Today bloggers worldwide are joining together for Bloggers Unite for Human Rights. The rally is an initiative of BlogCatalog and Amnesty International.
Originally I intended to write on Zimbabwe but Garg has done an excellent post that covers the issue, Human Rights Crisis in Zimbabwe , I hope you take a look.
I would like people to also be aware of the plight of migrants who have fled to South Africa due to the violence met against the Opposition to Mugabe's ruling party, 80% unemployment and the world's highest rate of inflation in Zimbabwe. Most came to find work so they could make money to feed their extended families both in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Approximately 3000 per day flee Zimbabwe and it is believed that there are now three million in South Africa. They have not been given refugee status and most are illegals.
In South Africa the poorer classes view them as being criminals and of taking their jobs. Due to desperation, the Zimbabweans often accept slave wages from farmers and industry, which makes the locals even more incensed.
The South African government have not bothered to take note of the rising anger of the locals so when it escalated in Alexandra Township (an overpopulated Black area, a few kilometres North-East of Johannesburg, where there are thousands of unemployed locals) this weekend migrants were thrown out their homes, their possessions stolen or burnt, identity documents taken from those who had them, three killed, three raped and many beaten with iron bars or sjamboks (leather whips) or stabbed. One of those killed was actually a South African, he was shot after he allegedly refused to take part in the attacks on foreigners.
It has been described as an act of xenophobic hatred by many and others as an act of criminals. The Churches and South African Red Cross are now seeing that the Zimbabweans and other migrants from Malawi and Mozambique, also caught up in this violence, are found alternative accommodation, fed and clothed. They originally were housed at the police station for safety reasons.
Until the Zimbabwean problem is sorted out and Mugabe removed, the problems in Zimbabwe and South Africa will continue and sadly the Zimbabweans' Human Rights will be ignored.
Technorati: Human+Rights Zimbabwe Bloggers+Unite
I would like people to also be aware of the plight of migrants who have fled to South Africa due to the violence met against the Opposition to Mugabe's ruling party, 80% unemployment and the world's highest rate of inflation in Zimbabwe. Most came to find work so they could make money to feed their extended families both in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Approximately 3000 per day flee Zimbabwe and it is believed that there are now three million in South Africa. They have not been given refugee status and most are illegals.
In South Africa the poorer classes view them as being criminals and of taking their jobs. Due to desperation, the Zimbabweans often accept slave wages from farmers and industry, which makes the locals even more incensed.
The South African government have not bothered to take note of the rising anger of the locals so when it escalated in Alexandra Township (an overpopulated Black area, a few kilometres North-East of Johannesburg, where there are thousands of unemployed locals) this weekend migrants were thrown out their homes, their possessions stolen or burnt, identity documents taken from those who had them, three killed, three raped and many beaten with iron bars or sjamboks (leather whips) or stabbed. One of those killed was actually a South African, he was shot after he allegedly refused to take part in the attacks on foreigners.
It has been described as an act of xenophobic hatred by many and others as an act of criminals. The Churches and South African Red Cross are now seeing that the Zimbabweans and other migrants from Malawi and Mozambique, also caught up in this violence, are found alternative accommodation, fed and clothed. They originally were housed at the police station for safety reasons.
Until the Zimbabwean problem is sorted out and Mugabe removed, the problems in Zimbabwe and South Africa will continue and sadly the Zimbabweans' Human Rights will be ignored.
Technorati: Human+Rights Zimbabwe Bloggers+Unite
