World Food Programme and The Horn of Africa

• WFP is rapidly moving life-saving food and nutritional products by sea, air and road to hungry populations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti to address the needs of the most vulnerable, especially young children and their mothers.

2011 World Food Progamme

• WFP is providing the right foods at the right time to prevent malnutrition in the first two years of life, which can lead to irreversible damage to children’s minds and bodies.

• WFP is working to strengthen the resilience of communities that live in drought-prone areas, working with governments and other agencies, using food assistance to support smallholder farmers and helping people to adapt to changes in weather patterns.


FACTS ABOUT WFP’S OPERATIONS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA:

• More than 11 million people need WFP food assistance in five countries.

• In Somalia, WFP is planning to feed 1.5 million people, including 300,000 in and around Mogadishu.

• WFP is looking at ways to reach a further 2.2 million in areas of the south that have been inaccessible since January 2010.

• WFP is reaching 3.7 million people in Ethiopia (including 226,000 refugees.)

• WFP is targeting 2.7 million people in Kenya (including 496,000 refugees.)

• WFP is also working in the Karamoja region of Uganda reaching 700,000 and in Djibouti (109,000.)

• The budget shortfall for WFP’s Horn of Africa operation for the next six months, taking pledges and confirmed contributions into account, is US $250 million.
• Operations in Somalia are among the highest risk in the world, with the loss of the lives of 14 relief workers since 2008.

• WFP is also providing emergency food assistance to 238,000 refugees, bringing the total number of people receiving food assistance in Ethiopia to 3.7 million.

• WFP is feeding 1.8 million people in Kenya (including 496,000 refugees). With additional resources and expected arrivals of commodities, Kenya CO will scale up to 2.7 million people in the coming weeks. The government of Kenya is feeding an additional 800,000.

• WFP is implementing blanket supplementary feeding for all children below 3 years in six Kenyan districts where malnutrition rates have been found to be well above the emergency threshold.

• Existing food and cash-for-asset activities to help people to be to be more resilient to future droughts have been scaled up to reach 760,000 people in arid areas.

• WFP is providing food assistance to about 496,000 refugees in Kenya. Approximately 417,000 are in Dadaab, near the Somalia border and about 80,000 in Kakuma (which hosts refugees from Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.)




• WFP is scaling up general food distributions to around 100,000 people from this
month, increasing to 109,000 in September when schools re-open.

WFP will pursue efforts to mitigate risk, including thorough, robust assessments and monitoring, but we are calling on the international community to stand together in recognising the inevitable risks that will be present.

Easy ways to help

 

• In the USA: Donate $10 to our efforts in the Horn of Africa by texting the word AID to this number: 27722
• In Canada: Donate $5 to our efforts in the Horn of Africa by texting the word RELIEF to this number: 45678
• In the UK: Donate £3 to our efforts in the Horn of Africa by texting the word AID to this number: 70303 
• Place a donation banner on your site or blog. Choose from the selection we have here: Banner selection  

UN: Office of the High Commissioner: Freedom of opinion and expression

28 July 2011

Freedom of opinion and expression – how far the protections go: the UN Human Rights Committee

GENEVA – The UN Human Rights Committee has issued an authoritative new commentary* on one of the most challenged and sensitive topics in international human rights law – the extent to which the freedom of opinion and expression can be restricted by a state.

The General Comment by the Committee addresses the legality of restrictions, including blasphemy laws, “memory” laws, laws on such matters as treason, counter-terrorism, lese majeste, desacato, defamation of the head of state and the protection of honour of public officials. 

The General Comment also clearly confirms the extension of freedom of expression protections to new media actors, including bloggers.

“The General Comment is a comprehensive response to numerous requests from lawmakers, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, rights defenders and even journalists asking for clarification on many of the issues covered by the rights to freedom of expression and opinion,” said Committee member Michael O'Flaherty, the principal drafter of the General Comment.

“It is a strong reaffirmation of the central importance for all human rights of the freedom of expression and sets out the very strict parameters within which the right can be restricted by states.”

The General Comment states that “memory laws”, which penalise the expression of opinions about historical facts, are unacceptable under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 

Blasphemy laws are incompatible with the Covenant, except under very specific circumstances subject to strict requirements set out in the Covenant.

