AUT: [Fwd: [wssdsupport] International delegates teargassed, filmmaker

[Steve Wright <pmargin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [wssdsupport] International delegates teargassed, filmmaker
arrested for protesting outside Wits University
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 19:19:59 +0200
From: pvh@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Reply-To: wssdsupport@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Organization: Webbed Feet
To: wssdsupport@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

International delegates teargassed, filmmaker arrested for protesting
outside Wits University
24 August 2002
6:45pm

In a continuation of the repression of WSSD protestors, 800 protestors
are being blocked off and are facing immanent arrest just outside the
gates of Wits University in Johannesburg.

Some people have already been detained, including filmmaker Rehad
Desai. Over two hundred heavily armed police are surrounding the
protestors, and firing tear gas cannisters.

The group protesting came from the International Forum on Globalisation
meeting at Wits University, and includes delegates of social movements
such as the Gauteng Anti-Privatisation Forum, the Soweto Electricity
Crisis Committee, the Landless People's Movement and the Western
Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign, as well as international human rights
and anti-globalisation activists such as Naomi Klein (author of the
influential 'No Logo'), Owens Wiwa (brother of Ken Saro-Wiwa, the
Ogoni human rights activist who was executed by the Nigerian regime in
1995) and Vandana Shiva (internationally respected womens and
environmental
rights campaigner).

WC AEC assistant secretary Fonky Goboza spoke from the scene,
describing
the situation as extremely tense. The protest was called to demand an
end to the repression which has become the hallmark of the WSSD protest.
Since Wednesday this week there have been nearly 300 arrests of
members of various social movements, including the Landless People's
Movement, and the Soldiers Forum. These arrests have all been during
non-violent demonstrations, and have been carried out under laws which
are a holdover from the Apartheid era. The current protestors face
arrest apparently for being part of an 'illegal gathering'.

The movements of the South African poors have vowed to continue to
protest the actions of the South African government. Today's protest
is merely one of a number of actions planned in anticipation of the
WSSD meeting. In the coming week, further actions are planned, including
a worldwide day of action on Wednesday the 28th of August. Word has
already reached us of protests planned outside the South African
Embassies in Paris, London and Buenos Aires, as well as protests in
Cape Town, Durban and, of course, Johannesburg.

The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign condemns in the strongest term
this regression to brutality and violence on the part of the South
African government.

The South African government did not wish to be embarrassed during
WSSD. This action - of resucitating Apartheid era tactics, including
the monitoring of social movements by the National Intelligence
Agency - is already an embarassment, a burning shame far worse than
anything any protestor could have achieved.

STOP PRESS:

Three people have been injured by teargas cannisters, including Canadian
delegate Karen Cocq. Police re-inforcements are arriving on the scene.

ENDS

For more info: Fonky Goboza 083 438 2964
Nicolas Dieltens (IndyMedia Johannesburg) 082 932 8967
or if you fail to contact anyone Peter van Heusden 083 256 0457

Released by: Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign


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