There are human rights problems in many parts of the world and not everybody can take an interest in all of them. So you couldn’t, for example, reasonably criticize the Free Burma Campaign for not being concerned about the rights of indigenous people in Chile, that’s not what it’s for. However, if a group goes out of its way to spit in the face of one group of victims of human rights abuses in order, in its own view, to help members of a separate group with different problems then you can reasonably question its motives.
Such is the case of those aboard the “Irene”, a boat which has just set off for Gaza from the port of Famagusta in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. Remember now that Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, seized about one third of its surface area for itself, ethnically cleansed the newly-conquered territory of its entire ethnic Greek population and replaced them with settlers from the Turkish mainland. No country recognizes Ankara’s puppet government in the northern part of Cyprus.
When asked about the decision to set off from Famagusta one of the organizers of the trip referred to “practicalities”. So the crew of the “Irene” and the organizers of its voyage to Gaza have a clear message to the Cypriots murdered, disappeared and expelled from their homes by the Turkish state and that message is that they don’t give a damn, that their necessity to prove to the world that they are good, acceptable Jews outweighs all other considerations. They have no shame and no interest in helping anyone but themselves.
Haha… You’re clutching at straws, Eamonn.
I think most people would say sailing a boat from Northern Cyprus doesn’t mean you approve of what went on in 1974. Most, but not everybody, clearly.
Make them deny it though, eh?
Actually, it’s a good point. If you’re out for liberation and justice and human rights, you really should not be associating yourself and your mission with oppression in such a palpatable way. Actually, I would go further and say that the ship itself should have nothing to do with Turkey.
Assuming of course that your mission Is liberation and justice and human rights of course.
What marvellous symbolism!
“Ethnically cleansed? Sorry, Greek Cypriots, but our efforts to demonize Israel, um ‘practicalities’, take precedence over your longstanding grievances… Oh, and if you have any questions, just ask Steve Kelly; he’ll explain it all to you.”
There’s nothing to explain, Hal. Visiting a place doesn’t mean one approves of everything that ever happened there.
But you already knew that.
Like I said, clutching at straws. As long as you’re happy, I suppose…
Irene (Eirene) is modern Greek for peace
To have a boat named Irene from an usurped by Turkey port is … well chose your adjectives yourself.
just to illustrate how alive the connection between that girl’s name and the wish for peace is:
in 1976/77 the islands of the Dodekanese were full of young girls who had been named Irene because their parents hoped that expressing their wishes this way would make God inclined towards peace.
Therefore I think naming the boat Irene is something one wouldn’t do in polite society.
The only reason they’re going from the north is that the country of Cyprus would have prevented them going.
Cyprus is colluding with the Israeli blockade with Gaza. Probably because they have little choice.