JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Apr 24 2010 07:33
An ultra-right wing group calling for an end to "genocide in South Africa" burned a South African flag during a protest march to the embassy in Stockholm, an embassy official confirmed on Friday.
The protesters -- between 50 to 60 people -- marched to the South African embassy in Stockholm on April 17, said the embassy's first secretary-political, Eden Reid.
The protest march by the Swedish Resistance Movement -- a fringe, Neo-Nazi organisation -- culminated in the movement placing the embers of the flag and a leaflet in the embassy's post box.
The leaflet read: "Since 1994 more than 3 000 white farmers have been murdered in the 'rainbow nation' South Africa.
"Apart from this, violence is directed against whites in general because of their race. Brutal murders and rapes have increased by 25% since 2005 and robberies are more [the] rule than exception."
It added that the leader of the ANC Youth League "is singing songs about how to 'kill the Boer, kill the farmer'," in reference to ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.
"... And this in a country that will host the Soccer World [Cup] in two months.
"The governments of the world, including the Swedish, are supporting this terrorist regime inciting the ongoing genocide.
"This summer, will you be watching soccer from a country where the government is urging on the genocide of whites? Will you ignore the murders of your race kindred?"
CONTINUES BELOW
Reid said the embassy was fully briefed about the protest by the Swedish police and added that it proceeded peacefully with "more police than protesters" present.
Terre'Blanche 'honoured'
While the embassy was closed on Saturday, Reid went into the office to monitor the situation. She commended the police's handling of the protest.
Protesters carried the "Vierkleur" flags and that of the SRM. They also carried a portrait of the murdered leader of the AWB, Eugéne Terre'Blanche, who was "honoured" during the protest.
A banner read: "Stop the boer genocide" in bright red ink, with the ANC's emblem beside it and a large panga in the background.
According to an account of the protest on the SRM website, the movement had a brief run-in with a "leftist mob", holding their own "counter-demonstration".
Once outside the embassy, they also "ripped the ANC flag in anger, to give a hint of his feeling about the presence of the ANC in Sweden!", the website said.
Reid said the embassy understood that the SRM did not enjoy popular support in Sweden, which she described as a "cosmopolitan, tolerant" society.
Terre'Blanche's death on April 3 at his farm outside Ventersdorp prompted fears of a right-wing backlash. However, the threat by AWB members to avenge his death was later retracted.
The organisation back-tracked, saying emotions were high at the time.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe last week raised concern over the "apparent rise of the right wing" in South Africa.
"It is our responsibility to pay attention to that issue because where I am seated I think that is the most clear and glaring challenge facing our movement today, as we sit here," Mantashe said.
Malema used as 'trigger'
He said the right wing had used Malema as a "trigger" to push its own agenda.
Brandishing the Vierkleur and the apartheid era flags should not be dismissed as a "small issue".
"It is an express defiance of progress and the intention to reverse progress ... their intention is going to be exposed without any scapegoat from ourselves," he said at the time. - Sapa
TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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PEOPLE
Eugene Terre’Blanche
ORGANISATIONS
Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
Swedish Resistance Movement
COMMENTS
The nuts are to be found all over the the globe today.
Chris Potgieter on April 24, 2010, 10:42 am
This did not even reach the news in Sweden
Piet Smit on April 24, 2010, 10:50 am
Crime and violence in SA affects everyone, not just white people. In fact, it affects black people far more who suffer on a daily basis from crime, violence, and creeping corruption that is beginning to affect all organs of state from bribe taking policemen to corrupt home affairs officials. It is rubbish to suggest that it's a racial issue. It affects EVERYONE.
Mark Robertson on April 24, 2010, 11:24 am
Mark, you are quite correct when sayng that crime affects everybody. There is a couple of things to bear in mind, though. First and foremost, I am not a member of any far right or ultra right party or movement, nor can I ever see myself fit in , they are just too radical for my liking. However, you will have to agree that their gripe about farm murders, do have merit in it. You see Mark, it is not the crime which is stirring the emotions, it is the way in which the crime is committed. The problem of violent crime in itself isn't just exclusively for farm murders, it is moving into the suburbs as well. Just think about it, just this week, a man was tied up, beaten to death in front of his wife and four year old daughter, then wife was raped repeatedly by five accomplices while the other was busy assaulting the little kid. Both mom and daughter survived, is in hospital in a serious but stable condition, both scarred for life. Also a sixty odd year old man , beaten to death in his home, nothing missing. Then we have the last case where a nanny and a one year old baby girl was beaten savagely, just to steal a laptop and modem. This is only three cases that I highlight for you, the point being that this savagery is but a normal occurence in farm attacks. If you really look into it, you will find that a lot of the victims were horribly mutilated and tortured before death finally set in.
Mark, I don't care what anybody say, I believe that if just one person is murdered, it is one too many. The farming community have approached the government how many times to ask for help and protection, which by the way is their constitutional right, only to be patted on the head, a lot of false promises made, a lot of remarks like "You are responsible yourself for these attacks" made, but action, don't you believe it. Instead politicians and wannabe politicians dance around on platforms singing kill the boer. Could you then judge these guys when they are grasping at straws when somebody promises help? I think not.
Until such time as the government stops ruling and start to govern and do something about the scourge that is crime, espescially violent crime, nothing will change and people will keep on falling victim to these ultra right movements. Sad but true.
Sinter Klaas on April 24, 2010, 12:39 pm
Mail & Guardian
Comments by Sonny
We have many friends overseas and more in SA!
PRAAG is only one such organisation.
An injury to one, is an injury to ALL!
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