Jim Manly must be released immediately!
by Paul Manly
My parents want to raise awareness.
My mother, Eva Manly has said she would like the media to focus on
the
PALESTINIANS of GAZA that this story is not about my dad. My parents
concern is with all Palestinians and with the courageous Israeli Jews
who work with them for justice.
They are the reason for my parents involvement in the Gaza Ark. My father,
Jim
spent some time with his youngest grandson just before leaving for
GAZA. He said that this reinforced for him his conviction that ALL
CHILDREN have a right to grow up healthy & with the possibility of a
future.
The
children of Gaza, many permanently stunted by malnutrition, do not now
have this future. That is one of the reasons my parents are so
committed to this international action.
Both the UN UNRWA report Gaza in 2020: A liveable place? and
the recently released 2008 Israeli government document that details
it's "red lines" for "food consumption in the Gaza Strip" show that
there is an intentional humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip.
According to the Haaretz report entitled
I want my father home.
I support my parents conviction to this cause but it is time for my father to come home. It
is time for Prime Minister Harper to speak up for an honourable
Canadian citizen (a retired United Church Minister and former Member of
Parliament) and secure his release. If Canada and Israel are the
close allies that the Prime Minister has said they are, then he should
be able to secure my father release with one quick phone call.
We have made the following three requests to the government of Canada.
1. That my father immediately be given an opportunity to phone his family - either my mother Eva or myself.2. That the Canadian Ambassador to Israel seek the immediate release of my father from Israeli detention. The Italian, Greek and Spanish governments all sent ambassadors or consular officials to meet with their citizens as soon as the Estelle arrived at port and have secured the release of all of their citizens. The Canadian government must do the same immediately.3. That my father not be forced to sign a document containing a false confession to secure his release. I understand the document they are demanding that he sign states that he confesses to entering Israel illegally. This is a lie and my father should not be forced to lie in order to be released from custody. The Estelle was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters and my father was forced to go to Israel against his will. The destination of the Estelle was Gaza not Israel. I also understand that some people who have signed this document in the past have been detained for almost a week afterwards. Signing this false confession is not necessarily a get out of jail card.
The
Israelis have reassured the media and foreign governments, including
Canada, that the Estelle was boarded peacefully. It has now been
confirmed by eye witnesses aboard the Estelle that this is not true. The
facts are that Israeli military tasered some of the people on the
Estelle with stun guns, that some passengers were handcuffed very
tightly and left in uncomfortable positions for hours on end and that
passengers were left in the sun all day Saturday.
Here is an account
from Marco Ramazzotti Stockel an Italian citizen who was aboard the
Estelle.
I
have also heard from people who have been in Israeli detention that the
Israelis will play psychological games with my father, try to scare him
and stress him out.
My father must be released from detention immediately and put on the first plane available back to Canada.
(30)
For Immediate release
For interviews contact:
Eva Manly
ejmanly@islandnet.com (Jim & Eva Manly)
