New attack on MP's suicide comments - an article published in Richmond and Twickenham Times
By Sarah Woods

Friday 18th June 2004

CONTROVERSY surrounding comments made by MP Jenny Tonge regarding suicide bombers was highlighted again this week by the chief executive of a gay men's HIV and AIDS charity.

The MP said at a pro-Palestinian rally in January that she may have considered becoming a suicide bomber if she was a mother or grandmother living in the despair of the occupied territories.

Cass Mann, of Positively Healthy, posed a question to Cllr Tony Arbour at a council meeting on Tuesday about the remark, which read: "Will the leader join me and the borough's Jewish residents, as well as all right-minded residents, in publicly condemning Richmond Park MP Dr Jenny Tonge, for endangering all who live in the borough by the support she has recently given suicide bombers?

"Her comments, made as a Richmond MP, may well encourage local activist cells, as yet undeclared and unknown, to engage in atrocities with the perception that they would have her approval, as London is now, following the recent Spanish bombing, considered the next target area for such cells and atrocities."

Dr Tonge has hit back at the challenge as an 'hysterical outburst' and went on to announce that she has never condoned suicide bombers or violence of any sort from either side, whether Israeli or Palestinian.

She said: "I merely said if I had been myself a Palestinian mother or grandmother living for decades in the despair of the occupied territories I may have considered becoming one (a suicide bomber).

"This is not encouraging them but trying to understand how this phenomenon occurs.

"If we do not try to understand the root of terrorism we shall never defeat it.

"I would call on all right minded Jewish and non Jewish members of the borough to continue to stand against terrorist practice by Israel in the occupied territories."

Cllr Tony Arbour answered the question simply by saying: "I condemn all who support suicide bombers."

Mr Mann also addressed the leader on was whether elected members may use their official title, email address, email communication pathway and council's geographical address, but be deemed by him as to be writing exclusively in their personal capacity regardless, with the council having no interest in or control over their communications.

Cllr Arbour replied that it was purely a matter of common sense to work out the whether a councillor was speaking from a personal view or not.