The New Dark Age

1 June 2010 — Viva Palestina

THIS photo of Kevin Ovenden, 42, from East Ham, the leader of the Gaza aid flotilla was taken on the Mavi Marmara just days before it was captured in the bloody commando raid by Israeli forces yesterday which left at least 19 dead and 50 injured.

There is still no concrete news on his fate.

At this time the organising Viva Palestina charity expressed growing concern for his safety having failed to make direct contact with him.

“We still have had no news about Kevin’s whereabouts or whether or not he has been injured,” said its spokeswoman Alice Howard.

A veteran of three previous aid runs, Mr Ovenden has worked as a parliamentary assistant to the former Tower Hamlets Respect MP George Galloway in his constituency office in Shoreditch.

It is also revealed that another East Londoner, named as Noor Chudhary, from Tower Hamlets, was also sailing with the ‘Freedom Flotilla’.

The group’s only news has come from monitoring Turkish TV.

Said Ms Howard: “From what we have seen the detainees have been escorted off the ship, questioned ands detailed. There appears to be only two outcomes – deportation or prison.”

Israel has since apologised for loss of life and claimed its forces were attacked by a mass mob and they were forced to defend themselves.

Just before the raid Mr Ovenden wrote on the charity’s official website: “We are 90 miles from land – 22 miles further than the Israel decided 68 mile exclusion zone – but we are being approached by an Israeli vessel.

“Triage is set up and various strategies implemented to resist seizure.
 
Piece taken from the Newham Recorder

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Alice Howard
Viva Palestina UK
Tel: +447889726777
Email: alice@vivapalestina.org
Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
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Viva Palestina, helping to make the positive steps in breaking the siege of Gaza!