Mushkuli kbire!
Nacho García Pedraza
16-04-2011
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Mushkuli Kbire!!! (Big problem) Oh my god!!! .
The sentence that characterizes Vittorio, after which everybody will recognize him. Say it to any fishermen in Gaza, to almost any farmer, with loud voice, strong accent, smiling, and they will inmediatly say that you are Vittorio's friend.
Mushkuli Kbire!! That reason kept Vittorio in Gaza and delayed his departure to Italia, to join his father who was diagnosed with a severe illness not long ago. The situation in Gaza during the last month, with the increase of the hostilities, of the Israeli attacks, made him think that bigger problems were about to come, and therefore, that he should stay in the same place where he has been struggling, supporting the non-violent resistance against the Israeli Occupation during the last two and a half years, as he did during the Israeli military offensive “Cast Lead” in December 2008.
Twice already we said goodbye to each other, giving credit to his words “I am leaving, I am leaving, in two or three days”. Twice already he canceled his plans to get out of Gaza. We were joking with him, saying that he was going to be late for the departure of the Freedom Flotilla expected at the end of May, because that was his intention, leaving to come back again.
Mushkuli Kbire!!! What happened tonight. Vittorio Arrigoni, a well recognize activist in support of Human rights, freedom and justice has been killed by the craziness of a small (minor) fundamentalist group.
And I highlight “minor”, because during the 24 hours of his kidnap the voices of the Palestinian Civil Society didn't stop condemning this craziness, demanding his release. I highlight “minor” because in the hospital we were only 5 or 6 internationals, but many Palestinians crying at his loss. I say minor, because Vittorio was with no doubt the most well known international figure in Gaza, that gave him the Citizenship in recognition to his committeewomen with the Palestinian People, the same people who are calling today for a mass demonstration at 13:00 to pay homage to him.
I was supposed to write today, but to launch a common project, that was born in conversations with the Gaza fishermen, with Vittorio, a project that has his stamp, that matches with his spirit and his “look” somewhere between hefty fishermen, pipe on his mouth, and strong partisan, half smoked cigar. A boat with an international crew to sail with the fishermen in Gaza in their daily work. A boat that intends to protect them from the continues attacks they suffer due to the blockade policy imposed by Israel, the same blockade that he broke the first time he came to Gaza, guess how, by boat
And now, I don't know what to write.
That I don't understand?, that has no sense?, that why didn't he leave already? …. I don't understand, as I don't understand many other unjust deads, the same ones that with out having sense, give complete sense to the struggle to which we are all committed, the same struggle that kept him here.
Mushkile Kbire!! Another lost, the lost of Vittorio, the lost of a friend.
Nacho, 15 of April 2011
