Last Update: Dec. 10, 2000
Last Update: Dec. 10, 2000 |
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South African on hunger strike in California
Washington D.C. - South African Lara Johnson is on the 21st day of a hunger strike to obtain justice for her African-American husband, Demian Johnson, a prisoner in the State of California. Johnson originally gave Governor Gray Davis from California ten days to respond to her request to redress the violation of citizen's rights in the prisons of California. In the absence of response from Governor Davis or his officials, Johnson decided to make public her complaint. On the 29th of November, Johnson held a press conference to announce her hunger strike. "In California, only 500 per 100 000 people are locked up" Johnson said. "But one African-American per 6 926 is imprisoned." She compares the racism against blacks to racism in apartheid South Africa. "The invading army of police in the ghettos will arrest someone, not because your'e black, but because your music is too loud." Johnson said. In the case of her husband, Johnson alleges that the California Corrections Department does not abide by its own regulations regarding the identification, verification, maintenance and deletion of gang labels attached to prisoners in their custody. Johnson was originally validated as having Black Guerrilla Family Associate gang status. The prison officials allegedly received their information from a confidential informant who identified Johnson as a member of the gang. Prisoner Johnson has spend the past thirteen years filing appeals against his classification. According to his wife, numerous directors' level decisions, agreed that her husband's classifcation was questionable, uncorroborated and unvalidated. Both the California Department of Corrections and the Office of the Inspector General stated that they have officially deleted the validation, however it remains in Johnson's file and has now been used twice by the Parole Board to deny him parole. The Office of the Inspector General wrote a letter to Johnson's wife, saying "this matter has been resolved and the erroneous information concerning my husband's gang affiliation has been corrected in Johnson's records," Johnson wrote in her letter to Governor Davis. Nevertheless, the local prison officials have not deleted the erroneous gang label attached to prisoner Johnson and the consequences has been devastating, Johnson said. Johnson received a high classification score due to his status as a gang member, which effectively leads to the indefinite extending of his sentence. Johnson spent six years in solitary confinement, locked up in his cell for 23 hours a day. He was also excluded from educational and therapeutic programs, which are requirements by the Board of Prisoners for his release. "The persistent refusal of local prison authorities to comply with the order to expunge the label reveals a dangerous rejection of higher authority and a department out of control, " says retired professor Richard Korn, a former prison official who has taught at the University of California - Berkeley and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Johnson has already lost approximately six kilograms.. "Demain is not just an isolated case," Johnson said. "Thousands of others are in the prisons who cannot write, at least I can fight for Demian on the outside." Johnson, originally from Volksrust, is a human rights activist who started her prison work. At the time her husband was working with young gangmembers in the prison. They fell in love, and have been married for three years. © RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]  Kytie Koekblik ColumnIlda Jacobs Washington D.C. - Om my het die hele wereld MAL geword. Totaal gek. Ek is so deurmekaar soos ek in my hele lewe nog nooit was nie. Dit voel vir asof al die kennis en opvoeding wat ek in my hele lewe ontvang het, in mekaar tuimel. Eerstens wroeg ek en die Kuba in my kop steeds met mekaar. Ek probeer uitvind waarom Kubaanse-Amerikaners ongelukkig is met die Castro regering, en waarom die Castro regering se kommunisme of sosialisme - hulle ideale van gelykheid - nie werk nie. En waarom die Kubane, wat almal onderwys ontvang het, so 'n gelyke en geintegreerde nasie is wat IETS het wat ons nie het nie.. So probeer ek 'n geheel bou met stukkies en baie stukkies is net missing. Verder begin ek wonder of ene President Thabo Mbeki nie dalk iewers 'n halwe waarheid beetgehad het nie. Is ons nie dalk te simplisties in ons uitkyk op HIV nie? Ek sê nie HIV veroorsaak nie Aids nie, ek bevraagteken net my eie kennis van AIDS en HIV. Waarop is my kennis gebou? Op media informasie. En ek weet self hoe deurmekaar joernaliste se koppe is. Met die wonderlike wye wêreld van die internet tot ons beskikking, kon ek dus toegang kry tot informasie wat my kop laat draaaaaai. Na bewering is daar 'n virus genaamd HHV6a, wat glo saam met HIV dalk die enigste virus is wat die immuniteitsstelsel