Jordan Times
Friday, February 20, 2004
Candlelight vigil planned to protest against separation wall
By Hada Sarhan
AMMAN — A candlelight vigil will be held at 6:00pm on Saturday at the Shmeisani Street of Culture to protest against the separation wall Israel is building in the West Bank.
The protest, organised by the Palestinian anti-apartheid wall campaign and the Jordanian Workers Communist Party, is part of the “Stop the Wall” campaign.
“[The sit-in] is an attempt to raise greater global awareness, and to highlight the importance of the case,” said Mary Nazzal, the campaign representative in the Kingdom.
Nazzal told The Jordan Times that February 21-23 will mark worldwide solidarity with the Palestinians' call for justice against the barrier.
During the march, a popular hearing will be presented by Palestinians and members of Dutch solidarity groups in various cities worldwide detailing the illegality of the wall, which will causes irreversible damage and destroy the lives and heritage of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Meanwhile, solidarity groups are planning to hold demonstrations in cities across Europe and the US, “ensuring greater exposure for the issue and to make clear to their governments, popular opposition to the wall,” according to event organisers.
“We [the organisers] are attempting to mobilise greater worldwide opposition to Israel's escalating assaults on the Palestinian people by the building of the wall,” said Nazzal.
Individuals from various communities in Palestine affected by the wall will testify to its destructive effect on their lives and legal experts will explain how the barrier blatantly violates numerous international laws. International solidarity groups from all over Europe will send delegations to take part in the Jordan sit-in, she added.
“The popular hearing seeks to raise greater awareness and provide a voice for communities devastated by the wall's existence,” said Nazzal.
In 2002, an Israeli military order was issued calling for the construction of what was described as a “security barrier” north of Jerusalem and inside the West Bank, as part of the next stage of its expansionist and repressive policy.
This decision was based on the emergency martial law of 1949 and the implementation was given to the Israeli ministry of “defence.”