Raid on Jericho Jail
An Unprecedented Crime

Zionist occupation forces attacked Jericho Central Jail in the West Bank with military machinery, tanks and helicopters. Meanwhile, American and British observers withdrew from the jail. This confirms the American British collusion with Israel. In other words, the raid is a clear illustration of the American British Israeli agreement, to carry out this loathsome crime.
This tripartite act unveils the American British role not only in Palestine, but also in the Arab Region and the Middle East. It reveals all the void allegations and faked claims declared by the United States of America and the United Kingdom to justify their unacceptable flagrant and condemned interference in the region.
This unprecedented violation breaches all laws and international norms. Moreover, Kidnapping Ahmed Saadat- Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - and his comrades uncovers the fact that the Zionist Israeli government works relentlessly to complicate the Palestinian situation, supported by America and Britain. Saadat and his comrades were confined in Jericho Jail, after being accused of giving the order for the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism in 2001. It is clear that such government has no intention to acknowledge the legitimate
Palestinian rights and seeks to confirm the impossibility of finding any
solution to the dilemma but the Zionist leadership settlement backed by the American and British leadership, the worst of enemies of Arabs.
The deteriorating Arab status tempts such powers ¬ America and Britain- to impose Israel as the leading political and military power in the region. Consequently, Israel would be the dominating force for redrafting the Arab conditions, according to its welfare directly or indirectly from behind the American shelter.
Such barbaric act should be deservedly repaid, not only through
condemnation, but by enforcing strict punishment from international bodies starting with the Security Council, the Arab League, the Islamic Conference organization and the African Union. Effective measures should be taken to guarantee the commitment of the racial Zionist Israel to International laws. United Nations and the Security Council should be responsible for the Palestinian case, not leaving the enemies to put forth solutions for it. The Security Council should compel Israel to return the kidnapped.
Arab governments and parliaments should take necessary stances to restrain Israel and support the Palestinian people and their case. What Israel did in Jericho Jail can be done again, in a way or another, in any other Arab country. This Israeli act is a declaration that Israel deems its permissible to hurt us all in words and actions. We have to prove, to Israel and those supporting her, that this will never happen.
Afro- Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) calls upon all NGOs at the local, regional and international levels to express their condemnation of the act by all means, as well as to lobby for adhering to a legitimate official international stance that would give the Palestinians their lawful rights.

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International Conference on Culture and Intellectuals Under Hegemony

In the name of AAPSO, the Egyptian Writers' Association, the General Union of Arab Writers, The African Writers' Association, the Russian Writers' Association, and intellectual and literary prominent personalities; I have the pleasure to confirm on your invitation to the Preparatory Committee, of the International Conference on "Culture and Cultured Under Hegemony", which will be held in Cairo, on 12-13 April 2006.
The Preparatory Committee will discuss the possibilities of holding the suggested International Conference and will confirm an appropriate working paper, which will include the Preparatory Committee's discussions and its suggestions for the appropriate agenda. According to primary (exploratory) discussions in this matter, we are drawing up to the respected Preparatory
Committee, the agenda of its convening for two days:
 

The First Day: The 1st theme:
3 sessions Discussions on the topics of the International Conference's agenda and putting defining the papers on:
a) The cultural mechanism of the hegemonic globalization in the fields of traditions, creation and information.
b) Forms of distortion in the cultures of the South people, represented in the forms of extremism, violence, and irrationalism.
c) The role of culture in emancipating peoples and enhancing freedom, justice and democracy, as well as activating the cultural relations between the Southern countries.
 

