Horrible Tragedy in South Africa, Strikers Killed by Police

[Andrea]

From CNN:

South Africa shocked by police shootings at mine

By Moni Basu, Faith Karimi and Nkepile Mabuse
updated 3:59 PM EDT, Fri August 17, 2012

Marikana, South Africa (CNN) -- The headlines Friday in South Africa spoke of a bloodbath, of war.
The morning after carnage at a platinum mine, South Africans grappled with shock, memories of an ugly era resurrected in their minds. The word apartheid surfaced again as people debated the need for such police force.
The police, meanwhile, explained themselves at a news conference, giving reporters the grim toll: 34 mine workers killed, 78 others wounded, 259 arrested on various charges, including malicious damage to property, armed robbery, illegal gathering and possession of weapons. That according to Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega.

~snip~

There was clear evidence, the South African Institute for Race Relations said, that policemen randomly shot into the crowd with rifles and handguns.
"There is also evidence of their continuing to shoot after a number of bodies can be seen dropping and others turning to run. This is reminiscent of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960.
"In our view," the institute said, "what happened at Lonmin is completely unacceptable. We hold no brief for the use of violence in labor or any other disputes. But even if the police were provoked or shot at during yesterday's incident, or were angry at the killing of two police officers in the days before, no disciplined and properly trained policeman would shoot into a crowd. Yesterday's incident was a disaster waiting to happen."

~snip~

The comments from the Institute for Race Relations sum up the tragedy quite well. The situation for the mine workers is complex. There are two unions vying for their loyalty. Neither one seems to be working in their best interest. They are paid $300 to $500 a month for work that is back-breaking and endangers their lives. They had no recourse but to strike. The violence hasn't been limited to the police. Two police officers were killed last week. However, the response was completely out of proportion, completely unprofessional, likely illegal and incredibly immoral.


Here is another article, from yesterday, with several videos:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/16/world/afri...index.html

(Caution: the videos are quite violent.)

[F. Gordon]

Every day I think we may be getting closer to a civilized world.... I read something like this. These mines make obscene amounts of money on the sweat of workers that get paid next to nothing.

[Andrea]

(08-17-2012 08:56 PM)F. Gordon Wrote:  Every day I think we may be getting closer to a civilized world.... I read something like this. These mines make obscene amounts of money on the sweat of workers that get paid next to nothing.

Exactly what I was thinking about these mines. Then to read the quotes from the company - it is so Orwellian. And they are so relentless in their drive to maintain the status quo.

[reggie the dog]

this makes me sick, why do the cops work for the few wealthy people who own the mine and not the many poor who work in it???

[Noojaras]

(08-19-2012 09:34 PM)reggie the dog Wrote:  this makes me sick, why do the cops work for the few wealthy people who own the mine and not the many poor who work in it???

Why do the miners work for the few wealthy people who own the mine? On that dimension, I don't see a contrast between the miners and the police. The difference I see is that the miners aren't passing themselves off as people who are working to ensure rule of law.

[reggie the dog]

the miners work to get food so they dont starve. and it is legal to pay them a shit wage and shoot them when they strike. yet would likely be illegal for them to shoot the mine owners.