South Africa P.I.G.

Mbeki Congratulating Cuban Oppression

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGRxv2E3yY-H2dtdfuYEOf-udPTu-ELl2jm49DNbqRkBY0W7v0aYJgVW0bgHj8p7MY1uDj1lkL5ZoYPwRPBZ0_rPuiMekoJZbePCvtbzTvuQZYozRudTIuVg-CFeYL8a5ySO2VXbMljCV/s1600-h/mbeki-tired.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219305412137210978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGRxv2E3yY-H2dtdfuYEOf-udPTu-ELl2jm49DNbqRkBY0W7v0aYJgVW0bgHj8p7MY1uDj1lkL5ZoYPwRPBZ0_rPuiMekoJZbePCvtbzTvuQZYozRudTIuVg-CFeYL8a5ySO2VXbMljCV/s400/mbeki-tired.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Note to Mbeki from Cuba Watch <a href="http://cubawatcher.blogspot.com/">http://cubawatcher.blogspot.com/</a> It didn’t take a rocket scientist to predict that Raul Castro would be rubber-stamped into Cuba’s throne of oppression as the island’s newest dictator extraordinaire. Letters expressing “congratulations” were . . . well, lets just say “sparse,” but there were a few. South African President Thabo Mbeki praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro for his many years spent brutally oppressing millions of people and went on to say that South Africans could “indeed count on the unflinching support of the Cuban people.” Note to Thabito: considering the fact that you support our continued suffering, don’t count on that “unflinching support.” Better to open your eyes to reality and count on years of bitterness and resentment after the hopeful transition to democracy on our beloved island. Time to take those blinders off, eh? And now to the lovely Belorussian leader, Alexander Lukashenko. Considering the fact that Lukashenko himself is certainly no boyscout – a true Soviet-style leader in every sense of the term – it comes as no surprise that he would "pat Raulita on the back following his rubber-stamp “election.” Said Lukashenko of Cuba: “For Your numerous supporters all over the world, you are an ever spectacular example of passionate service to fatherland, to the cause of freedom and independence.” Hold on a second, was Lukshenko using the phrase “cause of freedom and independence” to describe the brothers-Castro? Apparently we have a little learning disability here. I’ll get back to the blog once I stop laughing.<a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2008/02/international-r.html">International reaction mixed to Raul Castro presidency</a> Raul Castro's defiant speech and his decision to designate a hard-liner as his number two drew mixed international reaction, with a top European Union official admitting he was disappointed. "The news could have been more open, better,'' said Javier Solana, the European Union's top foreign affairs representative, according to the EFE news service. "I'm not sure that the transition has begun from the political point of view.'' On Sunday the National Assembly in Havana elected communist ideologue Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, 77, as vice president. Many foreign governments would have preferred an economic reformer like Carlos Lage, 56. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice already urged Cuba to arrange free elections and other reforms in a statement put out even before Raul Castro was announced as president. The French foreign ministry called on Cuba to take a democratic path and free political prisoners. "More liberations of opposition politicians and journalists, especially those who are in poor health, would be a first sign that by the Cuban authorities on their determination to begin implementing reforms," said Pascale Andreani, a foreign ministry spokesman. Not all reaction was negative for the Castro brothers. South African President Thabo Mbeki sent a congratulatory message to Raul Castro, recalling how Cuba had helped in Africa fight colonialism and promising to help Cuba as the island begins "the new and difficult task of consolidating the political and economic system in Cuba." A Vietnamese government spokesman said Raul's election showed "unanimity.'' Latin American governments seemed cautious. A Peruvian foreign ministry official relations would be unaffected by Sunday's events and that bilateral relations would stay the same. Peru's deputy foreign minister Carlos Gutierrez also criticized the U.S. embargo as "inadequate." Peru was the only major Latin American countries to openly call on Cuba to enact democratic reforms when Fidel Castro said last week he would not seek the presidency.Chilean government spokesman Francisco Vidal said "we trust the decision by the Cuban people and the government are the proper ones for their future." President Thabo Mbeki congratulates Raul Castro for his election as President of Cuba - 25 February 2008 In his message of support, President Mbeki said :“Please accept Your Excellency our warm congratulations to you on behalf of the government and people of South Africa on your election as President of Cuba. “Your Excellency, Cuba has always occupied a special place in the collective memory of our people for the immense sacrifices made by Cuban internationalist forces in the decolonization process of the continent of Africa. “Indeed the victory of our people over the evil system of apartheid in this southern most part of the continent is as much a victory of the Cuban people as it is the victory of the people of our country. “Accordingly, as we forge ahead with the process of fundamental social, political and economic transformation of our country, we know too well that we can indeed count on the unflinching support of the Cuban people. “In this regard, we cannot but pay tribute to that noble son of the Cuban people, Fidel Castro, who led the Cuban people in the internationalist mission to help rid our country and continent of the scourge of colonialism and apartheid. “Accordingly, as President Fidel Castro bows off the political stage, all of us like the rest of humanity can only but wish him, a well deserved rest, knowing fully well that the Cuban people will continue to derive inspiration from his experiences. “Your Excellency, as you embark on the new and difficult task of consolidating the political and economic system in Cuba, please be assured of the continued support of the people of South Africa in this regard. “Indeed we look forward to the strengthening of bilateral political and economic relations between our two countries and peoples while wishing Your Excellency a successful tenure as President of Cuba” concluded President Mbeki. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853 Department of Foreign Affairs P/Bag X152 Pretoria 0001 source: <a class="l" href="http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/main.asp?include=president/pr/2008/pr02251019.htm" onmousedown="return clk(this.href,'','','res','1','&sig2=Bx5O1aM-EXPp_yYdN4bTmw')">The Presidency - Republic of South Africa</a>