The Second Day: The 2nd theme (Organizational): 2 sessions
a) Suggestions for re-activating the Afro-Asian Writers' Association and supporting their efforts for cooperation with the cultural movement on the international level, as well as defining the norms of choosing the participants from the unions, associations and the public personalities in Asia and Africa.
b) Determining the date and place of holding the International Conference, its agenda and the necessary procedures to hold it (funding - follow-up ..).
We will be happy if we receive any note or suggestion that you want to submit to the meeting before the date 12-13 April 2006. Kindly inform us, as soon as possible, by the date of your arrival and may you know that the hotel of your stay is the Nile Garden Hotel, 131, Abdul Azziz Al-Saoud St. - Al-Manial.
With Respect,
Nouri Abdul Razzak
Secretary - General

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The Reflections of Partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
on the regional security of the Mediterranean Region
17/4/2006

More than one initiative, for cooperation and partnership between NATO and a number of Mediterranean countries, were launched. Such initiatives were especially in the security domain aiming at consolidating stability and security in the region. This can be achieved through mutual defense cooperation, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and combating terrorism. Out of the growing interest and the extended scope of action in the framework of partnership with Mediterranean countries, Afro- Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) regarded it necessary to organize a seminar to discuss the reflections of this partnership on the regional security of the Mediterranean region. The seminar is to be held on Monday 17 April 2006, at 6.00 p.m. at AAPSO headquarters; 89, Abdel Aziz Al- Saoud Street, Manial.
The seminar will tackle the following focal issues:
1-A review of existing partnership initiatives between NATO and Mediterranean countries.
2-The transformation of NATO¹s role and its future plans in the region.
3-The reflections of partnership on the regional security (defense systems, terrorism and disarmament of mass destruction weapons).

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Press Release
Symposium on
"The Reasons and Repercussions of Iranian Nuclear Crises"
March 14, 2006

In following up all current world events, Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) held a symposium on Iran's Nuclear File and the future scenarios of the situation. The symposium was attended by experts and concerned individuals to discuss the current Iranian situation, conventions on Non- proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear terrorism and its impact on the Middle East. Furthermore, the symposium tackled the status of Iran neighboring countries, shedding the light on referring the nuclear issue to the Security Council, as well as the Iranian view and potential reaction to the situation.
Baring in mind the fact that Iran signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the annexed protocol, the participants described the current situation as if Iran insists to prove her goodwill by the enrichment of Uranium for peaceful means. Meanwhile, the United States of America is actually afraid of Iran's actions due to Iran's unprecedented power and influence in the region from her west boundary lines to the north of Israel. Such power and influence are the reasons why other countries involved in the world order with deep-rooted relations with the one pole, envy Iran for having such power and influence. Meanwhile, such countries fear the fact that Iran might possesses the nuclear technology required for the production of nuclear weapons. If USA succeeds to prevent Iran from possessing the nuclear technologies, it can prevent other countries as well. This is considered a clear violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The international society can gradually impose commercial, smart or
financial sanctions to pave the way for dragging Iran to the Security
Council and perhaps launch a military attack against her later on.
There are four scenarios for the military attack: it can be a limited impact
military attack, or an Israeli bombing of the nuclear foundations, or
destroying the nuclear program through US military attacks, or finally by
toppling the current Iranian regime.
As for the potential Iranian reaction, Iran can use her best cards for
exerting pressure as being the second biggest oil exporter in OPEC and the
second natural gas reserve in the world. Iran can paralyze navigation in the strait of Hormuz and the transfer of oil in the Caspian sea as well. Hence, Iran can inflect damage to the world oil market.
The symposium also tackled the results of each and every scenario and the impact of the current crises on the region.
The symposium concluded by AAPSO's announcement about the seminar to be held next month on "The Reflections of NATO Partnerships on the Mediterranean Regional Security".

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Embassay of Cuba
in Egypt

In honour of H.E. Felipe Pérez Roque, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba on the occasion of the official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The Ambassador of Cuba Angel Dalmau Fernلndez has the pleasure to invite Mr. Nouri Abdul Razzak, Secretary General of AAPSO to a Cocktail, on Sunday 19th March, At: Giza Diplomatic Club.

