RAWALPINDI, Nov 12: People's Rights Movement (PRM), an umbrella of peoples movement and trade unions, has expressed great sorrow over the demise of President Yasser Arafat and called upon the Pakistani government to condemn the outrageous remarks made by an Israeli on Arafat's death.

In a statement, the Israeli Justice Minister Tommy Lapid expressed happiness that Arafat had died, saying it was "good that the world was rid of him" and accusing him of being responsible for terrorism across the world. Such an outrageously cold-blooded and hateful remark must not go uncensored at the official level.

"It is indeed sad that the world [leaders] have not gathered to pay their respects to President Arafat in a manner befitting his contribution to the struggle for freedom", the PRM statement said.

Arafat was the leader of one of the most protracted conflicts of our time. The Palestinian people have been fighting occupation valiantly for over 50 years, and Arafat was their undisputed leader for almost 45 of these years.

The Movement said he symbolized hope, strength, and courage. Palestinian resistance to Israeli terrorism has been a source of great inspiration for freedom movements all around the world. People fighting foreign occupation and working class struggles for social and economic rights across the globe have looked to the Palestinian example for decades, it said.

"At a time when the right-wing Bush administration has gained another four years in power, the loss of Arafat will be felt keenly by all progressive elements. It can only be hoped that the new wave of political consciousness sweeping the West in the shape of anti-war and anti-globalization protests will give rise to a new movement that will combat imperialism within its own home, the statement added.

The PRM and its constituent movements: the All Pakistan Alliance for Katchi Abadis, Anjuman Mazarain Punjab, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Damaan Bachao Tarla, and various trade unions and student organizations express solidarity with the Palestinians at this critical juncture and hoped that the passing of their great leader will not impede their struggle for liberation.