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'Alien' Bush and ANC attacked in Cape protest (American leaves protest in disgust)
IOL (South Africa) ^ | 07/09/03 | Bill Blumenfeld and Wendell Roelf

Posted on 07/09/2003 7:50:38 PM PDT by Pokey78

About 1 500 people braved a cool winter's day in Cape Town on Wednesday to march to Parliament and the US Consulate to voice not only opposition to George Bush's visit to South Africa but also to ANC policies.

The large crowd spontaneously started a bonfire close to the main entrance of Parliament, feeding the fire with posters bearing Bush's face.

The crowd included black-garbed anarchists with an effigy of Bush looking like an alien, environmentalists, purdah-covered Muslim women and social activists.

Some of the organisations which addressed the spirited crowd included the Islamic Unity Convention (ICU), the Pan Africanist Congress, the New Unity Movement and the Anti-Eviction Campaign.

In a fiery speech, ICU spokesperson imam Achmat Cassiem railed against "imperialism and capitalism as embodied by America" and, to a lesser extent, South Africa - a common theme among the speakers.

"It is the duty of African people to remove the present South African government. The ballot box is not the monopoly of the ANC and the anti-apartheid struggle is not the monopoly of the ANC," he said, exhorting the crowd to "correct issues" at the next election.

Cassiem, referring to "former comrade Mbeki" and the "capitulation" of the government for agreeing to meet Bush, also mildly rebuked a PAC youth spokesperson for daring to say that Bush be condemned to Robben Island, saying "we don't put pigs on Robben Island".

Anti-War Coalition spokesperson Shaheed Mahomed "denounced" the South African government, saying the ANC was "siding with the side of imperialism... (by) welcoming the brutal and barbaric section of the American administration".

A group of American students joined the march at its starting point.

A disillusioned member of the group, who would only give his name as Brian from Ohio, was seen hastily walking away. He said the group was in the country as part of a peace-building coalition sponsored by the South African Community Fund.

Asked why he was leaving the rest of the group, Brian said their convictions were stronger than his.

"I came here to build peace and break down barriers caused by apartheid. I've come to learn, but this rally is not about peace," he said.

Pressed about his views on the war in Iraq and about Bush, 20-year-old Brian said: "Bush did good things and bad things, I'm in the middle of the road.

"But I don't like to see him portrayed as Adolf Hitler," he said, alluding to a poster comparing the two leaders.


The marchers delivered a memorandum at the gates of parliament before heading for the US Consulate which, when they got there, was surrounded by razor wire.

PAC provincial secretary Nkosinathi Mahala, speaking from an open-ended truck, told the crowd the PAC was upset that the "revolutionary" SA government was embracing an imperialist such as Bush who he said was killing people in Afghanistan and other countries.

"We are angry at President Mbeki for encouraging a terrorist such as Bush," Mahala said to cheers from the crowd.

Coalition spokesperson Shaheed Mohamed said the City of Cape Town had refused them permission to stage a 48-hour picket in front of the US Consulate because of complaints from the consulate, the police and members of the public.

A delegation was later allowed inside the consulate offices to hand over a memorandum that said Bush "and his cohorts", on the pretext of weapons of mass destruction, had invaded Iraq and were occupying that country.

"By all civilised norms Bush and company are war criminals and they are not welcome in South Africa," the memorandum added. "They should be arrested."

US monopolies had showed no respect for the lives of Iraqis or for the lives of US soldiers.

The memorandum demanded that the Iraqis should be allowed to determine their own destiny.

The group dispersed around 2.30pm after boarding specially organised buses to take them back to their destinations. - Sapa


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: africatrip; africawatch; agitprop; antiamerican; bushisnothitler; communists; lovedclintonswars; notapeacemovement; propaganda; propalestinianwar; southafrica; usefulidiots
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1 posted on 07/09/2003 7:50:39 PM PDT by Pokey78
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To: Pokey78
This group pissed off about hanging chads too? Must be the "international branch" of the democrat party. I just love PAID PROTESTORS.
2 posted on 07/09/2003 7:54:25 PM PDT by PetroniDE (Kitty Is My Master - I Do What She Says)
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To: Pokey78
Where's that Pray for Pres. Bush thread?
3 posted on 07/09/2003 7:54:39 PM PDT by jwalburg (Line dry only)
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To: All
Any way I can talk you into making a donation?? Thanks if you will!
4 posted on 07/09/2003 7:54:57 PM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: Pokey78
The large crowd spontaneously started a bonfire close to the main entrance of Parliament, feeding the fire with posters bearing Bush's face

...posters which they had been carrying in the hope that a bonfire would spontaneously break out.

Just about as spontaneous as those antiwar protests prior to the Iraq campaign.

