What a heroic, but at the same time, logical and appropriate action. Congratulations to SATAWU. This is a model for collective resistance.

Joel
New Brunswick, Canada

You need to keep all this various blog threads updated in case those that visit only pick up one thread. For example we know the yesterday afternoon the ship was in the area of Walvis Bay and has asked to refuel.

The action of SATAWU is an example to all trade unions throughout the world. Too many have been engaged in useless dialogue and whilst taking their members subscriptions have not acted with pride and convistion. SATAWU is an inspiration in a time of limp wristed Governmnets who refuse to show any backbone.

Why do you think the Chinese have found it so easy to take control of nearly every Africa coutry’s mineral wealth. Watch out South Africa there is already deals being done!

All this action has put the plight of Zimbabwe in the spotlight and we should make sure we do all we can to help Sokwanele and any other contact in Zim.

I was very pleased to see that some blogs have come from Australia because we need to motivate people there to show solidarity for Tibet when the Olympic JOKE torch does the tour.

Our prayers are with the people of Zim today as they face another beating at the hands of Bob’s bullies.

What irks me is that our government did not make the same stane and took a “quiet diplomacy” stance agains delivering the weapons.

The question remains: Where the hell is An Yue Jiang?? Why are we not being updated as to it’s whereabouts and activities? The ship is being monitoed via satellite – why can’t we be informed? The cynic in me tells me it is up to no good – either trying to get fuel or to get the cargo offloaded and delivered by foul means.

Keep the world informed about what this ship is up to – it is essential to keep the pressure on.

Viva SATAWU VIVA. You are my heros!!

Viva SATAWU, Viva!!!!!

My heart leaps, my mind dances.

Best wishes to your heroes at Durban!!

Their stand is truely admirable and shames those in power who are doing nothing.

This action is a message to people around the world that workers will take a stand against brutality and oppression for the sake of their brothers and sisters who are suffering.

Yours in solidarity and admiration,
Pam, London

It appears to be pretty comprehensive although there are not email addresses for every party. I suggest an email campaign sent to as many on these lists as possible regarding how we and the rest of the world perceives the governments stance on getting this cargo to Zimbabwe.

Good luck and keep up the good work everyone!

My advice to the brave SATAWU members is as follows;

1) Offload the containers at Durban.
2) Immediately after discharge of all containers – dump the containers directly into the harbour waters.

The need to stop these weapons reaching Zimbabwe is greater than the risk of personal persecution.

God bless you all.

“I have just heard that your members have refused to offload and transport the shipment of weapons that Robert Mugabe is trying to bring into Zimbabwe and which the South African government seems happy to allow. God bless each and every one of your members for having the courage and the conscience to stand up and do what the government is too weak and corrupt to do. You have restored my faith in humankind.”

BTW, I hope yuo don’t mind but I am linking daily to three articles from this blog right at the top of my blog so as to try and keep the situation on the forefront of my readers’ minds. Stength and courage to you all.

Well done to SATAWU well done to the applicants and lawyers and lets hope for South African impartial justice to precvent this shipment from reaching Zim to be used against the people. Incidentally Bright Matonga was on Safm a short while ago and was eventually cut off by the presenter when he repeatedly refused to answer, the question as to what the arms were to be used for and spewed the ZanuPF diatribe of hatred, instead!
” Urgent plan to halt Zim arms
18/04/2008 12:23 – (SA)

Johannesburg – An urgent application is being brought in a high court to suspend the grant of a conveyance permit allowing the transport of arms, currently on board the An Yue Jiang anchored in Durban’s port, to the government of Zimbabwe and to prohibit the offloading of the consignment and any transport of it through or over the Republic of South Africa.

This interim relief is sought pending an application for a court order declaring the decision to grant the conveyance permit to be unlawful and invalid and reviewing and setting aside the decision of the Secretary of Defence who is purported to have granted the conveyance permit.

The application is being brought on behalf of individuals, Bishop Rubin Phillip and Gerald Patrick Kearney, acting in the public interest, with the support of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre.

Attorney JP Purshotam and Advocates Malcolm Wallis SC, Angus Stewart and Max du Plessis are acting in the matter. The legal action will be brought in terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act (the Act) which requires that any transfer of arms be authorised by a permit issued in terms of the Act.

Specifically, the grant of a permit is limited under provisions of the Act which require that such transfer not contribute “to internal repression or suppression of human rights and fundamental freedom” and not provide “arms to governments that systematically violate or suppress human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Nicole Fritz, director of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) said: “Given the current situation in Zimbabwe, with increasing accounts of widespread attacks on Zimbabwe’s civilian population by government forces, it is hard to imagine clearer circumstances in which South African authorities were obliged to refuse the grant of any conveyance permit.”

http://www.24.com/news/?p=tsa&i=893837

Mugabe is doing his best to garner Chinese support in order to keep Zimbabwe afloat for his own benefit and the Chinese know that this is the best doorway for them to entrench themselves in Africa. Morgan Tsangerai would be have a far more open market approach, which would not suite the Chinese, because then Zimbabwe would recover without them. Hence the supply of arms to the dictatorial Mugabe. Here is another reason for boycotting the Chinese Olympics. Americans/UK better hurry and get Mugabe out even if it is only for strategic reasons alone, let alone the more important moral reasons. Once into Zimbabwe South Africa will be next and the very defendable Cape trade route will be theirs. Only one South African submarine was needed to defeat the entire NATO fleet in mock maneuvers recently. Also South African “leaders” like Mbeki will not lift a finger to help the Zimbabwean people against this fellow African “leader” unless they feel the heat themselves. A push for a boycott of the platform from which he is looking forward to boast from, namely the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa may get him moving as the Tibetans are doing for the Beijing Olympics.

Zimbabwe is grateful and you can be proud of your stance.

Turn that bloody ship around – stinking bastards – donors and recipients alike…

Their efforts are truly righteous and inspiring. It may be classic liberal premise, but I think that it still stands today–When a government becomes too despotic, when its authority increases to dominate the people it pretends to serve, THEN it is this people’s inalienable right to replace it (hopefully through peaceful, democratic means).

In supporting the democratic movement in Zimbabwe, the people at SATAWU (and many more I imagine) are affirming the fundamental right of human beings to liberty, peace and happiness. You have all my respect and sympathies (from Australia).