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On the World Refugee Day, designated by the United Nations to fall on June 20th, MPPM expresses its solidarity with refugees from all over the world, whatever their origin and the cause of their situation, and in particular with Palestinian refugees, the largest and oldest refugee community in the world.

In the Middle East, refugees number in the millions, illustrating - like the thousands of deaths that have transformed the Mediterranean into a giant cemetery - the devastating effects of interference by the Western powers in their attempt to retain control over a region of strategic importance for global hegemony. The cases of Syria, Libya, Iraq and Yemen are a sad demonstration of this.

The most recent sinking off the coast of Greece of a ship carrying hundreds of migrants, in which 78 deaths have already been confirmed - although the fact that 500 people are missing raises fears of a tragedy on a larger scale - dramatically calls into question the Fortress-Europe policy in which all...

MPPM, a significant representation of the Palestinian community and other collectives, integrated yesterday, Saturday, the Lisbon LGBT+ Pride March denouncing the pinkwashing policy with which Israel seeks to erase its systematic and widespread violation of Palestinian rights.

Along the route from Martim Moniz Square to the Diversity Fair, installed at Ribeira das Naus Avenue, the march shouted that there is no pride in apartheid ("No Pride in Apartheid") and demanded freedom for Palestine ("Free, Free Palestine").

Following positions it has been taking against the pinkwashing campaigns of the State of Israel, the organization of the Lisbon LGBTI+ Pride March decided to publicly reaffirm its solidarity with the Palestinian people and in that sense invited, namely, the MPPM to participate in this year's march, an invitation that was naturally accepted.

Because it claims to be "defender of all rights" the MOL organization clarified, in a post on Facebook on March 16th, that it refuses the...

Many hundreds of people marched yesterday, Saturday, in downtown Lisbon, in the last of the series of street actions that, on the initiative of the CPPC, and to which the MPPM and another four dozen organizations have joined, took place in Porto, Coimbra, Faro, Funchal and now in Lisbon, to demand "Stop the War! Give Peace a Chance!

Starting from Largo de Camões, the demonstration went down Chiado until Praça do Município, where Sebastião Antunes performed, preceding the interventions of José Pinho, from Projecto Ruído, Isabel Camarinha, from CGTP-IN, and Ilda Figueiredo, from CPPC.

Fernando Lopes Jorge, who made the presentations, recalled the Appeal to participate in this public act:

It is necessary to continue to defend peace by mobilizing and gathering all the wills committed to this cause full of topicality and importance.

After having taken to the streets in several cities in the country in March, June and October 2022 and again in February 2023, demanding peace throughout the world...

Hundreds of people filled yesterday, June 15, the Palestine Square, in Oporto, in response to the appeal launched by the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation "Stop the war! Give Peace a Chance", which was supported by more than 40 organizations, including the MPPM.

After a musical moment with Miro Couto, the young Joana Machado and Luis Afonso presented the initiative, followed by the interventions of Cristina Nogueira on behalf of USP/CGTP-IN and Ilda Figueiredo on behalf of CPPC.

As stated in the appeal, "it is urgent to stop the confrontation and war, whether in Palestine, Western Sahara, Syria, Yemen, Sudan or Ukraine, with the tragic consequences and serious dangers that they entail".

We must not let it be forgotten that the Palestinian people have been the victim of an aggression that has been ongoing for 75 years but which is covered up with an unbearable cloak of silence.

The initiatives will continue today and tomorrow in Coimbra, Faro, Funchal and Lisbon.

As the Palestinian people are victims of the colonial occupation and the apartheid of the State of Israel, the MPPM cannot ignore the anti-racist struggles and therefore joined more than thirty organizations in a demonstration, this Saturday, June 10, in downtown Lisbon.

The concentration started at 11 am, near number 19 of Garrett Street, where 28 years ago Alcindo Monteiro was murdered. This was followed by the parade to Largo do Carmo, where the Call to action was read out and the signatory organisations announced.

APPEAL

10TH JUNE - DAY OF ANTI-RACIST STRUGGLE

On June 10, an action of struggle and homage to the victims of racism and xenophobia in Portugal will take place. The action will take place in Lisbon, in Rua Garrett, 19, at 11am and will be followed by a parade.