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The Republic of Iraq
The Presidential Palace
To the family of the deceased
Mohammad Sayed Ahmad

I received with grief and sorrow the bad news of the death of progressive exalted Egyptian figure, Mohammad Sayed Ahmad.
The death of this writer, intellectual, and national struggler is an
enormous loss to the Egyptian National Movement. It is a great loss to all
patriots in the Arab World who struggle under very difficult and complicated circumstances to attain their peoples¹ hopes of freedom, democracy and social justice.
The deceased had dedicated his life, which was rich of glorious deeds of struggle, to contribute in redrafting the Egyptian society in which the
transformation targeted the welfare of the simple poor people. Those people who aspire to realize their rights and live with the humane dignity they deserve.
As I extend my deepest condolences and consolation to the family and companions of the deceased, I ask Allah all mighty to have mercy upon him, grant him forgiveness and may he rest in peace.

Galal Talibani
President of the Republic of Iraq

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The Sectarian Unrest in Iraq

After very regrettable events, the condition in Iraq exploded and
crystallized in a high escalation of sectarian rupture by the grave
aggression on the religious Shiite shrines which are sacred in Samarra.
Then, retaliating by other aggressions against a big number of Sunni
mosques.
Those who started these deeds must be forces which are against the Iraqi people's interests. They are forces seeking to explode a sectarian unrest and to transform the fight against the occupation into a fight within the Iraqi people.
The condition in Iraq is too sensitive, as it is full of mines and the path of any true national force must be, mainly, unifying the Iraqi people
sectors either political, or religious, or ethnic.
Any step in the direction of unifying the Iraqi people must be a step with progress and acceleration for the evacuation of the occupied forces. Any step in the direction of rupturing the Iraqi people union must be a step
supporting the presence of the occupied forces and covering its deeds.
AAPSO strongly condemns the aggression on the sacred places and the explosion of the fight and the sectarian unrest, and asks all the different Iraqi parties to control themselves and not to go after such suspicious operations in order not to give them the chance for fulfilling their aims. They must be encircled to isolate their effect on the Iraqi people.
Long Live Iraqi People
United, Free & Democratic

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21 MARCH
International Day
Against Racism and Racial Discrimination

The commemoration, this year, of the International Day Against Racism and Racial Discrimination hardly provides ground to optimism and hopes for substantial achievements in the fight against racist manifestation the world over.
The Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization sadly reminds that practices of racism are being exercised worldwidely, where fundamental human rights, dignity and values of people are concerned, collectively or individually.
The fight against terrorism was, unfortunately, diverted away from its aims by practicing inhuman methods like torture, massacres and intolerance targeting specific categories of people, mainly Arab Muslims. The inhumane and degrading treatment, including torture and other means of extortion of confession inflicted to prisoners in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo joint to the alleged secret prisons in many countries of the world is a demonstration of the grave abuses to the human rights principles.
The discrimination imposed on socio-economic conditions of peoples, in terms of distribution of wealth and income, including issues like gender,
education, health, housing, migration, minority groups even sport, which
always led to social and political disturbances, violences, confrontations,
killings and massacres should be addressed within the context of fighting
against racism. The urgent task of the international community should be to fight against the existence of networks of modern slavery, sexual
exploitations and human trafficking. The land occupation, disrespect of
ones' belief and conviction, which have appeared to be bearers of racist
nature, should be strongly denounced.
The Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization launches its appeal that the terms and spirit of the principles of the International Day Against Racism and Racial Discrimination to be applied and implemented with the fervor and enthusiasm expressed at the time of their adoption by the world community.
The commemoration of the 21st March should be an opportunity to boost international mobilization, in order to confront practices of racism, racial discrimination and all their attributes on the international levels and to express solidarity to the victims of racist acts all over the world.