5 posted on 07/09/2003 7:55:12 PM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative (http://c-pol.com)
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To: Pokey78
Brian doesn't like GWB portrayed as Hitler? He'd better not be in LA during the protests! With their lack of imagination, the lefties don't know anything to say except to say someone is like Hitler. Who did protesters compare people to before WWII?
6 posted on 07/09/2003 8:14:54 PM PDT by Moonmad27 ("Run free, Samurai Jack")
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative
The memorandum demanded that the Iraqis should be allowed to determine their own destiny.
Isn't that the plan once the Baathists are put down ? This rally sounds like another 60s style rent-a-crowd rabble.
Have heard farm invasions etc on the upswing in SA so maybe they're headed down the slippery slope to Zim style gov't too.
7 posted on 07/09/2003 8:54:56 PM PDT by 1066AD
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To: Pokey78
I've come to learn, but this rally is not about peace," he said.

Pressed about his views on the war in Iraq and about Bush, 20-year-old Brian said: "Bush did good things and bad things, I'm in the middle of the road.

"But I don't like to see him portrayed as Adolf Hitler," he said, alluding to a poster comparing the two leaders.

Nothing different in these statements than what went on at the pre-Gulf War II rallies around the world. The media chose to be silent on the realities of the protests though.

The communists used their useful idiots well.

8 posted on 07/09/2003 9:04:26 PM PDT by weegee
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To: Pokey78
According to Scarborough, precisely 9 people showed up! That's right, 9!
9 posted on 07/09/2003 9:54:28 PM PDT by ETERNAL WARMING
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To: Pokey78
I saw this protest on TV. Look like the DNC and ANSWER sent some help to set up these protest to me.
10 posted on 07/09/2003 9:59:29 PM PDT by The South Texan (The Democrat Party and the leftist (ABCCBSNBCCCNN NYLA TIMES)media are a criminal enterprise!)
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
Nine is certainly a slightly different estimate than FIFTEEN HUNDRED.
11 posted on 07/09/2003 10:00:32 PM PDT by Dont Mention the War
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To: Clive
Can you ping the Africa group ? Thanks.
12 posted on 07/09/2003 10:30:08 PM PDT by happygrl
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To: *AfricaWatch; blam; Cincinatus' Wife; sarcasm; Travis McGee; happygrl; Byron_the_Aussie; robnoel; ..
-
13 posted on 07/10/2003 3:04:35 AM PDT by Clive
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To: happygrl
I have pinged the group.

I am being a little sporadic in posting these days, because of other distractions, so I thought that I would give you my Zimbabwe list in case you would like to use it.

I will still try to keep in touch and I would appreciate being flagged.

Here is the list. I keep mine in an ascii only text file and do a cut-and-paste from there. *AfricaWatch; blam; Cincinatus' Wife; Sarcasm; Travis McGee; happygrl; Byron_the_Aussie; robnoel; GeronL; ZOOKER; bonaparte; abwehr; shaggy eel; Brian Allen; junta; untenured; Devereaux; JanL; Slyfox; nopardons; technochick99; New Zealander; Great Dane; LogiTexas; jodorowsky; BansheeBill; backhoe; lds23; TEXASPROUD;MadIvan;voa; Valin; Free the USA; jimt; blam; Free the USA; Billthedrill; HAL9000; kattracks; jalisco555;jrewingjr; ZDaphne; xJones; tet68; Threepwood; tonycavanagh; Travis McGee; T'wit; oline; CecilRhodesGhost; GWELO; Criminal Number 18F; balrog666; Malesherbes; yankeedame;Badrotofinger; Carry_Okie; JohnHuang2; zhabotinsky; MattinNJ;hoot2; ReaganIsRight; 2sheep; scopes95; NorthernRight; Sparta;Tailgunner Joe;Textide; Cindy; UpToHere; shamusotoole;g'nad; Cuttnhorse; Avoiding_Sulla;Pan_Yans Wife; Libertarianize the GOP; Theo; MSSC6644; BamaGal; Dante3; maica; BamaGal; nunya bidness; janetgreen; scan59;

14 posted on 07/10/2003 3:09:16 AM PDT by Clive
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To: Clive

Anti-war coalition members march to Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa to protest President Bush's visit to the country Wednesday July 9, 2003. Bush is in Pretoria, South Africa, on the second leg of his five-nation African trip. (AP Photo/Trevore Samson)
15 posted on 07/10/2003 4:55:25 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Where are the indigenous Africans in this picture?
16 posted on 07/10/2003 5:53:13 AM PDT by Clive
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To: Clive
Yes, where? Oh, they're the ones clammoring for him.
17 posted on 07/10/2003 6:02:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Clive
Thank You!

I will poke around and see what I can find.

I hope your distractions are resolved and you'll be back. Take Care.

18 posted on 07/10/2003 6:35:03 AM PDT by happygrl
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; Clive
I'm glad you two pointed out the obvious.

Bush is quite admired in some sectors.

19 posted on 07/10/2003 6:40:16 AM PDT by happygrl
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To: happygrl
Praying your daughter is fairing well.
20 posted on 07/10/2003 7:26:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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