Vanunu asks for is for his Freedom. Obama and Perez have it within their ower to free Mordechai Vanunu and the world expects them to do so.’
Mairead Maguire www.peacepeople.com
25th May, 2010
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Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 4 3 2 1Just hoping this issue will get a mention at tomorrow's press conference.Report just coming up on Newstalk on related issues.
I nominated Mordechai Vanunu as President of the RHP back in the late '80s when I first lodged the party as a warning of the pending PD sabotage we are now troughed in.This man,and his fate, has to be central to any challenge to Israel's pretentions to being a 'democratic' civilised society by any but the most blinkered standards.I am hoping his name will recieve more prominence in relation to the current eye-opener delivered by Tel Aviv which finally seems to be registering.I repeat,this man should be in the public frame as prominently as Mandela and King,Biko and Saro-Wiwa.his name should be on the mast of every boat in flotilla,writ large.
It is a human rights abuse and a crime against humanity that this great man is not allowed to speak. He could inspire the rest of us with his humanity and his courage.
Nearly time this man got more prominence.Perhaps Nelson Mandela could be induced to recognise and publicly protest this case which parallels his own conscientious stance.Given Vanunu's conversion to an overt Christianity(on which he bases his pacifist position)there could be a challenge in it for those who think kissing the bishops' rings are the way,truth and light.Hey,maybe that godly dynamic duo, George W and BAeby-face Blair could fill us in on what their war criminal "voices" have to say on the issue.