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Almada Fourth Cultural Festival

The respectable Mr. Nouri Abdul Razzak

Attached is an invitation to Almada Fourth Cultural Week. Enclosed, as well, are the documents of the week proceedings. Names of some guests and their addresses are below. Kindly, provide their e-mails or telephone numbers to send them invitations in person.
Dr. Mourad Ghaleb - Dr. Fathi Abdel Fattah - Mr. Ahmed Alhabobi - Ameen Mohammad Ameen - Ossama Aggag - Ahmed Selim – Mohammad Alfawal - Reda Albahat - Tayseer Kobaa
Your cooperation is highly appreciated,
With Regards
Ghada Johny
The Preparatory Committee

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Focal Issues of Almada Fourth Cultural Week
Seminars, round tables and lectures.

First: Democracy is a tool for transformation from dictatorship to free society, political pluralism and cultural diversity.
1- Terrorism as an expression of dictatorial totalitarian domination.
2- Political alliances.
3- Treasonous and Disbelief...
4- The right of Peoples to Self- determination.
5- Capitalistic globalization.
6- National entity.
7- Kurdish Federalism.
8- The phenomenon of Demographic change.
9- Iraqi culture- History and the Contemporary.
Second: The cultural policy to reestablish the Iraqi culture, confirming the national characteristics and democratic humane feature.
1- Diversity in the framework of unity.
2- Culture as a basis for development.
3- The national pluralism culture.
4- The role of democratic culture.
5- Extremism: the roots and aspects.
6- The Iraqi culture and the problems of reasonable alternatives.
7- National culture in Iraq.
8- Intellectuals and authority.
9- The culture of instruction and education in Iraq.
Third: The concept of re-development and the reasonable use of national resources to overcome social and economic structuring deformations in the country. Set up the federal democratic system as well.
1- Indebtedness: the outcome of connivance with dictatorship.
2- The political grounds to "refuse indebtedness".
3- "Privatization" and the requirements for supporting national industry.
4- Addressing unemployment.
5- Public and private sectors.
Fourth: The two sides: Backwardness and advancement in the attitude towards women and their role in cultural, social and political life.
1- Women's status in social and political changes.
2- Isolation and discrimination to marginalize women.
3- Women as an issue for a national cultural campaign.
4- Revitalize the countryside and provide incentives to encourage women participation.
5- Femininity and masculinity culture in Iraq.

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Women Development Forum
Miss. Hamsa Abdel Hamid
Afro- Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization
Rachel Kouri in Women's Day

Women Development Forum is honored to invite you to participate in a ceremony held on the occasion of the International and Egyptian Women's Days under the motto: ((To Rachel Kouri - a symbol of humane solidarity)).
The ceremony will be held at 6.00 p.m. on Monday 20 March, at ElHanager Theatre, Cairo Opera House.
The Ceremony will include a theatrical recitation of Rachel's messages performed by the actress "Sawsan Badr" and directed by "Hassan Elgreatley". It will include as well a poetic evening where a number of male and female poets will contribute with new poems. In such poems, they were inspired by Rachel's heroism when confronting an Israeli shovel moving forward to destroy a Palestinian house in "Rafah". The driver of the shovel ran over the girl and she died in March 16, 2003.
A message to Rachel's family, as well as an exhibition of pictures drawn by artists for the commemoration of her will be parts of the ceremony. The choir and a number of singers and musicians will participate in the ceremony. The ceremony is directed by "Nasser Abdel Monem".
The forum is looking forward for your participation.

