Updated: Sat Jul. 02 2011 12:52:17 PM
ctvmontreal.ca
A demonstration is slated Saturday at 4 p.m. at Bleury and President Kennedy's to protest the Greek government's decision to stop a flotilla designed to offer aid to residents of Gaza.
The protest was sparked by a decision by the Greek Minister of Civil Protection to order the Greek coast guard to prevent the flotilla from departing from Greece.
Stephan Corriveau who was to be on the Tahir, a Canadian ship in the flotilla, described the Greek action as "illegal."
Corriveau promised that the Canadians on the flotilla, which includes four Quebecers, will take all possible non-violent measures to continue the voyage.
Corriveau said that inspectors found nothing illegal in spite of their repeated searches of the vessels. He said that they were forced to remove a small rowboat Saturday full of first aid equipment.
The Greek decision sparked activists to organize demonstrations in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
In May 2010, Israeli commandos attacked a humanitarian flotilla which left Turkey for Gaza, killing nine people.
Greek authorities also arrested a 60-year-old captain of a boat at Pireus. He was to be part of a Gaza-bound flotilla trying to deliver humanitarian aid and will face a court hearing Tuesday.
Greece's coast guard said Saturday the captain of the "Audacity of Hope" faces charges of trying to leave port without permission and of endangering the lives of the boat's passengers. The latter charge is a felony.
The "Audacity of Hope" was due to carry 36 passengers, four crew and about 10 members of the media. Its attempt to sail Friday night from the port of Perama, near Athens, was thwarted by coast guard speedboats.
With files from the Canadian Press and the Associated Press.
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