[E-rundbrief] Info 160 - Mordechai Vanunu (Jerusalem) in policy- and house-arrest

Fr Nov 12 11:42:13 CET 2004

E-Rundbrief - Info 160 - International Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu: 
Vanunu re-arrested by dozens of armed police;  later released to house 
arrest (in Jerusalem). Appeal for protest-letters to Israeli-authorities.

Bad Ischl, 12.11.2004

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

===========================================================
Vanunu re-arrested by dozens of armed police;
later released to house arrest

PRESS RELEASE
International Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu

November 11, 2004

Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was released
from custody that evening, following his arrest in a dramatic and
excessive show of force early Thursday morning, November 18,
at St. George's Cathedral in East Jerusalem. He has been
punished yet again, and placed under house arrest for seven
days. His cell phones were returned to him, but he is still waiting
for his laptop computers to be returned.

Vanunu was warned that he is still bound by the severe
restrictions placed on him by Israeli authorities when he was
released on April 21 after serving his complete 18 year
sentence. Issues regarding his re-arrest are under investigation,
and no formal charges have been filed. However, Vanunu was
told that he may face charges for interviews that he has given to
foreign media.

When Vanunu was released from custody, he told the press,
"Once, twice, three times - how many times will I be punished for
the same act?"

Thursday morning, at least 30 armed police stormed the
compound of St. George's Cathedral, terrifying the clergy as well
as pilgrims and guests having breakfast.  The force consisted
of
special unit officers on motorcycles as well as additional police
in other vehicles. A reporter for Israel's Channel 2 evening news
called the raid "unnecessary and embarrassing" and wondered
aloud why the police hadn't simply asked Vanunu to report for
questioning. By the time he was released from detention,
the general opinion in the Israeli media was that, once again,
Israel's security services had gone out of their way to make
Vanunu headline news.

After his release Vanunu told friends that he was well and glad to
be back at St. George's, but that as long as he is kept in Israel
against his will, he remains a prisoner. He thanked his
supporters for their immediate response to his arrest.

Daniel Ellsberg, author of the book "Secrets: A Memoir of
Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers," said: "The only secret
Mordechai Vanunu has left to tell the world is the one he
revealed on the day of his release from 18 years in prison, April
21, 2004: 'I am a symbol of the will of freedom, that the human
spirit is free. You cannot destroy the human spirit.' That is indeed
the most dangerous secret in the eyes not only of Israel but of
every state that withholds vital information from its own citizens,
including the U.S. and U.K. Israel should let the foremost
prophet of the nuclear age go forth to be honored throughout the
world -- and we call on them to do so -- but even if it returns him
instead to his 6-by-9 foot cell, Mordechai Vanunu will remain the
most free man on earth."

Vanunu's adoptive American parents, Nick and Mary Eoloff, said
after learning of their son's re-arrest: "We are horrified that today
armed Israeli special police forces entered St. George's
Cathedral compound in order to kidnap Mordechai Vanunu for
the second time. It is further proof that the security forces have no
respect for an individual's human rights and dignity nor respect
for a religious site which is a sacred place of sanctuary.
Mordechai has always acted from a moral belief that nuclear
weapons are immoral and illegal and that all nations should
begin the process of their disarmament."

In 1986, Vanunu was kidnapped, taken back to Israel for a secret
trial and convicted on charges of treason and espionage after
revealing information about Israel's secret nuclear arsenal to the
London Sunday Times. The restrictions include not being
allowed to leave Israel and not being allowed to talk to foreign
press, among other things restricting his freedom of movement
and speech.

Supporters around the world continue to work for Vanunu's total
freedom, and join him in continuing to call for nuclear abolition in
the Middle East and around the world.  Fifteen British supporters
vigiled at the Israeli Embassy in London on November 11 to
immediately protest Vanunu's arrest.

Felice Cohen-Joppa, coordinator of the U.S. Campaign to Free
Mordechai Vanunu said: "It is an outrage that Israel has
re-arrested nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu only six
months after his release from prison. The unjust and severe
restrictions that have forced Mordechai Vanunu to remain in
Israel following his release last April, and intend to muzzle his
voice for nuclear disarmament, are grave violations of his human
and civil rights. After 18 years in prison, he has no secrets to
reveal. Israel must stop punishing this man who has already
suffered so much for letting the world know about Israel's
nuclear arsenal."

Rayna Moss, Israeli coordinator for the International Campaign
to Free Vanunu, said: "The attempt to silence Mordechai Vanunu
on this of all days, is an attempt to bury Israel's secret nuclear
arsenal together with Yasser Arafat. While the world media and
attention are focused on the burial of the Palestinian leader, the
Israeli government is attempting to disappear the nuclear
whistleblower, whose only crime is revealing the terrible truth
that Israel is trying to hide: weapons of mass destruction that are
concealed from Israeli citizens and from the world."

Contact:
In Israel - Rayna Moss, 0507-368236, legalese at netvision.net.il
In the U.S. - Felice Cohen-Joppa, 520-323-8697,
freevanunu at mindspring.com

For more information, see www.vanunu.co.uk, www.vanunu.com,
www.vanunu.org

Letter, faxes, emails, phone calls needed - lift
the restrictions, free Mordechai Vanunu

Contact the Israeli Embassy to demand that Mordechai Vanunu's
restrictions be lifted and he be allowed to leave Israel.  Contact
information for other Israeli officials can be found at
http://www.nonviolence.org/vanunu/youcanhelp.html

or contact Israeli ambassador in your country -
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/israel1.html

===========================================================

Matthias Reichl

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

Wolfgangerstr.26

A-4820 Bad Ischl

Tel. +43-6132-24590

e-mail: mareichl at ping.at

http://www.begegnungszentrum.at