Are the weapons about to be offloaded and sent on their way to Zimbabwe?
This ‘heads up’ was left in our comments - thank you:
Hey, heads up.
Transnet and National ports authority of South Africa have just released the ship to begin off loading the Arms and Ammo.
Looks like you have the shit heading your way.
Keep safe, grab your bullet proof and camera. Get out into the field.A journalist friend in South Africa
This is like watching a murderer plan and assemble his tools in slow motion. As if torture and violence are being played out on movie screens everywhere.
We all know what’s going to happen. We are not a nation at war: the only people on the receiving end of those bullets are innocent civilians.
I feel like the people in our country are on the brink of untold violence, with China and South Africa enabling it, and the world watching. It’s horrific!
April 16th, 2008 18:53
I blogged this story here : http://baronnet.blogspot.com/
April 16th, 2008 18:54
Hey All:
I just sent the following to several news organizations (NY Times, Reuters, AP, and Times Online). Please send to them and any others you can come up with. Those addresses are: ‘nytnews@nytimes.com’; ‘alertnet@reuters.com’; ‘info@ap.org’; ‘news@timesonline.co.uk’
Chinese arms shipments are in South Africa destined for Zimbabwe
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20080416125642658C854343
Those arms have now been released for forward shipping
http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/
There are armed Chinese soldiers on the streets of Zimbabwe
http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3944&cat=2
Please contact your people on the ground to follow-up and report this story. The Zimbabwean government has started a mass crackdown on the population. If China is complicit in arming the government, it should be reported.
April 16th, 2008 21:48
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1655406220080416
There is a story on it here.
April 16th, 2008 21:52
If those who protest in Cape Town, tomorrow, could have banners regarding the Chinese arms shipment which will be transported through South Africa? That might help to get the urgent attention needed in this regard.
April 16th, 2008 22:46
I blogged the story as well.
http://www.blogula-rasa.com/2008/04/16/chinese-soldiers-and-arms-in-zimbabwe/
I see that the BBC news site has a story about people being beaten, and that “International concern has been raised at a UN Security Council meeting.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7349955.stm
“International concern has been raised at a UN Security Council session.
The special meeting, called by South African’s leader Thabo Mbeki, was supposed to be about how the UN can work with the African Union to bring peace to the Africa’s conflicts, from Somalia to Sudan’s Darfur region.
But leaders have used the opportunity to address the Zimbabwe issue.
No-one thinks - having seen the results at polling stations - that President Mugabe has won this election
Gordon Brown
UK Prime Minister
No-one thinks Mugabe won - Brown
Strike voices
Deaf to the West
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the absence of a transparent solution to the impasse could mean the “situation could deteriorate further, with the serious implications for the people of Zimbabwe”.
“The international community continues to watch and wait for decisive action,” he said.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown added: “No-one thinks - having seen the results at polling stations - that President Mugabe has won this election.
I sent an email to a Chicago news radio program called “Worldview” that covers global activism, peace and justice issues, and general international news in depth, mentioning how your blog has been providing analysis and first-person views of the Zimbabwe situation before and after the elections. Don’t be surprised if you hear from some news guy from public radio WBEZ.
I also sent an email to my senator, Dick Durbin, for what it’s worth.
April 16th, 2008 23:16
It would be a unique turn of fate if the weapons were intercepted before they reached their destination in Zimbabwe.
April 17th, 2008 10:46
Some more information regarding the ship and its cargo at:
http://www.24.com/news/?p=afa&i=892673
” A Chinese ship with almost three million rounds of ammunitions for small arms and AK-47s, about 3 500 mortars and mortar launchers, as well as 1 500 rockets for rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) arrived in Durban Harbour on Monday shortly before the permit was issued.
According to a copy that Beeld has of the ship’s cargo documentation, it was finalised on April 1, three days after Zimbabwe’s election.”
Beeld is an Afrikaans newspaper.
April 17th, 2008 11:57
Have not heard anything else. But if i hear anything I will give you the heads up.
April 17th, 2008 12:08
Thank you friend!
April 17th, 2008 12:55
Latest on news24 in S.A. a government spokesman say they cannot stop the shipment of arms to Zim as there is no embargo in place.
Just another case of Mbeki turnong a blind eye to his brothers disgusting behaviour.
April 17th, 2008 16:16
The BBC confirms this disturbing information on their website. They also say that sanctions imposed on Zim forbid the sale of weapons to the country - one should think that China, in its current position, wouldn’t dare break those sanctions…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7352404.stm