Questions & Answers About Cancellation of Mavi Marmara

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!