The Timor-Leste Association of Ex-Political Prisoners and Klibur Solidariedade (Solidarity Association) send congratulations and solidarity to Palestinian Political Prisoners

Press Release

The Timor-Leste Association of Ex-Political Prisoners and

Klibur Solidariedade (Solidarity Association)

send congratulations and solidarity to Palestinian Political Prisoners

Date: 6 June 2017

Contact:  Jacinto Alves (Tetun, Portugés, English), Assepol, ira.sequira@gmail.com, 77698888

                 Celestino Gusmão (Tetun, Indonesian), maubere81@gmail.com, 77432621

                 Pamela Sexton (English, Tetun), pamelabeth.sexton@gmail.com, 77449793

                 Nug Katjasungkana (Indonesian, Tetun, English), nengahmetra@gmail.com, 77279770

We congratulate the 1,500 Palestinian Political Prisoners (men, women and children) who, through their 40-day collective hunger strike, have secured basic rights which had been systematically denied them by Israel. We celebrate the courage and commitment of your collective action; we celebrate your success.

As we celebrate, we also declare our solidarity and call attention to the long and continuing struggle for freedom, equality, self-determination and basic human rights of the Palestinian people.  Our national history teaches us that when faced with occupation, oppression and injustice, there is no choice but to resist. “To resist is to win.”

Many of us are ex-political prisoners, jailed by Indonesia because we refused to simply accept an illegal occupation of our land. During Indonesia’s brutal occupation, we stood up to military violence and human rights abuses; we stood up against an international order oriented to U.S. corporate interests and militarism. 

We stood up for the dignity of ourselves, our families and our communities. We stood up for for our vision of peace and justice, now and in the future. We encourage political prisoners and wish to tell you that many times, our struggle for a noble cause demands sacrifice and determination. We must believe that the truth will win and will bring happiness to many people. All of your sacrifices will be acknowledged; tudo vale a pena (‘everything is worth the effort’).

Today, as we celebrate with you, we also stand against the widespread detention of Palestinians for defending their basic rights. According to the NGO Palestinian Prisoner’s Club, there are now 6500 Palestinian political prisoners, including 300 children. 

We stand against the continuing role of the US as a major supporter of militarism and occupation. We stand for against the denial of Palestinian’s basic rights by Israel. 

We stand for Palestinian’s rights to clear water, safe shelter, food and basic social services, equality before the law. “A luta continua.” The struggle continues.