South African Police Open Fire on Striking Miners

[Wahalla]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Ambulances arrived one hour after the shooting. Apartheid is not *really* over, is it?
</div></div>

here it is simply not apartheid..It is about consolidation of power... the image is the same but the road here is different. The ANC has a close relationship with a union.. A non ANC affiliated union is trying to get a foot hold...

This is the a narrative that has been played out before in nearly every African country. A non ruling party organisation challenges and is stymied by blood..U can find analogs of this event through out the 60's and 70's as one party states became the norm..

A nexus of poltical party private buisness offical unions and some organisation which tries to challenge the cosy relationship..

The danger here was mentioned by oppostion a number of times in South Africa... They need a non party enquirey.. if this stands it could be the south Africa green bay moment

[Gen]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

<span style="font-size: 14pt">SA's Lonmin shoot-out calls for a &quot;fundamental change of culture&quot; </span>

South African police killed 45 platinum miners the previous day in what has been described as the bloodiest operation post apartheid, local media reported on Friday.

Police officers opened fire on 3 000 protesting at Lonmin's Marakan platinum mine in Rustenburg killing several on the spot.

According to eye-witnesses and reporters at the scene, the strikers were wielding pangas and chanting war songs. The workers had been gathering at a nearby hill since a wildcat strike started last week.

Police fired teargas and used a water cannon to disperse the strikers, who retaliated by firing live ammunition at the police. Ten people, including two policemen, had already died in nearly a week of fighting between rival worker factions at the mine.

President Jacob Zuma had to cut short his trip to Mozambique on Friday where the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is holding its summit after hearing the news of the disaster. He said he was alarmed at the violence and deeply saddened by the violence.

Cosatu's Zwelinzima Vavi said there was no excuse for the violent shoot out. &quot;We condemn the violence and we can never be satisfied when the police use live ammunition,&quot; he said.

A ratings agency said the extreme violence had tarnished South Africa's image. Standard&amp;Poor said it was part of wider problems in the country.

Lonmin shares also plunged to an all time low after the miner lost six days of production. The company produces 12 percent of the global platinum production.

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the ruling party was shocked about the violence &quot;All of us feel very saddened by the violence we have seen on television,&quot; he said adding, &quot;we are requesting that our government hold an inquiry on what happened today so that all of us South Africans can come to a conclusion on who is responsible.&quot;

Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, the IFP's Spokesman on Justice said &quot;the massacre highlights the brewing tensions within the society and should not be underestimated.&quot;

&quot;It's a horror that should not only shock us but bring to the fore how too often conflicts in this country are dealt with through violence,&quot; Oriani-Ambrosini said.

&quot;Unless there is a fundamental change of culture at the highest level of government things will worsen.

&quot;This incident reminded people of a painful past and will lead to serious questions being asked and the action taken by police.&quot;

The unrest has forced Marikana's London-headquartered owner to halt production at all its South African operation.

yah

[Emperah]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

when any of these things happen there's always some corporation in de background pullin de strings

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Emperah_dahJahI</div><div class="ubbcode-body">when any of these things happen there's always some corporation in de background pullin de strings </div></div>If you study the history of the labor movement in the US you will recognize thst it was the corporate sponsorship of massacres against workers and leaders that forced the unions to accept the mob alignment. This led to the unholy alignment that cost the bad reputation unions presently have.

[j-kid]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

Very tragic!

[lonewolf]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KF_Milo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ya know. As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer this kind of thing gwoin happen on a regular basis (worldwide).

<span style="font-weight: bold">As soon as the little man try stand up for himself, the police will mow dem down with bullets in an act of so called &quot;self defense&quot;.</span>
</div></div>

Wait a minute, the strikers are not completely innocent in all this. <span style="font-weight: bold">My God, they burned two security guards to death!</span>
They burned them alive! And they beat two police officers to death. Also, did they not start shooting first? Clearly, things are out of control on both sides

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It remains unclear what sparked the miners' fatal charge at police. Mnisi, the police ministry spokesman, claimed <span style="font-weight: bold">the miners shot at police as well, using one of the weapons they stole from two policemen whom they beat to death on Monday</span>.We had a situation where people who were armed to the teeth, attack and killed others — even police officers,&quot; the spokesman said in a statement Thursday night. &quot;What should police do in such situations when clearly what they are face with are armed and hardcore criminals who murder police?&quot;</div></div>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/south-africa-mine-shooting_n_1794042.html

[Nunya]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

That does cast it in a different light...

[Gen]

Re: South African Police Open Fire on Striking Min

Yeah it's usually complicated when it comes to that region.

warring Unions jockeying for power. Illegal mining. Corrupt officials taking bribes. And in the midst of it all a man just a try eat a food and send him children guh school.

Not. a. good. mix