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| Peace Boat Visits the Site of The Mombasa Paradise
Hotel Bomb Blast |
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| Peace Boat staff and IPPNW member Dr Walter Odhimbo during a press conference in Mombasa |
Peace Boat is a Japan-based NGO seeking to establish
a global network among people, grassroots movements and NGOs working
in the areas of peace, human rights and sustainable development. The
Peace Boat ship is currently on its 40th educational voyage since
being established in 1983. Under the slogan, 'Reflect upon past wars
to build peace for the future', Peace Boat works to create and foster
productive relationships around the world by sharing ideas, experiences
and culture through personal exchange and cooperation. |
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| Burnt remains of the Mombasa Paradise Hotel following the terrorist attack |
A Peace Boat delegation of 25 people representing
10 different countries visited the site of the November 28 terrorist
attack on the Mombasa Paradise Hotel, during the ship's two-day stay
in Kenya. As a peace education and advocacy organization, Peace Boat
acknowledged the value in visiting the bomb blast site to learn first-hand
about the physical effects of terrorism, as well as the devastation
caused to innocent people. |
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| Peace Boat participants talk with local people about how their lives have changed since the bomb blast |
The chance to talk directly with those affected,
in this case, hotel employees and people from the Kikambala area,
was a powerful means through which we were able to come face to face
with the senseless loss and suffering caused by acts of violence.
In this way, once exposed to the aftermath, we can better understand
the futility of violent aggression and feel a more acute sense of
urgency to spread the message of peace and peaceful conflict resolution.
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| Canadian teacher Debbra McClintock walks with Francis and Khadiza Nyale who have been left homeless |
Peace Boat coordinated the visit with NGO partners
in Kenya from the humanitarian organization, International Physicians
for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). We appreciate the opportunity
to have been given a thorough tour of the site by the regional security
staff and express gratitude to the local media representatives for
their interest in our visit. Allowing Peace Boat to film and photograph
what we saw enables us to use the material as a resource to educate
more people about the need to advocate an end to terror and violence.
The Peace Boat delegation also listened to personal testimonies from
people who experienced the attack, including a family of seven whose
home was located next to the Hotel. These victims are now forced to
live in a Red Cross tent without water, as their home and business
was burnt to the ground. It is hoped that our short visit conveyed
to them that people from all over the world are concerned and want
to reach out a hand in support. |
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| A peace banner and paper crane memorial is laid at the epicentre of the blast |
A group of about forty people gathered together
to speak out about the meaning and consequences of the devastating
incident. Dr Monica Mucheru, from IPPNW and Mr Daini Nakahara, the
present Cruise Director of Peace Boat presented a Joint Statement
'No Terror, No War' on behalf of the two NGOs. Among other things,
the declaration stresses that most people in the world do not wish
for war, and do not accept terrorism as a justified means to settled
disputes. Building a culture of peace and non-violence is fundamental
if we want to move away from the current mentality where the use of
force is seen as an inevitable solution to national, regional and
international disputes. |
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| People from around the world link hands with the local Kenyans for a minute's silence as a mark of solidarity and condolence |
Finally, at the actual site where the suicide bombers'
car reportedly exploded, the international group held hands in solidarity
and stood in a minute's silence to remember the victims of the blast.
Japanese members from Peace Boat then lay at the epicentre, several
hundred hand-made paper cranes, symbolising peace, and a banner on
which many Peace Boat participants had written messages of consolation
and wishes for peace. As one participant commented, 'The most powerful
moment of our visit was when we were holding hands and being silent.
I could feel the energy of all the people present wishing for no more
victims resulting from war, terror and violence. Dialogue and creating
a new world is the answer. |
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| Peace Boat's
40th Voyage index |
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PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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