On this day, we will remember Alcindo Monteiro - who was brutally murdered - but also all those who on 10 June 1995 were attacked by a group of Nazi-fascists, as well as remember other victims of racism and xenophobia...

Invited by the centenary Sociedade Recreativa Operária de Santarém, Carlos Almeida, vice-president of MPPM, participated, on Saturday May 27, in the event Free Palestine, organized by that association to remember the Nakba ("The Disaster", i.e. the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory) occurred in 1948 and the need for a Free Palestine and peace in the Middle East.

Besides Carlos Almeida, Abdeljelil Larbi, professor of Modern Arabic Language and Literature at NOVA-FCSH, and Yahia Abuowda, Palestinian, physician at the District Hospital of Santarém, also participated.

The event ended with a dinner-party with a Palestinian menu.

A delegation of the General Confederation of Portuguesee Workers (CGTP-IN) received, on Tuesday 16 May, the two Palestinian activists who were in Portugal, at the invitation of the MPPM, in order to participate in a public act about the 75 years of the Nakba.

Salim Nazzal and Nisreen Lubbad, accompanied by Carlos Almeida, from the MPPM, were received by João Coelho and Diniz Lourenço, from the CGTP-IN.

In the meeting with CGTP-IN, those activists gave their testimony on the arbitrary way workers are treated at checkpoints by the Israeli occupation military. Humiliation, physical aggression and, in many cases, murder, are the daily routine of these men and women who are only looking for a way to support their families.

On the other hand, the CGTP-IN gave notice of the solidarity and defence actions of the Palestinian people that have been developed together with the MPPM and also of the information work that is given to the trade unions with the purpose of enlightening the workers and make...

MPPM promoted, on Tuesday 16 May, in cooperation with BOTA - Base Organizada da Toca das Artes, the screening of the film "1948: Creation and Catastrophe" in the space of this association, at Largo da Santa Bárbara, 3D, Lisbon.

The film, by Andy Trimlett and Ahlam Muhtaseb, was commented by Carlos Almeida, Researcher at the History Centre of the University of Lisbon and Vice-President of MPPM.

Through the personal memories of both Palestinians and Israelis, 1948: Creation & Catastrophe tells the story of Israel's establishment as seen through the eyes of those who lived it.

This film was the last chance for many of its characters, Israelis and Palestinians alike, to narrate their first-hand accounts of the creation of a state and the expulsion of a nation.

The hopes, fears and grievances that led to war in 1948 remain central to today's conflict. By dispelling the myths surrounding 1948 and providing an understanding of the events of that foundational moment, this documentary will make it...

MPPM promoted on Monday May 15, at Casa do Alentejo in Lisbon, a Session of Solidarity with Palestine evocative of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, the catastrophe that surrounded the creation of the State of Israel and resulted in the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and lands, the destruction of 500 Palestinian towns and villages, the death of 15,000 Palestinian men, women and children.

The session was chaired by Carlos Araújo Sequeira, President of MPPM's General Assembly, and included speeches by João Vasconcelos-Costa, researcher, political activist and essayist, Nisreen Lubbad, Palestinian refugee and resistance fighter, Salim Nazzal, Palestinian writer, playwright and poet, and Carlos Almeida, Vice-President of the MPPM.

Before the speeches, a minute's silence was observed in memory of the victims of Israeli repression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Carlos Araújo Sequeira, jurist and President of the General Assembly of the MPPM. Active in movements for peace...

Salim Nazzal and Nisreen Lubbad, Palestinian resistants who travelled to Portugal at the invitation of the MPPM to participate in the commemorative session of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, had a meeting on Monday 15 May with members of the Parliamentary Group for Friendship Portugal-Palestine (GPA-PP).

Salim and Nisreen were accompanied by Carlos Almeida, vice-president of the MPPM.

Present from the GPA-PP were the president, MP Joana Mortágua (The Left Block), the vice-president MP Bruno Dias (Portuguese Communist Party) and MPs Tiago Brandão Rodrigues and Miguel Matos (Socialist Party).

The two Palestinians gave MPs an update on the situation in Palestine, which was received with great interest, and MPs reiterated their expressions of solidarity with the cause of the Palestinian people.

Salim Nazzal, a Palestinian writer, playwright and poet, born in Lebanon and a refugee and resident in Norway is secretary of the European Palestinian Cultural Forum. He has written 20 books on...