THE WORLD IS WATCHING SOUTHERN AFRICA -

Media Advisory from the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA)

Johannesburg - April 19 2008



IANSA, the global movement against gun violence, has won a court order to prevent a consignment of arms, including AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds, on a Chinese ship from being transported overland through South Africa to Zimbabwe. IANSA is now appealing to the governments of SADC, especially Angola, Mozambique and Namibia, to also prevent the arms cargo.



South African law says that permits to convey arms across South African land must be cancelled, amended or suspended if it is in the interest of maintaining or promoting international peace or avoiding repression. Trade unionists in the South African transport industry also announced a boycott of the arms cargo.



“IANSA welcomes the court’s decision and the solidarity shown by the South African transportation unions,” said IANSA Africa coordinator Joseph Dube. “South Africa has a chance to show the world that arms atrocities can be stopped by responsible governments. IANSA calls on the government to detain the weaponry until Zimbabwe can prove they will not be misused. Only this will guarantee they will not be used to suppress the Zimbabwean people.”



IANSA is now greatly concerned that the ship may head towards other Southern African ports such as Maputo or Beira, and that the exporters and Zimbabwe government will seek alternative overland routes.



“We remind all Southern African countries, including neighbouring Namibia and Mozambique, that they have ratified the Southern African Development Community 2004 Firearms Protocol,” said IANSA Communications Officer, Louise Rimmer. “The Protocol explicitly states that all Southern African states should harmonise their arms control laws to prevent conflict in the region and destabilising accumulations of arms. South African and international law has been used to prevent the transportation of these arms to Zimbabwe across South Africa, so other SADC authorities must stop it too.”



The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) is the global movement against gun violence - a network of 800 civil society organisations working in 120 countries to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. IANSA seeks to make people safer from gun violence by securing stronger regulation on guns in society and better controls on arms exports. IANSA is calling for an international, legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty to ease the suffering caused by irresponsible weapons transfers.



For further information, please contact Joseph Dube on + 27 79 324 3065 or Louise Rimmer on + 44 7900 242 869