The Palestinian ambassador in Chile, Vera Baboun, visited the city this week to meet with the Palestinian Community of Chillán. Since she took office last December, she has dedicated herself to touring the country and bringing a message of peace to her people. Vera, in addition, was the first mayor of Belén between 2012 and 2017 and is a staunch defender of women’s rights around the world.
Vera traveled to Chillán together with the Moroccan ambassador in Chile, Kenza El Ghali (who also, according to Vera, is the dean of the Arab Ambassadors in Chile). During her stay, she also had protocol activities at the Palestinian School, and the Municipal Theater, among others. During her tour, she also visited the facilities of La Discusión where she gave an interview.
– Vera, what is the reason for this visit to the city?
– Actually, I am very happy to be in Chile. In each of the cities that I have traveled I have come to collaborate, together with the Palestinian community and the authorities in Chillán, also within the framework of the 75 years in the ‘Nakba’ (creation of the state of Israel). In Chillán I had an official invitation from the delegate, also from the governor and the mayor of the city and, of course, from the Palestinian Community in Chillán, which has developed a great job.
– You took office last December. What did you think of Chile?
– It is a very interesting question. In fact, I have been in Chile since December 17. I already presented my credentials to President Boric on April 25 as extraordinary ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Republic of Chile. Our Palestinian cause needs a lot of work. I am very happy and working hard, in a country that respects our human rights like Palestine and human rights in general, Chile does. They are with us always and are supporting our rights in justice, independence and freedom. In Chile we also have the largest Palestinian community, in addition to the fourth generation, and that in itself is another challenge. To keep the Palestinian narrative alive, we also have to work hard. The voice of the Palestinian community in the diaspora, both in Latin America and in any part of the world, is very important.
– How big is that community?
– After 1967 (occupation of the West Bank), and after 1948, Nakba, our catastrophe, we ended up being 6 million Palestinians outside Palestine, both in diaspora and in refugee camps, and many of them cannot return. I’m not just talking about the 1948 refugees who were expelled and who came out of all the atrocities that were practiced. I am also talking about our Palestinian communities and the people who were outside of Palestine in 1967, when Israel occupied the western bank. We are talking about a good number of Palestinians who have lost their national ID and cannot return as citizens.
– How was that experience of being the first and only woman mayor of Bethlehem?
– Bethlehem, as you know, is the crater of Christianity and the place of nativity. Bethlehem is a city that has an international message and where we were raised in the concepts of peace, love, hope. Suddenly I found myself leading that city. But that city is also under severe occupation conditions with a wall from the north separating Bethlehem from Jerusalem since 2002 and the latter city is very important in creating our identity as Palestinians. Today in Palestine, unfortunately, in this year, we have the first generation of the wall, which was born and raised inside the wall. There were problems with water, electricity, spending, and 70% of the Bethlehem district is the Area that is under the administration and security of the Israeli occupation. So, when you want to do something, you have to take their permission, even if you want to do infrastructure, for water, for electricity. But at the same time, that place gave me the opportunity, as mayor, to bring the voice of my people to everyone. To bring the voice of peace that we need to all.
– What is the call that you leave to the Palestinian community in Chillán? How can you work for peace from the city?
– I am planning to work with everyone, and the Palestinian community in Chile in general is a very prosperous community, which served Chile and I think that since they arrived they were always willing to be the best citizens. I hear that everywhere. We have politicians, economists, among others. The Palestinians are a partial part of the creation of Chile, but at the same time, it is our diaspora as well; that’s why we need your voices, we need your passion. I believe that to keep history alive, the story alive and the cause alive, young people are also essential on this path, their voices, the voices of all of us are necessary. It is important to know that in human history, only the Palestinian nation has been involved in this dilemma for more than seven decades.
