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International Vigils Call for Vanunu's Release
September 30, 2002 marked the 16th anniversary of Israeli nuclear
whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu's kidnapping and imprisonment. As in
past years, his supporters around the world held vigils throughout
that week calling for his immediate release.
On Friday, September 27, a noon hour vigil was held in Wellington, New Zealand on
the steps of Parliament. Participants held signs and handed out leaflets. There
were several speakers, including Parliament member Graham Kelly, and some of
Mordechai's poems were recited.
Later that day, a vigil was held in Stockholm, Sweden. About 1,000
leaflets were passed out as speakers talked about Vanunu's case and
nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Roland von Malmborg performed a
song he wrote about Mordechai.
On Sunday, September 29, Amnesty International supporters of Vanunu
in Hiroshima held a vigil in front of the A-bomb Dome. They walked
in Peace Park, carrying their banners and collecting signatures on a
petition for Vanunu's release.
That same day, two commemorative services were held at St. John's
Anglican Church in Sydney, Australia. At each service, 16 candles
were lit - one for each year of Mordechai's imprisonment. The
morning service was attended by Meir Vanunu, Mordechai's brother.
Most of the vigils took place on September 30. In Sydney, Irma
Trnka, along with Rev. David Smith (who had met Mordechai in 1986),
his wife and infant son (named Soren Lee Mordechai Smith) held a noon
hour vigil at the Israeli embassy, handing out leaflets and speaking
with passersby.
In London, England, 40 people held a three hour vigil at the street
corner near the Israeli embassy where they've held their weekly vigil
for more than 10 years. Surrounded by banners, placards and balloons
calling for Vanunu's release, they distributed many leaflets and
signed a large birthday card for Mordechai. Towards the end of the
vigil they were entertained by a flute player and trumpeter.
Two additional vigils in the U.K were held in Leicester and Salisbury.
Local Group 19 of Amnesty International in Lisbon, Portugal held two
vigils on September 30, in the afternoon and evening. They marked an
outline representing the size of Mordechai's cell on a Lisbon
sidewalk with red tape. A stuffed manikin wearing a Vanunu mask was
placed inside. Vigilers handed out leaflets to curious passersby,
and at night placed candles on the pavement around the "cell".
Several people held a noon hour vigil at the Israeli Consulate in
Boston, U.S., calling for Vanunu's release. They held a banner and
handed out leaflets. During the vigil, an Israeli woman stopped by
with her family to say that she was glad the vigilers were there. At
the end of the vigil, the group delivered a letter calling for
Mordechai's release to the consulate.
In San Francisco, U.S., a dozen vigilers also held signs and passed
out leaflets in front of the Israeli Consulate. After the vigil, Hal
Carlstad attempted to deliver copies of the signed letter urging
Mordechai's release, but it was refused. The letter was later mailed.
Two days earlier, on September 28, the Bay Area Campaign to Free
Mordechai Vanunu held a standing-room-only benefit near San Francisco
at the Berkeley Unitarian Church. Daniel Ellsberg, suffering from a
severe case of laryngitis, had prepared some remarks to be read by
Joanna Macy, but couldn't help speaking out himself to honor
Mordechai Vanunu.
Also on September 30, vigilers in Washington, D.C. carried signs and
banners calling for freedom for Vanunu and peace in the Middle East
as they walked up the road to the Israeli Embassy, leafletting along
the way. Thirty-five people (and one dog) gathered at noon across
the street from the embassy. Several of Mordechai's poems were read,
and the group sang songs and signed a birthday card for Mordechai, as
well as a letter to the ambassador calling for Vanunu's immediate
release.
At the end of the vigil, several people crossed the road to the front
of the embassy to deliver the letter. They were determined to stay
until someone met with them, and after a short time Art Laffin,
Colleen McCarthy, Susan Clarkson and Elayne McClanen, were arrested
and charged with "refusing to move on". They were released from
custody that evening and have a trial scheduled on December 12. The
letter was later mailed to the ambassador.
A vigil in Vancouver, Canada, was attended by 25 people representing
several organizations. They held signs calling for Vanunu's freedom,
and handed out several hundred leaflets. Participants signed a large
birthday card with individual messages, which was mailed the next day
to Mordechai at Ashkelon Prison.
A dozen people in Toronto held a vigil across the street from the
Israeli Consulate there. They distributed leaflets which included
Vanunu's poem "I Am Your Spy", and held signs with 2 by 3 foot
photocopies of the original London Sunday Times article of October 5,
1986 (which included Vanunu's photos and revelations regarding
Israel's nuclear capability). Participants signed a birthday card
for Mordechai, and two members of Toronto's Raging Grannies sang a
song especially written for the imprisoned nuclear whistleblower.
On October 2, about 30 people, many from Women in Black, held a vigil
outside the Israeli Embassy in Rome, Italy. Vigilers held striking
black signs and banners with white letters, and distributed leaflets
to passersby. They also collected signatures on a birthday card for
Mordechai.
Thanks to these vigils, along with countless other acts of support
and the many awards and honors given to Mordechai Vanunu , the
Israeli government cannot help but be aware of the deeply held
sentiment around the world that Vanunu's act of whistleblowing is a
courageous act for which he should be commended, not imprisoned.
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 London Photo by Peter Hall
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