news from CODEPINK(our ally)

December 7, 2007
On December 4th, our own Medea Benjamin and Tighe Barry were arrested at gun point in Pakistan during their visit to support pro-democracy activists. Upon leaving a student rally at the Lahore Press Club with a group of journalists, their car was pulled off the road. Armed policemen lept out of cars and off motorcycles and surrounded their car, guns drawn. They forced the driver and journalists out, beat passers-by looking at the scene, hijacked the car with Medea and Tighe inside, and raced recklessly through the crowded streets of Lahore to the police station.
Medea and Tighe were never charged with anything but they were forced to leave the country on the next flight. Their brutal arrest and deportation was just a glimpse at what activists in Pakistan go through as they struggle to bring democracy to their country.Medea wrote: "In our ten-day visit, we met lawyers who had been brutally beaten and thrown into prisons with rats and murderers. We met judges who had dedicated their lives to the rule of law, only to find themselves unceremoniously thrown off the bench and even physically evicted from their homes. We met students who had been beaten with batons and face expulsion for participating in pro-democracy rallies. We met journalists whose programs had been yanked off the air and tossed from their jobs for criticizing the government. But despite the repression, the lawyers, students and journalists are back out on the streets every day. We left Pakistan shaken by our treatment but in awe of the heroism and courage our Pakistani friends." To read Medea's blogs and find out more about the situation: http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=335
The Pakistani activists are calling for the release of all political prisoners, no press censorship, and restoration of the independent judges who Musharraf had fired. Our government should freeze its economic assistance to Pakistan until these conditions are met.
Call the Pakistan Desk at the State Department + 202-647-9823 . Tell them you condemn the brutal treatment of Pakistani civil society and CODEPINK activists, and demand that the US government suspend any financial aid until the rule of law is restored. You can also sign our petition: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/424/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=783 Thank you for helping us promote peace worldwide.With peace and determination, even in the face of brutality,Dana, Desiree, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Ileana, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Rae, and Samanthahttp://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=335

"Musharaf has left the Army power but he kept spmepower in his hand, he is not with-drawing Emergencyand not releasing Supreme court Judges. He wants somedeal with Political Parties, The Parties are hesitatingto accept his deal they know that if they accept thisdeal people will not give them vote, The politicalsituation is very critical. We the citizens are verymuch against this deal. Musharef Government hasannounce election dates, But we think there will begreat rigging in the election."