It also offers the most comprehensive analysis yet in international human rights law of a right of access to information held by public bodies. It stresses the duty of States to foster a strong, free and plural media as well as access to new media information platforms.

"Freedom of expression is a necessary condition for the realisation of the principles of transparency and accountability that are, in turn, essential for the promotion and protection of human rights," the General Comment states.  

“States parties should put in place effective measures to protect against attacks aimed at silencing those exercising their right to freedom of expression.”



Human Rights Committee
For more information, media requests:

Ravina Shamdasani  

+ 41 22 917 9310 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org

Xabier Celaya

+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org

UN: Office of the High Commissioner: Gaza and Palestine

 

28 July 2011

AMMAN – The Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the territories occupied since 1967* following visits to Gaza and Amman expressed dismay at Israel’s continuing disregard of its obligations under international law.

For the first time since it was established in 1968 the Special Committee was able to visit Gaza. The Government of Egypt facilitated the visit via the border crossing at Rafah.  

“Unfortunately, what we found was that the oppressive restrictions imposed on Gaza by Israel have the effect of collectively punishing the population,” noted the Committee.  

“With around 35% of Gaza’s land area excluded from agriculture due to Israel’s vague ‘buffer zone’ along the border, and its fishing areas limited to only three nautical miles from the coast (85% of fisheries), the people of Gaza could hardly feed themselves, much less revive a decimated economy through exports.  

We were alarmed by allegations that Israel enforces these policies employing live fire, including in some instances against children and the elderly.”

“Israel’s continuing blockade of Gaza contravenes the human rights of the people of Gaza and international humanitarian law and standards,” said Ambassador Palitha T.B. Kohona, Chairman of the Committee. “It is oppressive and diminishes the lives of the people of Gaza and must be ended now,” he stressed.

In Gaza, the Committee listened to victims, witnesses and United Nations officials who underlined the dire impact on human rights of the Israeli blockade.  

Homes, schools and other infrastructure that were destroyed by Israeli attacks in December 2008 and January 2009 could not be rebuilt due to restrictions on the import of building material. 

The economy declined significantly and is sustained by illegal imports through tunnels.  “It would be the occupying power’s responsibility to assist with the reconstruction of Gaza,” noted the Committee. 

“Beyond homes, schools, businesses that were destroyed, there is an urgent need for water treatment facilities, road, sewage treatment and the restoration of power.” 

“For many of Gaza’s children, life is difficult and the future is hopeless,” the Committee noted, referring to testimony concerning worrying health, psychological and social problems, increasing school drop out rates, and an increasing incidence of child labor.  

The Committee continued, “We hope the Government of Israel will seriously consider the potential consequences of a generation of Gazan children being raised in an environment of near-total deprivation and a lack of opportunities to lead a productive and hopeful life.”  

The policies and practices of the Government of Israel which violate the rights of Palestinian children was a constant theme throughout the Committee’s hearings.  

Witnesses and officials reported that Palestinian children’s access to education is being impeded through, among other things, restrictions on freedom of movement, constraints on access due to the Wall, a lack of schools – especially in East Jerusalem and Gaza, and threats and actual violence by Israeli settlers.  

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the large number children detained, and in this regard a range of practices of serious concern, including harsh interrogation techniques, torture, and expulsion from their villages.  

The Committee underlined its “deep concern regarding reports that Israeli security forces are raiding Palestinian homes in the middle hours of the night to detain children, allegedly as young as seven years old.”  

“Even more distressing are reports that children are being subjected to ill-treatments, taken before military courts, and often made to sign confessions under duress,” the Committee noted.  

The Committee referred to the expulsion of children from their homes, by Israeli courts, as “profoundly worrying and impermissible under international law.”

The Special Committee’s 9-day investigative visit to the region also included meetings in Amman, where it met with victims, witnesses and officials working on human rights in the West Bank and the Syrian Golan Heights.  

A frequent concern communicated throughout the visit related to the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.  In this regard, Israel’s restrictions on family visits; denial of the right to education as of recent months; poor conditions of detention; lack of appropriate medical attention; extended detention without charges; and patterns of ill-treatment and torture while in detention comprise the main concerns.  

