Today (Sept. 25) around 50 people came for a three hour vigil from 12 noon
to 3.00 pm in front of the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi in solidarity with
Mordechai Vanunu. Though there is a police restriction on any meetings of
more than 5 people (Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code) we deliberately
defied it to make our peaceful and totally non-violent protest.
A truckload
of police immediately came around but decided that discretion would be more
appropriate and did not disturb our vigil as long as we kept on the other
side of the road from the Embassy.
We read out messages of solidarity to Vanunu from people throughout the
world, read out aloud some of his poems and recited a brief history of his
life and the circumstances in which he was arrested and jailed.
There was a
guitar and harmonium and we sang numerous peace songs in English, Hindi,
Malayalam and Bengali. Some press photographers came to take pictures.
Before dispersing at 3 pm, we stood up in brief silent tribute. Some of us
then pinned signs on our chests calling for the release of Vanunu, and the
memorandum that was to be submitted to the Israeli Ambassador was read out
aloud. The Israeli Embassy refused to accept this memorandum to the
Ambassador so we have arranged for it to be sent by courier mail and by fax
to the Embassy. Copies of this memorandum have also been released to the
Indian press.
The text of this memorandum is given below:
The Embassy of Israel
3, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
Today, a vigil is taking place in front of Israeli Embassies throughout the
world. We in India are proud to be a part of this international vigil whose
purpose is to call attention to the plight of Mordechai Vanunu, whom your
government 14 years ago illegally kidnapped and unjustifiably sentenced and
imprisoned for 18 years.
By exposing your government's secret nuclear
weapons programme, Vanunu declared his wider commitment to the welfare of
an international community beyond the claims of so-called loyalty to a
government that would deceive its own people and the world, as well as
violate all principles of justice and decency by building such weapons of
mass destruction.
To many, many millions Mordechai Vanunu is a global hero and an inspiration
to all who oppose nuclear weapons. He is certainly that and more to us in
India who also reject India's acquisition of nuclear weapons and demand
that it roll back completely its own weapons programme. In the wider court
of history it is your government that will be adjudged the true criminal
while Vanunu's stature as one of the more remarkable and courageous figures
of our times will only be further reinforced.
Over all these years, as well
as today, we stand in complete solidarity with Mordechai Vanunu.
We demand that your government immediately release him! We demand the
elimination of all nuclear weapons worldwide no matter which country
possesses them!
Yours Etc.
Achin Vanaik
On Behalf of the Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament in India (MIND).
Member of the National Coordinating Committee of the Coalition for Nuclear
Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), India.