se vreemde selletjies aanval en vernietig. En dit bied dalk hoeveel moontlikhede en antwoorde en nuwe vrae vir die African Aids Epidemie..die ding is, hierdie virus is al LANKAL ontdek, maar jan rap en sy maat en elke Joe op straat, weet nie daarvan nie. Hoekom weet ons nie daarvan nie??? Alles voel vir my soos 'n conspiracy deur die politicians en die met geld en mag.Apartheid was ook so 'n conspiracy, en die publiek het boggerol geweet van wat onder hulle neuse gebeur. En die media en deurmekaar joernaliste is stilgemaak. So obviously ontdek ek hier in die VSA, goeters wat ek nooit voorheen eers bevraagteken het nie. Dalk is dit my introduction to the real world. "Welcome to the world of the working class" sê my pa nou die dag vir my toe ek kla. Ha-ha. Ideale wat soos groot geboue in Washington, binne 'n dag of twee platgestoot word.of liewer, daardie wolke wat net opklaar en skielik is die hele lug blou-blou, so blou dat dit al is wat jy sien, blues oor die lewe. nou klink ek soos 'n klakous. Ek dink ek wil eendag aangehaal word as die persoon wat die volgende gesê het oor ideale.Ideale en illusies is soos een en dieselfde ding partykeer. Maar ek kan nie daarsonder nie, of Kytie Koekblik bestaan nie. En Kytie Koekblik, die hopelose idealis het die volgende te sê oor Castro, en oor daardie geliefdes in jou lewe wat jy idealiseer. "Idealists are the cruelest people on the planet. Because they impose their ideals on others." So pasop vir my, ek is gevaarlik. Met my mooi ideale en goeie intensies en al, weet ek NIKS. Ek besef dit elke dag al hoe meer..ek weet niks van niks af nie, en hoe ouer ek word hoe meer ek sien en doen en leef en dink, hoe minder weet ek. Want ek raak meer en meer deurmekaar. Nou genoeg gefilosofeer. 'n Oulike storietjie.. Toe ons die aand uit Kuba terugkom, het ons vergeet waar op die allemagtige Washington Dulles ons geparkeer het. Ons is veronderstel om in die een of ander blou of groen of pers of geel bus na 'n parkeerlot genaamd B2, of A6 of een of ander letter te neem.hopeloos. Dit is nagdonker en ons weet nie waarheen nie. En ons het kultuurskok na Kuba, wat jou korttermyn geheue uitwis. Jy moet van vooraf aan die blink karre en ligte en grootheid van als in Amerika gewoond raak. Daar is waarskynlik meer karre in daardie Dulles parkeerlot as in die HELE Kuba. Natuurlik het ons die sisteem onderskat. Die Amerikaners het mos antwoorde vir alles. "Your registration number sir" vra die busdrywer vir my Baas. Oeps. Wie onthou nou OOIT hulle registrasie nommers.ek onthou my klein rooi scooter was iets soos CFR 91645, 'n klomp nuttelose nommers wat ek nog nooit kon onthou nie. Maar in Amerika kan jy mos, selfs as jy nie deel is van die elite nie, 'n PERSOONLIKE, Customized Tag bestel. En die Baas het hierdie cool registrasie nommer: BAKGAT. Dit het hom natuurlik 'n paar sekondes geneem om sy supercool registrasie nommer in sy brein te laat registreer. "Oh it is Bakgat" sê die Baas toe, en binne oomblikke verskyn BAKGAT op die klein tv'skermpie in die bus, en ons kar is opgespoor op die blou parker terrein met sy nommer. Kan jy nou meer, sê my baas. Amerika het ook vir elke probleem 'n antwoord. Kytie K. Kytie Koekblik would like you to respond to her tongue-in-cheek running commentary on suburban life in America in this editorial. Fresh off the boat, she is ready to explore and experiment with American bath plugs and to drive on the other side of the road. You can contact her here. © RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ] Cuban war veterans from SA-Angola conflict Havana - "Sud Afrika y Cuba amigos" welcomed the broad smiles of Cubans. The scars of the Angolan war where Cuba and South Africa were conducting guerilla battles against each other, have healed after the transition to democracy in South Africa. South Africa was indeed not always Cuba's friend. The enemy existed in the imagination of both nations: the stereotype Communists versus the stereotypical Fascists. Beyond the surface of ordinary life in Cuba, war stories are waiting to unravel themselves. A steep narrow staircase that stretches into infinity, invites you into the "paladar" (private restaurant) of Senora Dona Blanquita in the central part of Havana, Cuba.
Her restaurant is located on Paseo de Marti, the elegant 19th century promenade that cuts through Centro Habana. A cosy atmosphere, colourful walls and popular Cuban kitch welcome you into Senora Dona's paladar. Senora Dona, always ready with a smile, hands you a proper typewritten menu listing main plates in U.S dollars. She escorts you to the terrace overlooking the promenade while you wait on your table. That is when the pair of enormous Kudu horns confronts you. Kudu horns in Cuba? Other African curios suddenly attract the African eye. At the entrance of her restaurant, a large wooden sculpture of an African woman stares at you. Hidden in the corner amongst other porcelain ornaments, towers another African carved figure made from rock. 