“The fact that the Government of Israel continues to hold around 6,000 Palestinians in prisons inside Israel, some for over twenty years, merits closer attention from the international community,” said the Committee. 

The members continued, “These prisoners and their families are suffering deeply.  The ill-treatment of women at border crossings and in Israeli prisons raises serious concerns.”

Witnesses updated the Committee regarding ongoing, systematic and widespread Israeli policies and practices in the West Bank, in particular East Jerusalem, such as the confiscation of Palestinian land, the arbitrary demolition of Palestinian homes and properties, restrictions on freedom of movement for Palestinians, and the expansion of Israeli settlements.  

Several witnesses provided testimony regarding increasingly frequent acts of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their lands and crops.  

The Committee noted that “The violence by Israel settlers against Palestinians, especially against children, and their lands, in particular the destruction of crops, is appalling.  It is plainly criminal behavior and the Israeli authorities must take measures to prevent and punish such behavior.”

Witnesses from the Golan Heights emphasized that Israel has continued its illegal policies and practices.  

Poor conditions of detention and a lack of family visits for prisoners, discriminatory access to water, especially for agricultural purposes, and the separation of families were highlighted as persistent concerns.  

Several witnesses raised concerns regarding the Israeli Defense Forces’ excessive use of force in response to protests on Nakba Day and on 5 June 2011, which resulted in deaths and injuries.  

They also noted with regret that Israel is currently confiscating land to build an eight meter separation wall between the Golan Heights and the rest of Syria.
 
In its report to the sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly in November 2011, the Special Committee will provide an in-depth review of its main observations following the mission, and will make detailed recommendations to improve respect for human rights in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.


OHCHR Country Page: Israel

OHCHR Country Page – Occupied PalestinianTerritories

Information, media requests, Kevin Turner

+41 79 444 40078 / kturner@ohchr.org

UN Human Rights:

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Summer Skies in Buffalo, NY

Click the link below for more.

Summer Skies in Buffalo, New York

The Buffalo Infringement Festival 2011: July 28th - August 7th

11 Days of Art Under the Radar

1200 performances!
52 venues
50 visual artists
190 musical acts
24 films/videos
90 performance projects including:
20 dances troupes/performers
35 theater groups/performers
27 poetry/ spoken word

The Buffalo Infringement Festival is an 11 day celebration of art of all kinds. It takes place in over 50 venues centered in Allentown and spans across the whole city of Buffalo.  


Artists perform in the usual venues and take over the streets of Allentown and the Elmwood Village.

There are 1200 performances and events scheduled in dance, theater, music, poetry, film, and visual installations.

In its 7th year, Infringement has grown tremendously from under 50 proposals in 2005, to 350 this year. Just about every artist in Buffalo takes part in the festival somehow and this year has 30 out- of - town acts coming to perform. 

 
The majority are musical acts but the festival’s roots come from theater. It has expanded to include every artist genre from the extremely edgy art performances to family friendly shows.

There are many group shows planned including the 9th Annual College Street Block Party, Infringement Circus at Merge, and the Broadway Market Extravaganza. 

Squeeky Wheel is hosting a film fest, Subversive Theater presents at Manny Fried, Volume at the Vault, Burlesque at Nietzsches, Bike In Movie Night, Brownman Electryc Trio Summit, Filigrees Art Night, Party at the Pearl, Welcome to Slyboots, Zombie Party and more!

Infringement is the focal point of the summer for many Buffalonians. Its just as easy to find a comfortable performance as to see things you never thought possible. 

Take the week off and consume yourself in Buffalo's largest art festival!

The schedule is available at www.infringebuffalo.org and will be in print as an insert in the Artvoice on July 28th.

INFRINGE EVERYDAY!

www.infringebuffalo.org

Israeli Navy Takes Dignite/Al Karama in International Waters

Earlier today [July 19, 2011], the Israeli navy took control of the one boat from Freedom Flotilla II that had made it into international waters on their way to Gaza. The French-flagged boat - Dignite/Al Karama - carried 16 people from France, Canada, Greece, Sweden and Tunisia. They were stopped about 40 miles away from Gaza and after several hours the Israelis took control of the boat, bringing it to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
 

There are no reports of any injuries and we have heard the passengers were being arrested. We do not yet know how long they will be detained or what will happen to the boat.

