COSATU has called on all workers to join the march organised by NUMSA to the Embassies of the US, Britain and France tomorrow, 6th July, 2011 starting at 10 am.
The aim of the march is to protest the bombings led by the forces of imperialism as represented by the countries above against the people of Libya.
COSATU has made it clear that it supports the call for democracy in Libya through the struggles of the Libyan people and not military helicopters of foreign invaders. We have always made it clear that it is only the people of Libya themselves who can wage that struggle on their terms with the full support and solidarity of the world’s democracy-loving community.
Therefore, it cannot be alien forces of occupation who can bring liberation importation-style, as they are only bent on securing their oil interests and re-colonising the country for their own narrow geo-political, strategic and economic interests in that unstable, yet rich and naturally well endowed region of the world.
The march will start at the French Embassy, 250 Melk Street, corner Wilhemina and Boschoff Streets, New Muckleneuk at Brooklyn.
The next gathering will be at the British Embassy corner Hill and Pretorius Street, Arcadia and thereafter proceed to the US Embassy at corner Pretorius and Eastwood Streets.
We salute NUMSA and all COSATU affiliates for their consistency in linking the workers’ demands and struggles in the country with those of other suffering fellow workers and peoples all over the world. It is the historic duty of any progressive union and federation to recognize the internationalist duties of workers and the class struggle as a world-wide task and terrain of struggle.
We want solidarity and democracy not bombs and foreign occupation in Libya!
Bongani Masuku is the International Relations Secretary of the Congress of South African Unions (COSATU). Cf. Vladimir Radyuhin, “Russia Pushes AU’s Libya Peace Plan” (The Hindu, 4 July 2011).
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