[R-G] NUPGE criticizes Canada's support for Gaza attack

[Anthony Fenton]

NUPGE criticizes Canada's support for Gaza attack
http://www.nupge.ca/node/772

Only country to vote against UN Human Rights Council motion condemning  
Israeli action

Ottawa (13 Jan. 2009) - The National Union of Public and General  
Employees (NUPGE) has written Prime Minister Harper demanding that  
Canada take a stronger position against Israel's attack on Gaza and  
also to do more to evacuate citizens caught in the line of fire.

The letter follows a vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council  
(UNHRC) in which Canada was the sole country among 47 nations to  
oppose a motion condemning the attack.

Canada's opposition is seen as a move away from it's historically more  
neutral stance in international peace making.

In his letter to Harper, NUPGE president James Clancy says "Canada  
needs to restore its reputation as a peacemaker on the global stage."

The union calls on the government to "condemn, in the strongest  
possible terms, Israel's attack on the people of Gaza."

"While we do not condone the aggression of Hamas, the actions of  
Israel constitute gross violations of the human rights of the  
Palestinians," the letter says.
Full Text of NUPGE letter to Harper:

January 13, 2009

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

Along with all Canadians, the members of the National Union of Public  
and General Employees have been watching events unfold in Gaza with  
increasing concern.

The evacuation of Canadians trapped in Gaza must be made a greater  
priority by your government. Canada’s slow, and largely ineffective,  
response to the threat to our citizens in Gaza is a disgrace. Most  
nations of the world managed to evacuate their people by January 1st.  
And yet many Canadians remain at risk in the area waiting for your  
government to act.

We call on you to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Israel’s  
attack on the people of Gaza. While we do not condone the aggression  
of Hamas, the actions of Israel constitute gross violations of the  
human rights of the Palestinians.

The deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and UN facilities  
calls for immediate and strong condemnation by your government.  
Attacks on public services can only have the purpose of inflicting  
even greater suffering on the people of Gaza.

Canada needs to restore its reputation as a peacemaker on the global  
stage. To do so I urge your government to take the following steps:

     * Demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities by both parties  
accompanied by the resumption of a meaningful peace process – a  
solution to the crisis will only come from a negotiated settlement  
built on the foundation of existing UN resolutions;
     * Demanding an end to the economic blockade of Palestine so as to  
allow the people to build a sustainable and secure future – help them  
end the cycle of violence through freedom, security and prosperity.  
This includes urging Israel to reopen the border crossings to allow  
essential aid to reach the 1.5 million people of Gaza who have been  
suffering under the year long blockade; and
     * Immediately starting shipments from Canada of humanitarian aid  
to the Palestinian people and providing greater financial support for  
the reconstruction of basic infrastructure.

Finally, the National Union once again calls on your government to  
embark on a broad foreign policy consultation with Canadians and civil  
society organizations to ensure Canada has an independent and  
principled policy on foreign affairs.

As a nation we need to chart a foreign policy course for the future.  
Such a foreign policy must be premised on the values and strengths of  
Canadians – solidarity, compassion and a commitment to peace.

I look forward to hearing from you on these matters.

Sincerely yours,

(original signed by)

James Clancy
National President

cc: National Executive Board, NUPGE