We urge you to contact the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC to call for the immediate release of these people.  

Most important, we must call on the Israeli government to end the siege and blockade of Gaza, and to treat the people of Palestine in compliance with international law!
 

Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC

• Ph: 202-364-5500
• F:   202-364-5423

 

Contact: 

• Dignite, Huwaida Arraf 
• 202-294-8813
• U.S. Boat to Gaza, Felice Gelman 
• 917-912-2597

Pillay opens UN Human Rights Office in Tunisia: OHCHR-Geneva

French, Arabic version: http://www.ohchr.org

It is a great pleasure and honour to be opening a UN human rights office for the first time in history in Tunisia.  

It is the first UN human rights office in any of the five North African countries bordering the Mediterranean. 

I would therefore like to thank the people and government of Tunisia for pioneering human rights in this region.

High Commissioners for Human Rights have been trying to set up an office in this region for years. Most countries were careful not to say an outright “No.” But none of them was remotely close to an outright “Yes,” until the people of Tunisia decided to radically alter the priorities.

All that changed in December and January, when the people of Tunisia said, in effect: “Enough. We deserve our rights, we want our rights and we are going to have our rights.”
 

The whole world watched with amazement and growing respect as Tunisians kept demanding your rights, refusing to be cowed by the repression, the arrests, the torture and all the injuries and tragic loss of life that occurred as Ben Ali’s regime fought unsuccessfully for its survival.


In the past three weeks, Tunisia has ratified no fewer than four extremely important treaties, including three in a single day: 

The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, which make those two key human rights treaties much easier to monitor and enforce; and the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances. All three of these were ratified on 29 June.

A week earlier, on 24 June, Tunisia became the 116th state to ratify the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court, and the first in North Africa. 

This represents a powerful commitment by the new authorities that no future serious violations of human rights will take place with impunity. Ratifying the Rome Statute is one of the best deterrents to serious crimes.

Tunisia is the first country in the Arab world to legally enshrine gender parity in the electoral rolls for the upcoming election.

Tunisia has become a common reference for all human rights defenders, as human dignity and human rights form the heart of the lesson delivered through Tunisia’s revolution. No clearer expression of that can be found than in the essential message of the Tunisian poet, Abū al-Qāsim al-Shābi:

“If, one day, a people desires to live, surely fate shall heed their call.  And their night will then begin to fade, and their chains break and fall.”

Olive trees are a potent symbol in all Mediterranean countries. They symbolize peace, and are renowned for their endurance. They can take as many as 20 years to bear fruit, but once established, they thrive in both fertile and stony ground. 

They survive hot summers and cold winters. Like human rights, they are virtually indestructible. Even when they are cut down, or burned, new shoots sprout from the roots. They can live for thousands of years. 

I therefore hope that the olive tree I am going to plant here today will reflect the advent of a new era of human rights and democracy in Tunisia. And that, 2,000 years from now both this tree and Tunisia can look back on 2011 as the magical year when it all began.
 

Thank you.


UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Navi Pillay

 

• Media requests, Rupert Colville
• +41 22 917 9767  rcolville@ohchr.org
•  
• Press officers Ravina Shamdasani 
• + 41 22 917 9310  
• rshamdasani@ohchr.org
•  
• Xabier Celaya  
• + 41 22 917 9383  
•  xcelaya@ohchr.org
   

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The Oslo Freedom Forum: Dawn of a New Arab World PT. II

Part I of the Oslo Freedom Forum is HERE

The 2011 Oslo Freedom Forum brought together dissidents and activists from around the world to share their stories.  All presentations from the 2011 Oslo Freedom Forum are now available via YouTube, including new videos from:

• ·  Chinese thinker and activist Yang Jianli on ‘The Myth of Han China.’
• ·  Liberian peace advocate Leymah Gbowee on how to ‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell.’
• ·  Moroccan journalist Ahmed Benchemsi on his country’s journey ‘From Subtle Dictatorship to Subtle Revolution’
• ·  Egyptian-American analyst Mona Eltahawy on the ‘Evolution of Censorship’
• ·  Panel discussions: The Arab spring featuring bloggers and activists, complexities of foreign aid, examining the modern struggle for information and freedom of expression.

