M'sian Youths Increasingly Aware Of Palestinian Issue

By Ismail Amsyar Mohd Said SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), April 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysian youths are increasingly aware of the Palestinian issue, judging from the large turnout at the Malaysian gathering for the Global March to Jerusalem (MyGMJ) held here on March 30, said chairman Dr Mohd Tahir Abd Rahman. Event organisers were gratified to see that the majority of the 15,000 people who took part in the event were youths, as MyGMJ had now identified youths as the target market to educate on the Palestinian issue, he told Bernama. He said it was important that the youths were well educated on the Palestinian issue, as what was happening in Palestine was more than just about wars and poverty. "It is the violation of human rights, ethnic cleansing, the apartheid wall and freedom in practising their religion," he said. The Global March to Jerusalem is a worldwide movement which aims to free Jerusalem and Palestine without war. Malaysia is one of 131 countries supporting the movement. March 30 was chosen for the GMJ as it commemorated Palestinian 'Land Day'. It was on this date in 1976 that the Palestinian masses declared a general strike against Israeli plans to take possession of Palestinian land, which was occupied since 1948. They non-violently challenged Israeli authorities, who reacted in a brutal way by sending army troops backed by tanks to Palestinian villages to occupy their lands and attack Palestinian civilians, the Palestinian Embassy said in a statement issued in conjunction with 'Land Day'. Mohd Tahir said he expected about 6,000 people to attend the event at Stadium Malawati here, but was pleasantly surprised when about 15,000 people arrived, the majority being youths. "The youths are now becoming more aware and understand how significant the Palestine issue is to them. We will not stop educating the public about it," he added. Furthermore, to boost awareness, AQSA SYARIF, the Welfare Association for Palestinian and Lebanese Families, is organising a programme for youths, 'Training of Palestinian Specialist' (TOPS), which focuses on building knowledge among volunteers on the Palestinian issue. Participants in the programme will later deliver public lectures at schools, universities or any other future events, said Mohd Tahir, who is also AQSA SYARIF board of trustees member. In his speech at the gathering, he urged participants to continue to support Palestinian efforts to reclaim their land, which was confiscated by the Zionist regime, 36 years ago, and stop the occupation which began in 1948. "Today marks the official beginning of our fight to reclaim our lands and bring back Muslims, Christians and Jews to live in harmony in Palestine," he said. AfiqFaizal Azman, a lecturer at UniKL, said he was amazed to see Malaysian youths so supportive (of the Palestinian issue), noting that "their level of awareness is much more than what I had when I was their age," he told Bernama at the rally. Another participant, a student from Algeria who wanted to be known only as Aghiles, said it was his duty as a Muslim to come to the event and show his support since he could not be together with the Palestinian people to fight side by side against Israel. The Palestinian Embassy, referring to the Global March to Jerusalem, said Jerusalem had always been and remained the political, administrative and spiritual heart of Palestine. "Occupied East Jerusalem is the natural socio-economic and political centre for the Palestinian state, given its cultural importance, commercial vitality, historical significance, and geographical centrality that connect the northern and southern parts of Palestine." -- BERNAMA