Call for solidarity with Trevor Ngwane, South Africa
by - 06.08.2002 11:49
On August 15th 2002 noted human rights activist Trevor Ngwane goes on Trial in Johannesburg, South Africa, and he needs us to put nonviolent pressure on South African embassies and consulates around the world.
On August 15th 2002 noted human rights activist Trevor Ngwane goes on Trial in Johannesburg, South Africa, and he needs us to put nonviolent pressure on South African embassies and consulates around the world.
Last April, Ngwane, of the Anti Privatisation Forum and Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, organized a nonviolent demonstration outside the home of Johannesburgıs Mayor Amos Masondo. Sowetans were protesting the Mayorıs policy of forcibly cutting off the recently privatized water and electricity supplies to low-income residents. Many of the poor are dying from cholera and other sicknesses because they are forced to drink from polluted
rivers in order to survive.
During the protest, the Mayorıs bodyguard shot eight bullets at the crowd, two of which hit protesters. The police then arrested 87 protesters on charges of PUBLIC VIOLENCE! Despite his admitting to shooting at the crowd, no charges were brought against the bodyguard.
Among those in prison was a five year old girl. Many pensioners were kept in cells. Over fifty protesters were kept in cells for eleven days as the police verified their identities. Another reason given by the police for having kept them in cells for so long was that there werenıt enough pencils at the police station with which to fill out the forms in order for them to be properly charged.
This is a call for demonstrations of solidarity to take place outside South African Embassies worldwide. New York, Washington DC, LA, Paris and
London should mobilise to put pressure on South African consulates and embassies.
The anti privatisation forum would like to thank you for your participation.
For more details contact Ranja on
spleenteem@hotmail.com and
00-33-6777-81855
Last April, Ngwane, of the Anti Privatisation Forum and Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, organized a nonviolent demonstration outside the home of Johannesburgıs Mayor Amos Masondo. Sowetans were protesting the Mayorıs policy of forcibly cutting off the recently privatized water and electricity supplies to low-income residents. Many of the poor are dying from cholera and other sicknesses because they are forced to drink from polluted
rivers in order to survive.
During the protest, the Mayorıs bodyguard shot eight bullets at the crowd, two of which hit protesters. The police then arrested 87 protesters on charges of PUBLIC VIOLENCE! Despite his admitting to shooting at the crowd, no charges were brought against the bodyguard.
Among those in prison was a five year old girl. Many pensioners were kept in cells. Over fifty protesters were kept in cells for eleven days as the police verified their identities. Another reason given by the police for having kept them in cells for so long was that there werenıt enough pencils at the police station with which to fill out the forms in order for them to be properly charged.
This is a call for demonstrations of solidarity to take place outside South African Embassies worldwide. New York, Washington DC, LA, Paris and
London should mobilise to put pressure on South African consulates and embassies.
The anti privatisation forum would like to thank you for your participation.
For more details contact Ranja on
spleenteem@hotmail.com and
00-33-6777-81855