LAHORE, Nov 12: At least 500 delegates from anti-imperialism forces of 13 Asian countries will cross over to Pakistan from India on Dec 4 on their way to break siege by Gaza on Dec 27.
It will be the second attempt to break the siege after the earlier one made in May when Israeli forces attacked the aid flotilla in international waters, killing and injuring several activists, mostly from Turkey.
Participants in the Gaza Caravan will start their march from New Delhi on Dec 2 and will enter Pakistan from Wagah borders where Pakistan for Palestine
activists will receive them.
Forum leaders, including Muhammad Tehseen, Farooq Tariq and Aman Kariaper, told a press conference here on Friday that at least six activists from Pakistan would join the caravan. They included Adam Pal from Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign, Mian Aftab and Dr Ayub Malik from Awami Party, Niaz Khan from National Trade Union Federation, journalist Muneeb Haq and rights activist Faryal Gohar.
They appealed to the general public to show solidarity with oppressed Palestinians by receiving the caravan at the borders.
A meeting is being held on Nov 23 to plan more public activities of the caravan participants before their departure for Multan, on their way to Karachi, on Dec 5.
From Karachi, they will fly to Tehran as security reasons bar them from taking Quetta-Zahedan land route.
Although Indian religious parties are joining the caravan from New Delhi, their local counterparts are being kept out of the loop for, what the local organisers say, their anti-US stance instead of being anti-imperialism.
The local organisations supporting the caravan included South Asia Partnership, Pakistan Peace Coalition, Tehrik-i-Niswan, Labour Party, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, Labour Education Foundation and Women Workers Helpline.
By Our Staff Reporter