The 2009 and 2010 conferences are available, including speeches from:

• Elie Wiesel 
• Yoani Sánchez 
• Benjamin Skinner 
• Kasha Jacqueline 
• Lech Walesa

 

The Oslo Freedom Forum was founded to address today's most challenging humanitarian issues. Each year individuals from academia, advocacy, business, media, politics, social entrepreneurship, and technology collaborate on how best to make an impact on the world around us. 

Attention is drawn to issues that matter, inspire action, and shed light on the extraordinary work of innovators across the globe.

Share the talks from these remarkable individuals with friends, colleagues, and family. 

If you would like to interview any of the activists, coordinate an appointment:  hansa.bergwall@evins.com

  

Thor Halvorssen 

Founder, CEO Oslo Freedom Forum

Twitter @OsloFreedomFrm 

Facebook.

The 2012 Oslo Freedom Forum, will be held on May 7, 8, and 9.  

WBFO-FM 88.7 Wins 6 AP Awards, 2 PRNDI Awards

WBFO-FM 88.7, the University at Buffalo's National Public Radio affiliate, won six awards at the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association's annual awards banquet last month in Saratoga Springs.

The station captured three first-place and three special mentions honoring the work of the WBFO news team.

News director Eileen Buckley received first-place honors for the prestigious Art Athens award for General Excellence in Individual Reporting in 2010. 

Buckley is a three-time recipient of this award, also winning in 2002 and 2008 for her work at WBFO. In announcing the award this year, the judges said Buckley's "stories were well reported and produced. Excellent work." 

Arts and Cultural producer/reporter Joyce Kryszak won first place for Best Feature for "Family War Sacrifice," a report on a family who lost a loved one to the war in Iraq In announcing the award, the judges described Kryszak's work as "a dramatic, heartrending story. Well produced and presented." 

Kryszak has won many Associated Press, Edward R. Murrow and New York Broadcasters Association awards throughout her more than 12 years at WBFO. 

Buckley and Kryszak were also honored with a first-place award for Best Continuing Coverage of the "Deadly City Grill Shootings" in downtown Buffalo in August 2010. 

The judges described their news reporting as "thorough, well-presented...interesting storytelling of an important, significant and unfolding event." 

  

Other Associated Press awards earned by WBFO include:

• -- Best Spot News Coverage: Special mention to Buckley for reporting on City Grill shootings
• -- Best Interview: Special mention to Buckley for her interview with gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino about his run-in with New York Post reporter Fred Dicker: "Paladino Bickers with Dicker"
• -- Best News Special/Documentary: Special mention to. Buckley for coverage of the Flight 3407 crash and tragedy "One Year Later" 

WBFO's news coverage also earned acclaim at the Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI) annual awards banquet held last month in Arlington, Va. PRNDI hosts the only national contest recognizing outstanding public radio news reporting at local stations.

The team of Buckley, Weekend Edition anchor Chris Jamele and news anchor Mark Scott won first place for "Breaking News" coverage of the City Grill shootings. 

WBFO News also received a second-place award for Buckley's spot news coverage of the shootings. 

The judges praised WBFO's coverage of the City Grill crimes as "a model for breaking news coverage: the reporter and anchor seamlessly coordinated coverage from the scene to convey the latest news." 

 

PRNDI is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional development of public radio journalists.

Contact:

John DellaContrada

dellacon@buffalo.edu

716-645-4601

Susan Marie Public Relations

Think Twice Radio 

New York USA 2011

Gaza Update

The presence of the U.S. Boat to Gaza in Athens is winding down. For more than 2 weeks the 37 passengers (someone was added at the last moment), 4 crew members and about 12 people in the support team there worked hard to make sure the boat - The Audacity of Hope - could sail as part of the international Freedom Flotilla 2 to Gaza. The Greek government's willingness to serve as the enforcer of Israeli's naval blockade of Gaza made it impossible for this journey to happen.

The creative and determined spirit of this team of committed activists could not be stopped or silenced. 

