Dear members of the media

 

I am writing to follow up on my last email.  My father, Jim Manly is in Israeli custody.  The Estelle was attacked in International waters around 4:30AM EDT.  My dad, a retired United Church minister and former Member of Parliament is 79 years old (he turns 80 in 9 days). While he is in good health for his age, he is not as resilient as he was in his youth and has medication he needs to take daily. I hope that the Israeli Defence Forces respect his human rights and legal rights and treat him with the respect and dignity he deserves.   Press release below.

 

For Immediate Release

 Shortly after 4:00AM EDT when the Estelle was in international waters approx. 17 Nautical Miles north of Arish, Egypt (as per the last coordinates we have) Israeli war ships surrounded it and the assault on the peaceful ship started.
 
 Communications were lost at that time and all reports we got from the ship were choppy.
 
 Among others, the following individuals were on board:
Former Member of Parliament Manly James, Canada 
 Member of Parliament Hagen Aksel, Norway
 Member of Parliament Britton Sven, Sweden
 Member of Parliament Kodelas Dimitios, Greece 
 Member of Parliament Sixto Ricardo, Spain 
 Member of Parliament Diamantopoulos  Evangelos, Greece 

Full list of individuals onboard: http://shiptogaza.se/en/news/sailors-onboard-estelle 

See Jim Manly's pre-recorded video message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8egYBdf-Zo 

 

As pre his request please contact the Prime Minister and your local member of parliament and ask them to insist that the Israeli government respect the human rights and legal rights of those aboard the Estelle.

 

- Stephen Harper (Prime Minister of Canada)
613-992-4211
stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca   
- John Baird (Minister of Foreign Affairs)
613-996-0984
john.baird@parl.gc.ca