I’m going to close comments on this post and ask you to take the discussion to the latest entry on the story.

Hope

Well, now I see this… saying that the ship is moving SOUTH? 

http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/1952

Press update: latest on An Yue Jiang
9 May 2008
At late morning today the vessel was approximately 120 nautical miles off the coast of Namibia, in international waters, making around 8.5 knots southbound (the slower speed than before is because it is sailing against the Benguela current). The current position as of 16:45 BST today is estimated to be due west of Walvis Bay, but well outside of Namibian territorial waters. If the An Yue Jiang continues at its current speed and course its estimated time of arrival off Cape Town will be late night on Monday 12th May. If it increases speed to 10 knots its ETA would be mid-afternoon on 12th May.

………
Cockroft also dismissed claims by Bright Matonga of Zanu-PF that the arms shipment was in his possession as: ‘laughable; the empty propaganda of someone who, like his leader, doesn’t know when he’s beaten.’

Here is the link to SABC.
 
 
 

Hope

‘She addressed the media together with head of Security Intelligence Services, Clement Kapalamula and rebutted a story which was posted on Nyasa Times a week ago that Mutharika’s government is set to clear weapons for Zimbabwe coming from China.’ etc

“The vessel is now on its way to Congo Brazzaville where we believe a further attempt will be made to off load the weapons. The Durban based ITF inspectorate working with Satawu has been monitoring its movements and will leave for Congo Brazzaville on an urgent basis to ensure that the weapons are not off loaded there.”

Howard condemned both the Chinese government and the Chinese Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco) its owners for pretending that they had recalled the vessel.

“This so-called recall was clearly intended to deceive and remove the massive groundswell of political pressure that had built up in a very short period of time. Both the Chinese government and Cosco have demonstrated that profiteering remains their over riding consideration over human solidarity and saving lives,” he says.

“It appears a judgement call has been made by them to wait around until the Zimbabwean electoral crises is over, it will be a long wait in the context of avoiding a return trip and wasted expenditure.” etc

So our mates are keeping a watchfull eye on it man I will be pleased when its spotted just off the coast of China perhaps a hurrican can sink it……

That ship will remain the most watched ship in history! Hope they can feel it.

6 May 2008. For immediate release

An Yue Jiang update. Ship makes no attempt to offload arms, trade unions
report.

The ITF and ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) report the
following news received from their fellow trade unionists in Angola:
that the An Yue Jiang has left Luanda after unloading a cargo of cement
and construction material only. No attempt was made to offload any
armaments, and the ship sailed after taking on fuel and food. Trade
unionists, including from the port workers’ union, maintained a watch on
the ship and what came off and went on it throughout its stay in port.
The police were also present.

The ITF will update you with the vessel’s location tomorrow. [7 May]
 
 
 

Thanks for the update. Good news re the court order! We’ll definitely have to keep an eye on that ship. Heading south west? The Namibian guys will have to be on the look-out, again.

We have posted an update on the IANSA homepage:

The Chinese ship carrying arms destined for Zimbabwe docked briefly in the Angolan port of Luanda on Monday 5 May 2008.

According to Lloyds Maritime Intelligence Unit, the ship arrived in Luanda at 06.10 on 5 May. It reportedly left only 75 minutes later, and was last sighted at 11.50 on the same day, heading south west at a rate of 10 knots.

The Council of Human Rights and Civil Society (Conselho de Direitos Humanos da Sociedade Civil) in Luanda won a court order on 2 May which prohibits the offloading and transference of the weapons to Zimbabwe. The order also permits the Council’s presence during the inspection of any offloaded cargo.

Read more here: http://www.iansa.org/

-Mark

I hope it’s not gonna sit in the ocean until they think we are not paying attention must see it all the way home……..

‘The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which has been tracking the ship’s movements for weeks, said fellow trade unions in Luanda reported the An Yue Jiang unloading only cement and construction material.’ etc.

(I sincerely hope that Bright Matonga is lying.)

Be cautious though. Bright Matonga is a liar and a statement like this may be just what is needed to make people drop their guard. Is there any way to get credible verification of this?

Dear friends,

I am sorry to say that the arms shipment is now in Zimbabwe. We have heard reports that the youth militia have ammunition for their AKs and they’re using them.

Bright Matonga, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister for Information and Publicity, made a statement that ‘in any case that shipment is already in Zimbabwe’, refering to the Chinese arms shipment.

Of course this came as both a shock and disappointment to us all, especially because of the amazing show of solidarity and mobilisation around this lethal cargo.

IANSA members in East Africa are considering starting legal action against the Chinese arms dealers and other members are calling for a campaign to same those in the region who co-operated with the regime. It seems that Angola transported the weapons overland afterall.

Lawyers from East Africa and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) are seeking legal action against the Chinese government over arms supplies to Zimbabwe.
 
The East African Law Society and the Law Society of the Southern Africa Development Community say they have finalised preparations to institute legal action at the International Criminal Court (ICC).