Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Children of a Lesser God 2

Obama spoke up for Neda Agha-Soltan:-

"Obama paid tribute to the women of Iran, pointing to the death of Neda Agha-Soltan, a bystander who was apparently shot in the chest and died bleeding on the street in a grisly death flashed around the world on the Internet. 'We have seen courageous women stand up to brutality and threats, and we have experienced the searing image of a woman bleeding to death on the streets', Obama said. 'While this loss is raw and painful, we also know this: those who stand up for justice are always on the right side of history', he said." (Obama 'strongly condemns' Iran, says not interfering, AFP, 24/6/09)

Obama remained silent for Basem Abu Rahme:-

"Friday, 17 April 2009, Bil'in Village: a resident has been killed by Israeli forces during a demonstration. Basem Abu Rahme, 29 years of age, was shot in the chest with a high-velocity tear gas projectile... According to eyewitnesses, Basem was on a hill with several journalists to the side of the other demonstrators. Soldiers opened fire from 40 metres, aiming directly with the tear-gas projectiles... According to Michael Sfard, the lawyer representing the village of Bil'in, 'The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled 3 times that the route of the Wall is illegal and needs to be removed. However, to date not a meter of the Wall has been rerouted'. Basem Abu Rahme is the 18th individual to be killed by Israeli forces during a demonstration against the Wall." (Demonstrator killed in Bil'in by Israeli forces, International Solidarity Movement Digest, 20/4/09)

Make that 19:-

"Palestinian officials reported on Friday that a Palestinian demonstrator had been killed during the weekly anti-separation fence rally near the West Bank town of Na'alin. Palestinian medical officials said 36-year old Yusuf Srour... was hit in the chest by a live bullet and another protestor was wounded when [Israeli] soldiers fired at protesters." (Palestinian protester killed during Na'alin rally, Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz, 5/6/09)

Needless to say, Obama also remained silent for Yusuf Srour.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Spot on, mate. So blindingly obvious, this selective outrage of Obama. Waiting for young Kevvie to get into the act, or maybe I missed it.