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Sorrow still burns for boat massacre Paveen
Reporter: by DAWN MARSDEN
Date online: 28 July 2010
A FORMER Oldham Council worker has made an emotional visit to the graves of friends who were killed when Israeli commandos stormed their flotilla delivering aid.
Paveen Yaqub (39) was on board the Mavi Marmara where nine activists were killed as they tried to deliver aid to Gaza in May.
She was taken to an Israeli prison after the boats were stormed, before being deported to Turkey.
Paveen, who quit her job as a co-ordinator this week, has just returned from a trip to Turkey where she visited the grave of her friend Furkan Dogan and others who lost their lives.
She also met with Furkan’s family so she could tell them about his last moments and visited Our Suleyman, who is still in a coma, in Ankara.
Paveen, from Honley near Huddersfield, said: “The trip was part of the healing process and I wanted to pay my respects to those that lost their lives.
“I was able to meet up with other people who survived the attack and it was good to see them as they know exactly what I went through and I don’t have to explain myself.
“I have given up my job at the council because the trip to Turkey helped me to realise what is really important.
“I have planned a fundraising event called The Truth Lay Bleeding in Manchester on Saturday to raise awareness of the plight of Palestinian people.
“Myself and Ken O’Keefe, who was also on board the Mavi Marmara will be sharing our stories in a bid to raise funds and awareness for the next mission.”
Paveen may be called to give evidence at a UN investigation into the flotilla attack and she is currently fundraising for a return humanitarian trip to Gaza.
She said: “I will carry on my work overseas.
“Preparations are already under way for the next convoy, which will be a sea flotilla and a road convoy, and I hope to take part in that and help break the siege.
“I am really glad I made the trip to Turkey. To see the families of those that lost their lives being so strong has given me the courage to carry on with the campaign and my efforts will continue.”
Comments
The headline 'massacre' is sensationalist and - I suspect - not strictly true ....
I agree with Chron13 & wonder just what kind of cowboy outfit OMBC is running if its staff can, apparently, be absent for frequent holidays? Perhaps Cllr Sykes can justifiably make huge staffing cuts if the existing staff have as little work to do as your article suggests.
Don't worry 'Call me Dave' has raised it now, and made his intention to allow 10's of millions of Turkish migrants into the UK.
I wonder just how much support he lost in the UK from rich doners after his criticism of Isreal. Some how after that I think he's PM on borrowed time
David Cameron spot on about GAZA in his speech in Turkey. No peace in the Middle East until mess this is sorted out.
Well done Paveen I see you have the pro-Israel lobby fuming - intelligent, articulate and dare I say attractive (in this PC world)woman standing up for what she believes in - they clearly can't cope with you.
Good on you - a true Yorkshire woman - proud of you !
I do not understand why aturkey should be allowed in to the EEC, yes we will have absolutely loads of immigrants and nothing the government can do about it.
Paveen is typical of many council workers who get special treatment frpm the council, how long was she away from work I wondero
Council workers have holidays just the same as those in the private sector. Do you seriously think Council staff can just take leave of absence, paid or otherwise, whenever they feel like it and without limit?
Why do people feel they have to comment if they have nothing positive to say. How do you know that Paveen didn't go to Turkey for a long weekend and use up just 1 day of her holiday entitlement - yes, even council workers are allowed holidays or do you feel that they shouldn't be given any? She may have saved a years time off for her peace mission. Or she may have asked for special UNPAID leave to help her to get over the obviously awful time she has had recently.
Why is the Chron giving this woman so much free publicity? I see she has given up her job; are we to be told how she pays her way now? Is she on benefits having deliberately made herself unemployed? Will the Chron interview & publicise the views of someone on the Israeli side of the conflict, to ensure balanced reporting?
I hope Ms Yaqub will also raise funds to protest against the Egyptians blockade of Palestine, and to protest against Palestinian attacks on Israel.
Thank you Chronicle for using the correct headline. This was a massacre. People were killed IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS in an act of criminal piracy.
Imagine if Iran had done this or any other "official enemies". There would be sanctions and calls for war crimes investigations and probably bombings. But Israel can murder and occupy whoever they want at will.
Again, well done chron.
Could Paveen publish a written guarantee that any of these aid ships were not carrying arms intended for groups hostile to Israel?
..what nonesense....we now know that the "peaceful aid workers" were protagonists intent on goading Israel into a confrontation......for which they were well prepared.
Have Your Say
If Paveen has "quit her job as a co-ordinator this week" Yet has had time but "has just returned from a trip to Turkey" all we can work out she has more holidays than Juddith Charmers !!!
By Chron13 @ 28/07/2010 13:07:46