27 countries' World Peace Meet in Goa demands freedom for Palestine
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 26 November 2014 21:43 IST
The World Peace Council has demanded to end US-sponsored Israeli terrorism and freedom to Palestine.
A demand in this regard was made by Eduardo Faleiro, India’s former union minister for external affairs, who is presently hosting the WPC executive meeting of 27 countries in Goa, India.
“Palestine people are victims of “terrorism” by Israel through the connivance of USA. We express solidarity with the struggle of Palestinian people and their just demand for an independent Palestine”, Faleiro said after inaugurating the four-day conclave.
He heads the Goa chapter of All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation.
This conclave is focussing on the issue of liberation of Palestine while representatives of Israel are also participating in it.
Besides India, delegates participating in the conclave are from Brazil, Greece, Angola, Senegal, Cuba, Turkey, Philippines, Vietnam, USA, Palestine, Israel, Russia, Lebanon, Cyprus, Bangladesh, UK, Iran, Denmark, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Venezuela, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Congo, Mexico, Nepal and Laos.
The conclave was inaugurated in the presence of WPC president Socorro Gomes and other office bearers.
Faleiro, in an elaborate speech, reminded that Sweden is the first nation to recognise Palestine and similar resolutions have been passed by Ireland, Spain and Britain has expressed solidarity with the cause of Palestine.
He also paid tributes to the architects of Goa’s freedom struggle, T. B. Cunha, Dr Pundalik Gaitonde and Berta Menezes Braganza while also reminding the audience the contribution of Goa-born historian Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi to the cause of World Peace.
Ms Gomes, President of WPC congratulated AIPSO for their efforts in organising the meet in Goa and for their concerted efforts to the cause of peace and justice.
She paid rich tributes to the torch-bearers of India’s freedom struggle against British colonialism and called for united efforts to restore peace and justice in the world.
Anthanasios Pafilis, General Secretary of WPC, expressed the need for solidarity to free the world from imperialistic domination.
Nilotpal Basu, General Secretary of AIPSO, lauded India’s heritage of national movement and diversity.
Expressing concern that this space is contested today by religious fundamentalism, he expressed the hope that the resilience of Indian people will overcome the attempts of fascist forces to spread communalism in the country.
Thanassis Pafilis also spoke on the occasion. Pallab Sengupta compered the programme.
Christopher Fonseca proposed the vote of thanks underlining that peace does not just mean absence of war but also struggle for equity and justice.
The four-day conclave will conclude with an open session to express solidarity with Palestine on 29 November, to be addressed by India’s Communist leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja as well as delegates from Palestine, USA, Greece and South Africa.