They worked tirelessly to make the point in countless ways: they attempted to set sail knowing it might lead to a confrontation with the Greek authorities, they stood by the boat's captain when he was arrested and jailed for several days, several people held a hunger strike for a few days, everyone marched and rallied with other flotilla activists and with the people of Athens in their own struggle for economic justice, and incredible energy went into getting the word out to people throughout this country and around the world as the work with the media continued through it all.

Last night, the group's activities in Athens ended and here's a description from one of the people there: "We all went to Syntagma Square which looks much like Tahrir where there is an encampment and thousands of people gather each night. On Sundays there may be upwards of 50,000 and on big nights hundreds of thousands. 

We unfurled to drum beats 22 flags sewn together representing the countries participating in the Flotilla. Our black and white signs were in Greek, Arabic and English. It was a beautiful sight. Then we marched to the Spanish Embassy where our Spanish partners were occupying its embassy demanding the release of their boat. 

We arrived at about 9 pm with drummers leading the way. They came out on balconies and we sang to each other. It was quite the sight."

Now, the journey home - some will arrive today, some tomorrow and others in the days ahead. Everyone is tired, but their energy is strong! They will share their stories and talk about their experiences in communities everywhere. And they will use this incredible time they shared in Athens as a spring board for further activism and organizing.

OVERVIEW

1) Captain Released

The boat's captain - John Klusmire - had a hearing on Tuesday in a Greek court. He was released from jail, where he had been since Saturday morning, and was told he had no restrictions or limitations on his movements or activities. The charges against him were not dropped but hopeful that eventually they will be. Thanks everyone for all of the calls and email messages you sent to Greek and U.S. authorities in support of John!

2) Hunger Strike Over

The 9 passengers who were on a hunger strike in support of ther captain ended their fast. On Sunday they had been detained by the Athens police for several hours, and then on Monday 6 people were again detained and then let go a few hours later. Everyone was fine and since then no one has been held by the police.

3) The Boat

The Audacity of Hope remains in the hands of Greek authorities and we do not yet know when they will release it. Several people are staying in Athens for the foreseeable future to make sure the boat is safe.

4) Information on Other Boats:

Please note that the situation for each boat has been constantly changing.

a) On 7/5, the Greek Boat to Gaza group held a press conference at the Athens Press Club. Present were Dimitris Plionis, an organizer from the Greek group, Dr. Mattias Gardell of the partner group Swedish Boat to Gaza, Members of Parliament Tasos Kourakis and Theodoris Dritsas 2 MPs, and Green Party representative Iannis Tsironis. 

They denounced the government actions and policies forbidding ships of the Flotilla to leave Greek ports, effectively extending the Israeli siege of Gaza to Greek waters and outsourcing the siege of Gaza. Also attending in solidarity was MP Panagiotis Kouroublis, who had recently been expelled from the ruling PASOK Party for voting against the IMF austerity plan. He was given a standing ovation when he entered the hall.

b) The owners and crew of the Greek/Swedish/Norwegian passenger boat Juliano went on board in the port of Perama near Piraeus, and attempted to take the boat to the port town of Fokia, approximately 10 km. away, where they were due to attend a welcome ceremony at the invitation of the Fokia mayor, honoring the passengers and crew. 

The port authorities prevented the boat from leaving, without citing any justification. In the meantime, two rented boats filled with journalists and supporters gathered at the port to cover the action and to demand release of the boat, and have been confronted by port police. At latest report, the standoff continues, and a crowd of people is gathering at the Perama Port Authority to demand the release of the boat.

c) Passengers of the Spanish boat Guernica entered the Spanish embassy in Athens and staged a sit-in, demanding that the Spanish government intercede with Greece to release the boat. They hoisted the Palestinian flag and are refusing to leave until their boat is given permission to leave.

d) Canadian citizen Sandra Ruch remains in custody in the port city of Aghios Nikolaos. She and one other Suha Kneen, Michael Coleman, Australian Canadian were charged with impeding coast guard authorities by placing themselves in kayaks in front of police boats attempting to stop the Canadian boat, Tahrir from leaving Greek waters. They have been charged with interfering with law enforcement.

e) The other French passenger boat Karameh is again at sea in international waters, awaiting the other boats in the Flotilla. After leaving France, it proceeded to the eastern Mediterranean, where it sheltered in a safe port before returning to international waters.

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