Monday, May 31, 2010

12 M'sians on ship attacked by Israeli soldiers

Joseph Sipalan, May 31, 10

Twelve Malaysians, including two members of the media, are confirmed on board the Mavi Marmara, the lead vessel of a pro-Palestine flotilla that was attacked by Israeli forces today.

The two media staff are from Astro Awani have been identified as journalist Ashwad Ismail and cameraman Samsul Kamal Abdul Latip.

They are part of an 11-member mission out of Malaysia called Lifeline4Gaza, which is participating in a 'Freedom Flotilla' to bring humanitarian aid and supplies to the Gaza strip.

azlanLifeline4Gaza's Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor said the other nine are volunteers from six Malaysian NGOs.

The NGOs include Haluan, Aqsa Syarif, Yayasan Amal, Muslim Care, Palestine Centre of Excellence (Pace) and Jemaah Islamiah Malaysia (JIM).

Dr Hafidzi however noted that they still do not know the identity of the 12th Malaysian on board the Mavi Marmara.

"We were made to understand that one volunteer from Mapim (another Malaysian NGO) was supposed to join them on the Mavi Marmara as the Greek ship he was on was facing technical problems, but we don't know if he actually went on or not," Dr Hafidzi said when contacted.

16 activists killed

Earlier today, international media reported that Israeli Naval commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara killing at least 16 activists.

The Israeli government had vowed to prevent the convoy, a 'Freedom Flotilla' of six ships carrying 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid, from reaching Gaza's shores.

NONEVarious agencies reported that the strike was launched when the three transport and three cargo ships were still in international waters.

The flotilla, which set sail from Cyprus on Sunday, carries an international group of 700 activists including 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland, European legislators and an elderly Holocaust survivor.

Those killed have yet to be identified, as the Israeli Navy has reportedly enforced a communications blackout on the Mavi Marmara.

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