Dear Mr. Papandreou,

We, members of the Gaza-Flotilla II who have come to the shores of Greece from
all parts of the world, leaving behind our workplaces and families in order
to put into practice our solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza, are
outraged by the decision of your government to close by force the ports of
Greece to our humanitarian initiative.

This decision not only violates the consecrated principle of international law
of the freedom of the seas and the ancient tradition of the freedom of the
Mediterranean, but also disregards the claims for democracy and self-determination of the people of Palestine as well as of the non-governmental organisations we represent.

It is totally incomprehensible to us and fills us with just wrath that the
Greek government closes the ports to our ships just in a moment when
you, Mr. Papandreou, have been constantly expressing the need of solidarity for
the Greek people. By putting yourself and your government as an ally of
Israel in the Palestinian question you also seem to have forgotten the struggle
against the military dictatorship in your own country.

The members of this international peace mission therefore demand, on
behalf of the people of Gaza and for ourselves the same right to move that has
been granted for centuries to the Greek people in our countries.

MR. PAPANDREOU, LET US GO!

Dr. Leo Gabriel
Delegation from AUSTRIA

Dr. Samir Kazkaz
Delegation from GERMANY

Max van Lingen
Delegation from the NETHERLANDS

Vauro Senesi
Delegation from ITALY

Giovanni Esposito
Delegation from SWITZERLAND

Ines Mizic
Delegation from BOSNIA

Nooravman Samsuddin
Delegation from Malaysia 

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