secretaria operativa/operative secretariat: Apdo Postal
3628 Tegucigalpa, MDC Honduras, C.A.
Tel & fax : + 504 235 99 15 E-mail: viacam@gbm.hn
Note for the press Johannesburg, 25th of August 2002
Via Campesina asks South African Government to negotiate
with landless people in order to obtain an appropriate solution
Via Campesina requests the South African government to discuss the genuine demands of the landless people at the negotiating table in a careful, humanitarian way in order to achieve an adequate solution. The fundamental democratic rights of anyone to protest publicly should not be deprived by undemocratic, repressive actions.
Via Campesina strongly condemns the illegal, illegitimate activities against landless and small farmers put forward by multinational companies and governments. Via Campesina demands the South African government to withdraw all the cases against poor farmers.
Instead of suppressing landless peoples' movements by force, the South African Government should solve this dangerous issue amicably or otherwise it would further ignite the burning hearts of hungried people.
To contact the Via Campesina delegation in Johannesburg: Cell phone: +27-72-521
8218
Address: Lutheran Centre, 833 Central Western Jabavu, Soweto, tel: 011-930 3551,
fax: 011-930 3569
Contact point during the events: "Via Campesina tent" at "Shareworld".
To receive information and press releases from the Via
Campesina delegation during the WSSD in Johannesburg please subscribe to our
newsgroup by sending a blank message to:
ViaCampesina-info-WSSD-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Annex: Joint press statement of the National Land Committee and Landless People's Movement
"Arrested Landless People's Movement members released"
After spending two nights in prison, 77 members of the
Landless People's Movement (LPM) and the National Land Committee (NLC) were
released from John Vorster Square on warning to appear in court, with an option
instead of each paying a R100 'admission of guilt' fine.
Those imprisoned were amongst 1 000 protestors who marched to Gauteng Premier
Mbazima Shilowa's office in central Johannesburg on Wednesday 21 August 2002.
The march, organised by the Gauteng LPM, was demanding a moratorium on forced
removals and evictions in Gauteng, in particular in Thembalihle and Protea South
in Soweto. Amongst those arrested were LPM Gauteng Chairperson Maureen Mnisi,
NLC Director Zakes Hlatshwayo and NLC Land Rights Co-ordinator Andile Mngxitama.
Police attacked protestors with batons and tear gas during the arrest. As a
result seven people sustained injuries. A two months pregnant woman was amongst
those arrested. On Thursday evening she had a miscarriage after pleas for assistance
from her jailers were ignored. This tragedy is the result of the police zealously
carrying out their orders to act as harshly as possible on protestors.
It is apparent from the arrests that there is an undeclared state of emergency
in force to clamp down on protestors on the eve of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD). The protestors were arrested under an apartheid-era law
- the Regulation of Public Gatherings Act of 1993 - for 'failure to disperse'.
The protest march was legal, but protestors were told their time had run out
and they had to disperse. The LPM rejects the charges and its members will not
pay the fines.
Letters of solidarity have been received from around the world. The Food First
Information Action Network (FIAN), La Via Campesina, Focus on the Global South
(Philippines) and others have sent messages condemning the arrests to President
Thabo Mbeki, Premier Shilowa and their respective embassies. The Western Cape
Anti-Eviction Campaign has also sent a message of solidarity. A march opposing
the limitations on basic rights of expression and assembly is planned for this
afternoon (Saturday 24 August) from Wits University to John Vorster Square (Johannesburg
Central police station). Internationally renowned scholars and activists will
participate.
The LPM will not be deterred by this brutal show of force by the state. Over
the weekend LPM members will be organising in communities around Gauteng and
the rest of South Africa in preparation for a massive march against the WSSD
in Sandton on Saturday 31 August. The marchers will demand an end to forced
removals, an end to the market-led approach to land reform and will also call
for a national Land Summit.
ISSUED BY: The Landless People's Movement and National Land Committee on 24
August 2002.
FOR MORE INFO: Contact Andile Mngxitama on +27-82-742-9660 or Maureen Mnisi
on +27-84-367-4180 or Samantha Hargreaves on +27-84-384-0088.