World rights groups have condemned the apparent assassination of chairman of the Amadiba Crisis Committee Sikhosiphi “Bazooka” Rhadebe.
At the same time, the Right2Know campaign has set up a bank account for donations to assist the family of the slain community leader.
Rhadebe, 53, was shot outside his home by two unknown gunmen pretending to be policemen on Tuesday night. They remain at large.
His murder has been linked to a decade of work that he did with the committee in the Wild Coast in opposing open-cast titanium mining by the Australian mining company Mineral Commodity Limited (CMR).
Now a group of 82 organisations from around the world have come out in support of the Wild Coast community and have rallied behind Rhadebe’s family.
In a statement released by the Right2Know campaign and endorsed by organisations such as the 350Africa.org, ActionAid SA, African Centre for Biodiversity, Colombia Solidarity Campaign UK, Common Frontiers Canada and many more, the groups said they were shocked and outraged to learn of the brutal murder.
The organisations said they could not remain silent in the face of the attack and they called for:
l The speedy arrest and successful prosecution of Rhadebe’s killers;
l The minister of mineral resources to suspend all mining applications until there has been a full and independent investigation into Rhadebe’s murder;
l Protection of Amadiba Crisis Committee members and families.
The organisations said: “Our hearts go out to Bazooka’s family and community.
“The assassination of Bazooka is a painful reminder that ... there is an existing pattern of criminal attacks on civil society formations especially those in townships, informal settlements and rural areas.
“For years, poor people’s movements in different parts of the country have experienced regular harassment, intimidation, detention and violence against their members. It is worst felt when the media are far away and the victims are poor, black or rural and when major industries stand to make billions in profit.”
“We will not be bullied and intend to speak out even more strongly than before. They key thing when civil society is being intimidated is to show no fear,” Right2Know spokeswoman Busi Mtabane said.
The solidarity fund account details are: Sustain the Wild Coast, First National Bank, Randburg, Acc no: 62157997639, Code: 254005, Swift FIRNZAJJ, Reference: Bazooka Cause. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Global outcry for slain activist: rights groups around the world reach out
At the same time, the Right2Know campaign has set up a bank account for donations to assist the family of the slain community leader.
Rhadebe, 53, was shot outside his home by two unknown gunmen pretending to be policemen on Tuesday night. They remain at large.
His murder has been linked to a decade of work that he did with the committee in the Wild Coast in opposing open-cast titanium mining by the Australian mining company Mineral Commodity Limited (CMR).
Now a group of 82 organisations from around the world have come out in support of the Wild Coast community and have rallied behind Rhadebe’s family.
In a statement released by the Right2Know campaign and endorsed by organisations such as the 350Africa.org, ActionAid SA, African Centre for Biodiversity, Colombia Solidarity Campaign UK, Common Frontiers Canada and many more, the groups said they were shocked and outraged to learn of the brutal murder.
The organisations said they could not remain silent in the face of the attack and they called for:
l The speedy arrest and successful prosecution of Rhadebe’s killers;
l The minister of mineral resources to suspend all mining applications until there has been a full and independent investigation into Rhadebe’s murder;
l Protection of Amadiba Crisis Committee members and families.
The organisations said: “Our hearts go out to Bazooka’s family and community.
“The assassination of Bazooka is a painful reminder that ... there is an existing pattern of criminal attacks on civil society formations especially those in townships, informal settlements and rural areas.
“For years, poor people’s movements in different parts of the country have experienced regular harassment, intimidation, detention and violence against their members. It is worst felt when the media are far away and the victims are poor, black or rural and when major industries stand to make billions in profit.”
“We will not be bullied and intend to speak out even more strongly than before. They key thing when civil society is being intimidated is to show no fear,” Right2Know spokeswoman Busi Mtabane said.
The solidarity fund account details are: Sustain the Wild Coast, First National Bank, Randburg, Acc no: 62157997639, Code: 254005, Swift FIRNZAJJ, Reference: Bazooka Cause. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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