1. Why is Mavi Marmara not joining the Freedom Flotilla to go to Gaza?
Bulent Yildirim, president of IHH, said that it is because of technical reasons. Mavi Marmara showed the bloody face of israel to the whole world and it became successful. Freedom flotilla movement belongs to all humanity and to all religions. Thus, today new flotillas, new convoys are prepared in order to help Gaza. IHH is a part of Freedom Flotilla Coalition even though Mavi Marmara is not joining to journey. After being repaired, Mavi Marmara will wait for new journeys until Palestine becomes totally independent.
2. Is there really “technical problems” or a government pressure which is not wanted to be declared?
Bulent Yildirim said that it is never ever something connected to the government. If there is such a thing, IHH can declare it because they are non-governmental organizations and doing this is more easy for an NGO rather than taking all the responsibility. Mavi Marmara can't join this flotilla only because there are technical problems and because there's 22 other countries waiting to sail, departure date can not be postponed anymore.
3. What are these technical problems?
I want to summarize Gulden Sonmez's speech (she is IHH's lawyer) to explain this question. Mavi Marmara will be able to return Turkey only with the tug. Mavi Marmara was hit and raided very savagely in the Israeli attack last year. Engine room is badly damaged and there are a lot of problems on eloctronic machines. There are not only mechanic problems but also physical problems. Mavi Marmara will sail for testing. However, it is not known whether she is seaworthy enough to sail without tug. IHH could not provide certificate which is necessary to leave from the port since Mavi Marmara is in this bad situation.
4. If Mavi Marmara was damaged, why IHH said “We are going to Gaza” ?
Since Mavi Marmara returned from Israel to Turkey, mechanics has been trying to fix her. Authorities of IHH was expecting her becoming ready to go. Of course there are some doubts whether they can provide certificate which is necessary to leave from the port; because to provide this certificate, a ship should have a lot of technical/physical qualifications. Despite these doubts, risk should have been taken. If necessesary preparations had not been made, Mavi Marmara could not have taken part of freedom flotilla even if she could be fixed.
5. Why is the flotilla not waiting for Mavi Marmara to be fixed?
"Freedom flotilla" is organized by people from all around the world and ships have a lot of passengers. Some of passengers include politicians, professors, artists and so on. They arranged their calendar according to a certain departure date of flotilla. If flotilla is postponed, they won't be able to attend anymore. Moreover, it is unknown that when Mavi Marmara will be ready to go. So, postponing flotilla is meaningless, because the first purpose is to provide aid to Gaza as soon as possible.
6. What does “cancellation of Mavi Marmara” mean?
First, I must say that it never ever means a despair or giving up of the mission . That mavi marmara was attacked in international waters and our nine brothers were killed has not been forgotten yet. Our Palestinian brothers in Gaza has not been forgotten, too. We will never give up until Palestine becomes totally free. Mavi marmara's technical problems gave a new chance for all world to consider the events in Gaza strip. Now, all leaders can and should take action in front of israeli cruelty. Because although Mavi Marmara is in a bad situation today, tomorrow it will be ready to sail to Gaza!