Picket at Parliament today to protest pro-Government thugs attack Climate Justice activists while Zuma watched at Durban City Hall today.

[Mark Weinberg @ AIDC]

A group of paid eThekwini municipality 'volunteers' have again attacked and assaulted peaceful climate justice activists participating in a Presidential Town Hall Meeting called by the President Zuma and his Minister of Environmental Affairs at the Durban City Hall this morning.  At least three activist where injured. Two female activists where slapped around and dragged out of the meeting. 

A climate of intolerance intimidation and fear was created inside the Hall to police civil society participation. While Zuma attempted to be Presidential calling for respect amongst those with divergent views he was not willing to condemn the violence of his supporters. 

This is the second such orchestrated attack on civil society during the COP17 Summit in defense of Zuma. A Civil Society statement from Saturday's attack condemning the use of state resources to attack climate Justice activists is copied below. 

A picket will take place outside parliament this afternoon to condemn the use of violence against opponents of the South African government's position in the climate negotiations. Activist are accusing the SA Government of betraying Africa and working with the European Union and other industrialized countries to block a carbon reduction agreement with binding targets.  

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Issued by the Alternative Information Development Centre. For more information contact Jeanne Hefez on 0729885564. 

Statement on conflict during the Global Day of Action

 

Durban 4 December 2011 – On Saturday 3 December, the mid-point of COP 17, about 12 000 people from across the continent and the world gathered in Durban to demand climate justice and unite against climate change.

 

The march was largely peaceful, with divergent activist groups uniting to demand action from governments around the world. The march culminated in the handing over of memoranda of understanding to UNFCCC COP17 President Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres.

 

There was, however, disruption during the course of the march in which a group of about 300 protesters, dressed in official COP17 volunteer uniforms tore up placards, physically threatened and attacked activists participating in the march. In spite of heavy police presence throughout the march, including mounted police, riot police, air-patrol and snipers, and requests to address this disruption, police did not take any action. This was a major failure of the police to act to prevent this group from destabilising the march and injuring other activists.

 

The disruptive group persistently attempted to take up positions at the head of the march, but agreed to retreat to the back following negotiations between march organisers and the professed leader of this group. However they found their way back to the middle of the march where they continued to cause disruption.

 

The disruptive group wore uniforms distinguishing them as city volunteers for COP 17, in green eThekwini tracksuits with city branding and emblems, but acknowledged themselves to be ANC Youth League supporters, displaying pro-Zuma and anti-Malema placards.

 

As volunteers paid daily by the municipality of eThekwini, it is of grave concern that their intimidation of peaceful marchers was left unchallenged by those in authority. As such, the city manager and mayor, together with the UNFCCC must answer to the involvement of this group and the failure of authorities to address this unnecessary violence.

 

The need for action on climate change is urgent, and civil society stands united against climate change. But we also stand against violence and intimidation of any kind, which impacts on our right to assembly. Organisations were invited to attend the march on the understanding that it would be a peaceful protest. Every individual is welcome to civil society marches, but we are deeply concerned about whether this group will return to other peaceful assemblies, and the city needs to take urgent action to make sure that such destabilisation does not re-occur.

 

The threatening behaviour during the march yesterday constitutes an attack on democracy and cannot be tolerated.

           

Civil society groups are calling a press conference today regarding the infringement of democratic rights of activists to protest.

                  

 

Time: 5:30pm

Venue: UKZN, Howard College Campus, The People’s Space, Memorial Tower Building, L1

 

 

Contact Information

 

C17 Global Day of Action Enquiries:

Desmond D’Sa

GDA subcommittee convenor

031 461 1991

083 982 6939

sdc...@mail.ngo.za

 

C17 Media Enquiries:

Laura Tyrer

Media and Communications subcommittee convenor

la...@c17.org.za

 

General Enquiries:

Siziwe Khanyile

Coordination subcommittee convenor

siz...@groundwork.org.za

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Mark Weinberg
t 0214472525
c 0741036704
ma...@aidc.org.za
www.aidc.org.za
www.amandla.org.za
www.communitymedia.org.za