Mbeki Congratulating Cuban Oppression

Note to Mbeki from Cuba Watch http://cubawatcher.blogspot.com/ It didn’t take a rocket scientist to predict that Raul Castro would be rubber...

4:05 PM

The decline and fall of the ANC Youth League

The decline and fall of the ANC Youth League

This tells the story of the decline and fall of the ANC Youth League in one simple image.

3:37 PM

Zuma and his allies show increasing disdain for the rule of law.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYSybG1Fr-FRJVp-XhnHJC-qbcCHumOZjZd-lfqf73PZSmPCXqoLvEFprsN9QLYp6icKtYM1r7h17jctpp0gZ5sjjT4LVObEn3ChXFjKuyARGEfA3mfrjVzkSvDDiQm_Apx3U7x8k-e36/s1600-h/zuma-hunk%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219276034814876194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYSybG1Fr-FRJVp-XhnHJC-qbcCHumOZjZd-lfqf73PZSmPCXqoLvEFprsN9QLYp6icKtYM1r7h17jctpp0gZ5sjjT4LVObEn3ChXFjKuyARGEfA3mfrjVzkSvDDiQm_Apx3U7x8k-e36/s320/zuma-hunk%5B1%5D.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>What is one to make of a trade union boss who argues that threatening to kill for political advantage is an acceptable tactic of democractic "contestation"? How are we to understand the leaders of a party who feel compelled to undermine and discredit the legal system that their party's struggle ushered into being? Or who aim their heavy rhetorical weaponry at the Human Rights Commission, which was set up to guard against the very iniquities their movement fought against? What about the police and the intelligence services at war with the Scorpions and desperate to protect the hopelessly compromised police commissioner? How are we to understand a man who expects to be president of the country and who is already president of this extraordinary, hegemonic party of the people? Why can he find nothing meaningful to say about any of it? Are Jacob Zuma and his court simply bereft of political talent, or should we ascribe all their finely honed contradictions to the special logical apparatus of communists and other vanguard intellectuals? That realm of abstraction is inaccessible to us, but we suspect it is not really as complicated as it seems. Here's a handy guide -- stick it to your fridge if you think it will help. <ul><li>ANC president Jacob Zuma is determined to move from Luthuli House to the Union Buildings. He is prepared to do just about anything to ensure that nothing stands in his way. </li><li>The real obstacles in his path, however, are so various, and his need for backing so overwhelming, that he won't speak out against even the most outrageous tactics employed in his support; alternatively he will offer "criticism" so lily-livered as to be meaningless. </li><li>Many leaders of the ANC and its left-wing allies are avid for the government jobs that will open up after next year's elections. They know their best bet is to put Zuma deeply in their debt and ensure that he becomes president of payback time. </li><li>To achieve this they must attack any person or institution that stands in his way and support any person or institution that strengthens him. </li></ul>With this background in mind, understanding things is easier. <ul><li>Judge John Hlophe stands accused of trying to subvert the Constitutional Court. But he is a Zuma ally, so he must be supported. </li><li>ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema undermines the rule of law, not to mention basic democratic norms, by calling for people to kill for Zuma. But he is a Zuma ally, so he must be supported. </li><li>The Human Rights Commission, a constitutionally protected body, demands that Malema apologise for his remarks. No apology must be given; indeed, the HRC must also be attacked. </li></ul>So ours is really a simple story about ambitious careerists putting their interests above those of society. Sounds like classic bourgeois behaviour to us ...

Zuma and his allies show increasing disdain for the rule of law.

What is one to make of a trade union boss who argues that threatening to kill for political advantage is an acceptable tactic of democractic...

1:23 PM

South Africa P.I.G.

Mbeki Congratulating Cuban Oppression

The decline and fall of the ANC Youth League

Zuma and his allies show increasing disdain for the rule of law.

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