On another wall, a large turtle shell inscribed with African patterns,
animals and figures is proudly displayed.
On her glass coffee table in the middle of her paladar, on a white lace
table cloth
amongst a marble statue and porcelain ornaments , the photo of a smiling
woman in military uniform holding an AK47 is displayed in a golden frame.
That is when the incredible story of this remarkable, yet ordinary Cuban
woman in her late sixties, unfolds. Senora Dona is a war veteran who simply does not fit the stereotypical description of the stern, ruthless Communist war veteran, out on a mission to kill. She was in her early forties when the call to duty came. Cuba did not spare its women. All the citizens had to join the military forces in Angolan war against South Africans. Senora Dona had given birth to her fifth daughter just a few weeks before the mandatory call-up. Her neighbour, a close friend, and her mother looked after the young born baby that she had to leave behind in Cuba. The five daughters, of whom two are helping out in the restaurant today, said they cried "muchos" and missed their mother terribly during the time. Senora Dona was deployed to a military supply ship based in Luanda during her three years in the Angolan war. They supplied weapons, food and medicines to the troups at the port of Kabinda, and to other small harbours along the coast south of Luanda. In broken English and incomprehensible Spanish, she acted out how they shot the enemy, the South African troups. This tiny, 1, 5 meter blonde lady demonstrated how she held her AK47 to shoot the "Sud Afrikanos." She was never allowed to visit Cuba during her time in Angola, but she frequently wrote to her five daughters at home in Havana. The African curious in her paladar today, serves to remind of her time in Angola. She got the Kudu horns when she served time on land in Luanda, but she did not personally shoot it. It is believed to have been a Cuban soldier in the field who gave the horns to her. A turtle shell guards over her terrace that overlooks the Marti promenade. Senora Dona caught the turtle herself while delivering supplies on land. The turtle, weighing approximately 200 kilos, was eaten on their ship. In a noisy, typically dusty street in Centro Habana, several Cuban flags provide colour to the weathered looking doors and decaying buildings. The ordinary large wooden door gives no indication of the surprising inner world of surbuban Havan life. Open the door, and enter into one of the most beautiful casa particulars (private rooms) in the central Havana, complete with a classic courtyard, fishponds and several plants. The aroma of cigar smoke, welcomes you into the casa particular after hours. The night watchman, a well built, greying, sixty-something is never without his treasured cigars. He even advises the touristas on cigar etiquette and authenticity of their purchases. The night watchman is on shift every second night. He often spends his evening playing with the resident Down Syndrome child, a loving granddad, far removed from the feared Communist profile which the South African soldiers were indoctrinated to fight against. When he heard about the South African touristas in his casa particular, his war story revealed itself through improvisation, dramatic gestures and the occiasional help of passing backpackers with a knowledge of Spanish. The night watchman was an artillery advisor, and he served in the Congo, Syria and Angola. The satisfaction was evident when he demonstrated how his battery shot down two South African aircraft during the Angolan war using Russian-made surface-to-air missiles. But the times are changing. His satisfaction was ever greater when he befriended "Sud Afrikanos" who were not his enemy. He gave complimentary advice on shopping for cigars. "Can I change my country for your country?" the wrinkled face on the corner shouted in perfect English. "Living is very expensive, we work very hard for very little money," he volunteered the information. You can find him there on the corner everyday, speaking to passing tourists. Sometimes he acts as tour guide, because he can also speak English, Portugese, Italian. "Where did you learn these languages?" you ask the old man, eager to have a conversation with any Cuban who has mastered the language. "In Africa," he said. A war veteran on the street corner, waiting to strike up conversation with foreigners, and eager to speak English. The old man was in Angola in 1975, today he encounters the "enemy" in civvies on the street. "Sud Afrikano?" he said, and got all excited. "Cuba sends doctors to South-Africa. My brother is a doctor in South Africa." He could not remember where. He suddenly got sad. "Cuba is helping the world," he said. "And no-one is helping Cuba." © RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ] Mother City shines as film shoots hit record Smile, Cape Town, you're on camera! Friday was the most successful day yet in the Mother City's modelling career - with a record number of film and photographic shoots for one day. "We issued between 40 and 50 permits for stills alone on Friday," said Cape Town Film Office supervisor Malcolm Calderwood. "It's going absolutely crazy. We process the applications as fast as we can, yet they're still piling up." Whether they are focusing their lenses on hovering choppers, shiny new European hatchbacks, pouting blondes or slick city executives, Cape Town is swarming with craning cameramen. Last weekend, five new foreign car commercials were shot in the city. Seventeen roads were intermittently or completely closed. At one stage, there were six film crews working in the city centre alone. And that is just in the former Cape Town municipal areas, not including the entire South Peninsula and Blaauwberg, let alone places further afield, like the Winelands. Riebeeck, Long, Plein, Parliament and Darling streets are favourite sites along with the perennial Camps Bay and Clifton beaches. Recently, three companies bid for the same street on the same day and had to share it. Permits take just 24 hours for Calderwood's highly successful "one stop shop" to process. Companies can also apply over the internet. Instead of the logistical nightmare film companies encountered in the past, the film office fast-tracks every aspect of the bureaucratic process. Traffic officers are assigned when public roads are used, and the film office tries to inform the public about disruptions through the media. