Declaration of South Africans United To Stop The War in Iraq
We are South Africans united to Stop the War!
Represented amongst us are men and women, young and old, from all sectors of society and from all shades of political opinion: all colours, all creeds, all religious beliefs and all spiritual convictions find expression in this diverse collective.
Our democracy celebrates the expression of diversity, and none of the participating organisations have agreed to withhold or modify their divergent positions on the many questions facing our country, our continent and the world.
Nevertheless, our purpose is clear: to state simply and forthrightly that all South Africans have the responsibility to Stop the War and secure Peace for Development all over the world. We are united in our conviction that war against Iraq is wrong. It is wrong because it is the poor who will be its main victims. It is wrong because it will inflame, rather than resolve, global conflicts, particularly those in the Middle East. It is wrong because the forces of power and greed motivate it.
The preparations for war currently underway therefore impose a challenge on all peace loving people around the world to act in unity to defend world peace and global democracy.
We are convinced that, as a people, South Africans are united in their opposition to war. We believe that it is of utmost importance that we show this to the world.
We also call on the South African government to continue its work to bring about a peaceful settlement of the current dispute, through whatever mechanisms are available to it.
Together, we call on all our people to unite in support of the international day of action against war, on Saturday 15 February 2003.
We will support the demonstrations planned in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other major centres on that day. We will also join together, as a united people, to present our concerns to the United States Embassy in Pretoria on 19 February 2003.
Supporting Organisations
Africa Institute (AISA)
African National Congress (ANC)
AIDS Consortium
ANC Women’s League
ANC Youth League
Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO)
Ceasefire Campaign
Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR)
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
Church of the Province of Southern Africa (CPSA)
Civil Society Initiative (CSI)
Congress of South African Students (COSAS)
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
Council of Muslim Theologians
Ebenezer
Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA)
Friends of Cuba Society (FOCUS)
Gauteng Network on Violence Against Women
Human Rights Foundation
Human Rights Institute
Human Sciences Foundation
Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD)
Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
Institute for Multi-Party Democracy
Jamiatul Ulama
Jewish Voices
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR)
Media Review Network (MRN)
Methodist Church of South Africa (MCSA)
Musicians’ Union of South Africa (MUSA)
Muslim Alliance Against the War (MAAW)
Nation African Federated Chambers of Commerce (NAFCOC)
Pan African Youth Congress (PAYCO)
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC)
Safer Africa
Sankofa African Renaissance Development Institute
Sexual Harassment Education Project (SHEP)
South African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC)
South African Communist Party (SACP)
South African Council of Churches (SACC)
South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO)
South African Student Volunteer Organisation (SASVO)
South African Students Congress (SASCO)
Thusanang
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)
United Democratic Movement (UDM)
Youth Power
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
3rd Floor, COSATU House, 1-5 Leyds Street
Braamfontein, 2017, Republic of South Africa
Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2, Fax: 27 11 339-4244,Cell: 083 651 0271
Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za