Women Development Forum
Farida El Nakash

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World Conference Against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs Information on the 2006 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs August 2-9, 2006 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Dear friends,
We are pleased to inform you that the 2006 World Conference against A and H Bombs will take place on Aug. 2 through 9 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki with "For a Peaceful and Just Future Free of Nuclear Weapons and Wars" as a main theme. In its general assembly held on Feb. 15, the Organising Committee of the World Conference issued a "Call for Participation in and Support for the 2006 World Conference against A & H Bombs". We call on you to take part in or send your delegate(s) to the conference, and/or prepare an action in solidarity with the Conference during the coming Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days.
Building on the achievement of our movements in the 60th year since the atomic bombing that broke new ground, we hope, and are working for the 2006 World Conference to be a springboard for a further progress in increasing world support and actions for the abolition of nuclear weapons so that we can block all dangerous attempts to use nuclear weapons and mark a sure step for a nuclear free world. The conference will be a place where people from around the world, representatives of national/local governments, NGOs and organizations or individuals, will further increase their cooperative efforts beyond boundaries. It will also be a venue to cement solidarity with the anti-war and peace movements across the world, the movements for a just world free of the outrage of big powers, the Hibakusha and global nuclear victims, and with youth who are struggling for a hopeful future.
We would also appreciate receiving messages of support and solidarity, as well as your action plan for Aug. 6 and 9, from friends who are unable to join in our conference. Your message, translated into Japanese, will be circulated to the grassroots groups in Japan. It will be a great help in building a sense of international solidarity among them.
We look forward to your participation in the 2006 World Conference against A & H Bombs.
Organizing Committee,
World Conference against A & H Bombs.

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Call for the Swift Abolition of Nuclear Weapons

It is now 60 years since the first session of the UN General Assembly
adopted its first resolution in January 1946 pledging to move towards the
elimination of nuclear weapons. Today, the overwhelming majority of both the people and the governments of the world are demanding the abolition of nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, a large number of nuclear weapons, enough to annihilate the whole of humanity, are still being stockpiled and deployed.
In particular, the government of the United States, the biggest nuclear power, declares that it will retain its massive nuclear arsenals into the foreseeable future. On the grounds of needing to cope with the "dangers of terrorism and nuclear proliferation", it is continuing to wage war and even developing plans to use nuclear weapons and build new nuclear warheads. These actions betray the first UN resolution, as well as the "unequivocal undertaking" to eliminate their nuclear arsenals, agreed upon in 2000 by the nuclear weapon states¹ governments at the NPT Review Conference. Further, they run counter to the purpose and the basic principle of the United Nations "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and to settle international disputes "by peaceful means".
Now people on all continents share this goal and are joining together in actions to carry forward this effort to turn the rest of the 21st century
into an era, where humans are liberated from the danger of nuclear war. A
total ban, on nuclear weapons, is also the only sure way to remove the danger of nuclear proliferation.
In pursuit of a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world, we herewith urge the United Nations Organization and all governments of the world, including the nuclear weapons states, to begin negotiations with no further delay to reach an international convention for a total ban on, and the elimination of, nuclear weapons.
Name Address Signature
Send your signatures to: Organizing Committee,

World Conference against A & H Bombs. 2-4-4 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, 113-8464 Tokyo, Japan. Email: intl@antiatom.org.
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International Conference on desertification, hunger and poverty
Geneva, 11-12 April 2006

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
2006 is the International Year for Deserts and Desertification. Within the framework of the International Year for Deserts and Desertification, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in partnership with the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED) of Geneva, is organizing an international conference on desertification, hunger and poverty; Geneva, 11-12 April 2006 at the International Conference Centre Geneva (ICCG).
International organizations, diplomatic missions, academic institutes and non-governmental organizations working on issues of environment, development and humanitarian aid, researchers from North and South and students are invited to the conference.

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The Arab Program of Human Rights Activists
Torturing Palestinian Prisoners in Israel

