Bericht uit Johannesburg (Engelstalig)
Aktief - 30.08.2002 16:04
Een per e-mail verspreid bericht geeft een goed beeld vanuit Johannesburg. Voor morgen, zaterdag, zijn er 15 demonstraties gepland waarvan 5 er een vergunning hebben. Helaas vermeld het artikel er niet bij welke demo's wel en niet een vergunning hebben gekregen en waarom (zie onderaan stuk).
Asienhaus-Rundbrief 15/2002, 30.8.2002
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In Kürze:
Zweiter Bericht aus Johannesburg
The World in South Africa - and Problems for NGOs attending the WSSD, By Dorothy Guerrero, Asia House
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The title that I selected for this second report is not actually a new phrase to describe this śrainbow nationť.
It has been in use by various agencies to promote this vibrant and beautiful country. The word diversity could very well be the best term to describe South Africa™s people, culture, or simply its everyday life. The World Summit on Sustainable Development brought here a total of 104 world leaders, as well as delegates and NGO representatives from 190 countries to discuss the Summit™s chosen theme: People, Planet and Prosperity.
The WSSD just made history for bringing the biggest turnout ever for a UN conference.
Limited Access to the Summit
This history however, was almost marred by an
embarrassing walkout by the NGO participants last Tuesday, the second day of the Summit. A full-fledged row occurred during the morning briefing for major groups when NGOs complained about the UN Security Official™s denial of entry to some 2,500 NGO representatives who tried to attend the Summit™s opening last Monday. The NGOs lamented that instead
of discussions around the three designated themes mentioned above, the first two days of the Summit became a test of one™s patience. Besides following developments of cross-sectoral issues being negotiated
in the Vienna Setting, which is convened in morning, afternoon and evening sessions, NGO representatives are being further stressed by the problem of commuting from their hotels to the Sandton Convention Centre and the right of access to the venue.
Before we all came here, sent at a great cost by our respective organizations, there is already that worry that this World Summit on Sustainable Development mightjust be another talking shop. All assessments of the decade-long process that saw print are unanimous in stating that the commitments agreed upon by the governments in Rio in 1992 are not being met. On top of them came the new issues brought about by the corporate driven globalisation that leashed its might after
the convening of the World Trade Organisation.
The formal opening was a nightmare for most NGO delegates as entry to NGOs, including those who had been following the processes since Rio became a trying experience. As of Wednesday, the UN already counted a total headcount of 15,800 registered participants at
Sandton. The building™s structure however could only hold up a maximum of 7,000 people. Beyond that number would already pose security and fire hazards. As the Summit moved to its third day today, worry concerning access continues to plague us NGO participants. Entry procedures change each day and it might alter further next week when heads of states and
governments turn up for the meetings together with their entourage.
Commuting is another challenge
Frustration and terrible stories of woes are part of everyone™s day. For me and the other NGO participants of the German network Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, the worry about how traffic will affect our morning commute comes with our first coffee. We are currently
staying in Krugersdorp, which lies outside Johannesburg and is more than 60 kms. away from the venues. Travel time started at 6:00 in the morning. For everyone, the experience of getting to and from each of the three
venues is characterized by long hours being spent waiting for our shuttle buses arranged by the host government or sitting in the traffic as our vehicle negotiate the roads of Johannesburg. The same will be repeated as we wind our way back late in the evening.
Right to protest in danger?
Criticisms are not only pointed at śFortress Sandtonť. The contentious issue about the right to protest is another. Security arrangements were upgraded in the whole city to allay fear that demonstrations like those
that happened in the WTO meeting in Seattle or the G8 conference in Genoa might occur. The September 11 attack in the World Trade Center also figured in the security preparations. Hi-tech manned and unmanned aerial surveillance drones patrol the skies. These
machines could remain airborne for a long period of time and it could not be shoot out from the air by possible terrorists. They provide real-time high quality images in
case that disturbance happen on the ground.
The question concerning the freedom to protest also came high after 72 members of the Landless Peoples Movement in South Africa were arrested when they staged a protest last week.
A discussion on corporate- driven globalisation, which turned into a spontaneous
candlelight march held last Saturday in the University of Witswatersrand was also stopped by stun-grenades.
On separate incident, 5 Greenpeace activists were also arrested and are facing deportation after scaling the walls of a nuclear power plant in Koeberg. Many South Africans, like the WSSD participants could not take this
lightly considering the history of this country. The ANC government was elected by the toi-toi-ying protesters (how marchers are done dance-like here), which fought the much-hated apartheid regime of the past.
Summit host and SA Foreign Minister Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma explained the hard-line approach of the police as a measure to protect citizens and properties. She further explained that there are particular laws and procedures in consideration of the part played by protest
marchers in SA society. Marches must have a permit,which she said could be obtained following very simple procedures. There are now 15 march requests filed for Saturday, 5 of which were already approved.
The negotiation process continues
On the cross-sectoral negotiations, country delegates continue their three sessions a day (called Vienna Style) as a way to resolve the remaining bracketed portions of the Chairman™s
Text of what will be the Johannesburg Programme of Implementation Plan:
Included in the make or break issues, most of the provisions surrounding which remain
bracketed [dwz. tussen haakjes gezet omdat er nog geen overeenstemming over is bereikt], are:
Consumption and Production, Energy, Water, Biodiversity, Agriculture,
Small-Island Developing States (SIDS), Africa, Trade and Environment, Subsidies, Corporate Accountability,and Public Participation.
Corresponding Summits are also in full swing.
The NGO Global Forum being held in NASREC have already counted around 20,000 participants. Governments and the UN support this official NGO Forum. There are also around 11,000 that turned up in Ubuntu Village where information stalls, cultural exhibits and discussions are
being held.
Radical, alternative civil society forum, which broke away from the official NGO Forum, is also being held in Braamfontein, also within Johannesburg. Organisers of this Social Movements Indaba includes Anti-Privatisation Forum; the Palestine Solidarity Committee; Friends of the Earth; Indy Media South
Africa; Jubilee 2000 and other NGOs.
Another forum was also organised by the Landless Peoples Assembly.
This is composed by landless people from South Africa and joined by 15 international peasant organisations under the Via Campesina.
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