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] DA takes Cape Town with 53,13% final count The Democratic Alliance's victory over the African National Congress in the Cape Town metro council was confirmed by the Independent Electoral Commission on Thursday morning with the release of the final results. The DA finished with 53,13 percent of the votes cast against the ANC's tally of 38,07 percent. In a relatively strong showing, the African Christian Democratic Party finished third with 3,82 percent. Of the 1 269 582 registered voters, 691 642 went to the polls, for a turnout of about 57 percent. Although the official allocation of the 200 council seats has yet to be announced, the result means that the DA should take about 108 and the ANC about 87. The DA, which already claimed victory on Wednesday, was not immediately available for comment, but a celebration was being planned for later on Thursday morning. DA leader Tony Leon, his deputy Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Western Cape Premier Gerald Morkel and the unicity's mayor-elect Peter Marais were expected to attend the party. Speaking for the provincial ANC, Cameron Dugmore said the ANC had no comment at this stage and would wait until the final result was officially announced by municipal electoral officer Andrew Boraine. - Sapa Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] SA AIDS delegation picks the fruit of protests Washington D.C. - The South African Embassy has come to an agreement with U.S. and South African AIDS activists who protested outside the SA Consulate in Los Angeles on World AIDS day. The pressure groups and the Embassy will work together in future efforts for improved AIDS healthcare. "We achieved more in the United States than what we anticipated" said Nomaswazi Mlaba, South African delegate and programmes manager at NICOSA. The NICOSA delegation of four representatives were brought over to the United States by the Los Angeles based AIDS Healthcare Foundation in order to increase pressure on the South African government to supply mothers with the drug Nevirapine. On Worlds Aids Day, The New York Times ran a full page open letter to President Thabo Mbeki to approve aids drugs for new born babies. The activists delivered a copy of the advertisement to the South African Consulate in Los Angeles on the day of their demonstration. The Consulate initiated a meeting between the South African ambassador to the United States, Sheila Sisulu, and the organisations. According to the AIDS advocacy groups, in the two hour meeting at the Embassy in Washington, several possibilities for future co-operation between the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, NICOSA and the Embassy were emphasised. The U.S. AIDS Healthcare Foundation has successfully implemented programmes to provide disadvantaged Americans with quality treatment. Their suggestion for initiation of similar pilot programs in South Africa was supported by all present at the meeting with the ambassador, Mlaba said. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has also strengthened relations with the Embassy for drug related issues. "We have offered our assistance to work with the drug companies to allow drugs to flow into South Africa" said the president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Michael Weinstein. Weinstein will meet with Ambassador Sisulu again in six weeks to discuss further strategies. Weinstein said the South African delegation's U.S. visit centered around "visibility to gain support from the South African government, and it has been more successful than their highest expectations." "We did not anticipate a meeting with the ambassador" Weinstein said. A spokesperson for the Embassy confirmed that a meeting with representatives of the embassy and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation did take place. "However, details of the discussion will not be made available," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson emphasised that discussions and consultations on addressing HIV/AIDS are regularly held with members of the Embassy and various interested parties, and this meeting should be viewed in such a context. Both Mlaba and Weinstein emphasised the support which they have received from the Embassy for united efforts. "We took the similar approach that worked with apartheid" Mlaba said about their U.S. visit, "To increase pressure and visibility on an international level, because people are dying," Mlaba said. Weinstein praised the government's decision on World Aids Day to conditionally provide the drugs to reduce transmission for mothers to new born babies. The drug Nevirapine reduces the transmission of HIV from mother to infant to 30%. The South African delegation also met with a representative of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Barbara Lee. In the meeting with Lee, NICOSA was updated on the US governments' efforts regarding HIV/AIDS. The structure for an Aids funds trust was also establishment at the meeting. Within the next few months, an AIDS funds trust will be launched to provide easy access for non-governmental organisations, without having to obtain funds through various bureaucracies. Various stakeholders will be represented in the structure and management of the fund, Mlaba said. Mlaba was optimistic that their visit has emphasised the need for an infrastructure that is developmental in its orientation, as opposed to a western infrastructure. Prior to their return to South Africa, the delegation was scheduled to meet with the Association of Pharmaceutical Companies today in order to secure easy access to HIV/AIDS Drugs. [ Top ] |
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