[hq2600] From Cynthia McKinney: Viva Palestina USA Requests Obama Support in Getting to Gaza

[HQ]

*Viva Palestina USA calls for President Obama's Support in Breaking Gaza
Seige*



Cairo (July 14, 2009) - Today, one day after its expected arrival in Gaza
from Cairo, Viva Palestina USA announced that it will depart for Gaza as
soon as it receives the necessary clearances from the Egyptian government
with whom it currently is in direct negotiation.  Viva Palestina USA today
contacted White House and Secretary of State offices and calls on President
Barack Obama to speak to Egyptian authorities and ask that its convoy be
allowed to proceed to Gaza.  Viva Palestina USA yesterday provided
additional information requested on the same day by the Egyptian government,
such as serial numbers and expiration dates for the medical aid.



In addition to Egyptian requests for supplemental information, all U.S.
participants were required to sign and pay for an affidavit acknowledging
individual participant assumption of risk for travel to Gaza with the
understanding that consular services will not be provided by the State
Department during Viva Palestina USA's presence in the Gaza Strip.  According
to those knowledgeable about recent U.S. citizen travel to Gaza, the
affidavit is an entirely new procedure never before required by the U.S.
State Department for U.S. nationals traveling to Gaza.  Viva Palestina USA
has met this last-minute requirement.



Viva Palestina USA is ready to meet all requirements in order to get its
humanitarian assistance to Gaza.  However, Viva Palestina USA has bright
lines that it cannot cross.  One of those bright lines concerns the fate of
some one half million dollars worth of vehicles that Viva Palestina USA
purchased in Egypt and planned to deliver to hospitals and charitable
organizations in Gaza. Those vehicles are now stranded at the Egyptian
Freeport in Alexandria while negotiations take place.



Viva Palestina USA remains hopeful that all remaining issues will be
resolved in the next few hours as negotiations continue.



The following message was sent to the White House and State Department today
by Viva Palestina USA:



Dear Mr. President

Dear Madam Secretary



Viva Palestina USA, a humanitarian relief effort for Gaza, is now in Egypt
and requests your immediate assistance.  We were supposed to have arrived in
Gaza on Monday, July 13, 2009, but our arrival into Gaza was delayed because
our departure from Cairo, Egypt was delayed by at least two days.  Last-minute
bureaucratic questions and additional requirements caused the delay.  The
people of Gaza can't wait.



You have noted that Israel's siege of Gaza should be eased and medical
supplies should be allowed in.  We are implementing what you reportedly put
into writing. The people of Gaza need your help and we have important
assistance for them.  Please contact the Egyptian authorities and ask them
to let Viva Palestina USA humanitarian assistance proceed through the Rafah
crossing.  We need your help today so that we can help the people of Gaza
rebuild their lives devastated by occupation and brutal invasion



Charles Barron

Cynthia McKinney

(on behalf of 200 Viva Palestina USA volunteers

and thousands of Viva Palestina USA donors)


-- 
http://www.livestream.com/dignity
http://dignity.ning.com/
http://www.twitter.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/dignityaction
http://www.myspace.com/runcynthiarun
http://www.twitter.com/cynthiamckinney
http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaMcKinney
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.allthingscynthiamckinney.com/pipermail/updates-allthingscynthiamckinney.com/attachments/20090714/9162df9a/attachment.htm>