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| Chile's "lost" Palestinians in Mideast protest |
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| Kashif |
| 04/06/02 at 17:49:15 |
| Chile's "lost" Palestinians in Mideast protest By Alistair Bell SANTIAGO, Chile, April 6 (Reuters) - Chile's Palestinian community, separated from the Arab world by both language and geographic isolation, staged a protest on Saturday against the Israeli military offensive in the West Bank. Several thousand demonstrators, many wearing the traditional Arab "kaffiyeh" black-and-white checked headgear, chanted "Viva Palestina Libre!" (Long Live Free Palestine) at a rally in central Santiago. Some 300,000 of Chile's 15 million population claim Palestinian family ties. Unlike the mainly Muslim Palestinian diaspora in the Middle East, most of Chile's Palestinians are Christians whose ancestors immigrated in the 19th and early 20th century in search of economic opportunities in a young land. "Palestine resist, the world is with you," read a banner at the rally held behind the white-facaded La Moneda presidential palace. Israel began an incursion into the Palestinian-controlled West Bank nine days ago after a suicide bombing at an Israeli hotel, and says it is intended to root out suicide bombers. Palestinians say the offensive is aimed at destroying the Palestinian Authority. Chilean protesters clapped hands and danced awkwardly to Palestinian folk music played at the demonstration but very few knew the songs' Arabic words. Palestinians in Chile maintain ties to relatives, mostly in and around Bethlehem, but hardly any now speak their ancestors' language or visit the Middle East. "We are Chileans who are completely integrated in all aspects of life: universities, government, banking, the media, and agriculture, but there is still a sentiment toward Palestine particularly due to the injustice there," Nancy Lolas, head of Chile's Palestinian Federation, told Reuters. Her federation has held Orthodox Christian religious services for Palestinians, including Islamic suicide bombers, killed in the conflict with Israel. The Christian Palestinians in Chile see no contradiction in supporting a cause often spearheaded by Muslim militants. "Unlike the Israelis, our struggle is not run along religious lines but national lines," said protester Claudio Gustavo Sumsille, 35, a bearded social worker. His grandparents emigrated to Chile from the West Bank town of Beit Jala in 1910. Community leaders say Chile's Palestinians have begun to rediscover their identity only in recent years, inspired partly by the uprising against Israeli occupation. Chile plays no role in Middle East diplomacy. 15:22 04-06-02 |
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