The Arab Program of Human Rights Activists received, and is still receiving, statements from the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners and Ex- Prisoners Affairs, the families of the prisoners and the prisoners themselves on the violations and flagrant inhumane assaults against Palestinian prisoners.
Days ago, the Governor of Al Damoun Jail named "Robin", assaulted the prisoner Mohammad Eshtewi and beat him violently with no liability at all. In the light of such assault, the prisoners sent a message to the Ministry of Palestinian Prisoners in which they stated their resent and protest refusing to deal with the Jail governor for his abnormal behavior.
In vain, prisoners of Al Damoun jail sent messages to human rights bodies appealing for protection and observation of their rights.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Ministry sent messages, days ago, to the representative of the Red Cross succeeding the attack of Beir-Shiva prison, where the administration heavily armed with cudgels and asphyxiating gas attacked the prisoners' cells. Such attack led to the injury of some of the prisoners while tension and anxiety prevailed in the prison.
About the nature of Aldamon jail, Mr. Alsayed Abdel Naser Ferwana, Head of the Statistics Department in the Ministry, stated that the jail has been built as tobacco warehouse in the sandy forests of Haifa, during the British mandate. It was observed while building the warehouse to provide the required humidity for preserving the tobacco leaves. After 1948, Israel took over the warehouse and it was transformed to a jail. It was mentioned as well that this jail was closed more than once due to its bad and unbearable conditions.
The Arab Program of Human Rights Activists calls upon the Director of the International Committee of Red Cross in Gaza Strip, to act urgently to put an end to such assaults. The program appeals to human rights institutions, as well as media, to imperatively interfere to alleviate these violations that breach all international treaties and conventions.

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Iraq: ICRC helping civilians amid conflict

Geneva/Baghdad (ICRC) ¬ The recent upsurge of violence in Iraq has caused a high number of civilian casualties and driven many people from their homes. In keeping with its determination to fulfill its mandate in acute emergencies in Iraq, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is aiding civilians affected by the fighting in various parts of the country.
Thousands of people are currently displaced from their homes, either by deliberate force or out of fear of sectarian violence. The ICRC has sent
2,500 food parcels, 5,000 blankets, 1,000 jerry cans and 1,000 hygiene kits to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. Some of this aid has already been
delivered to displaced families in Baghdad's Tarmiya neighborhood and in
Samarra. The rest will be distributed in future according to need. In
addition, the ICRC is dispatching tents and blankets to displaced families who have sought refuge in Najaf.
Tents are soon to be delivered to people who have fled their homes owing to the military operation in Samarra. To cope with potential casualties, a medical kit covering the needs of 100 war-wounded people has been sent to Baghdad's medical authorities. A similar kit was delivered to Imam Ali Hospital, in Sadr City, on 13 March following three successive car bombs that killed or injured scores of people.

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Training for African Minority Representatives-May 2006

Dear Colleagues,
The Centre for Minority Rights and Development (Kenya), Minority Rights Group International (UK) and African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (Gambia), are currently implementing training for African Minority Representatives in May 2006.
Please forward this call to members of your networks to ensure maximum dissemination and awareness of the event.

Thank you,

Munini Mutuku
Assistant Coordinator

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UNESCO
To All international Non-Governmental Organizations
maintaining official relations with UNESCO

Sir,
Upon the completion of the term of office of members of the United Nations University Council, ten new members need to be appointed for the period May 2007 to May 2013. I should, therefore, appreciate your submitting to me the names of any candidates that you believe would be suitable for these important appointments. Please let me have any recommendations before 31 May 2006.
In connection with the representation of regions, I would point out that two retiring members are from Africa, two from Latin America and the Caribbean, three from Western Europe and North America, one from Central and Eastern Europe, one from Aisa and the Pacific, and one from the Arab States. For the current geographical balance of the Council to be maintained, nominees should, as a rule, come from the same regions as the retiring members.
Finally, an appropriate selection of women and young scholars would make the Council more truly representative and would thereby strengthen both the Council and the University in the performance of their assigned functions.
Yours sincerely,
Koîchiro Matsuura

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United Nations
Commission on Human Rights
Adoption of the Agenda and Organization of work
Note by the Secretary-General

The following draft agenda, for the sixty-second session of the Commission on Human Rights, has been drawn up and submitted by its officers on the understanding that the purpose of operative paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 is for the General Assembly to transfer to the Human Rights Council all existing mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the Commission which existed at the time of the adoption of the resolution, and that no action was, therefore, required by the Commission to secure their extension or transfer.

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