Statement from the International Forum in Denmark

We “Internationalt Forum” (internationaltforum.dk) have send the following
letter to the defense minister and would like to be on your support list.

Dear Lindiwe Sisulu, minister of defense

The news of the attacks on Kennedy Road has reached Denmark. We are
extremely upset about the attacks and the missing reaction from the police.
It has been put forth that these attacks were caused by ethnic
disagreements, but too often conflicts are reduced to a matter of ethnicity
as a cover for other more fundamental antagonisms such as economic
ineguality and political marginalisation.

We strongly urge you to step in and resolve this conflict, not reducing it
to ethnicity, but prosecute these acts for what they are – acts of blatant
persecution and repression of grassroot political activists.

Furthermore, we insistently ask you to reprimand the lack of intervention
from the KZN SAPS (obviously in bad faith) and ensure that the Kennedy Road
community and so the Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement receives all due
protection and support for restoration of the community infrastructure. The
Abahlali baseMjondolo Movements demands has to be heard and to be met.

As long as none of these procedures are enacted, we have no other choice
but to condemn not only the repressive acts in question, but also the
complicit lack of action from the responsible South African authorities,
and communicate this criticism to the due political actors here in
Denmark.

Of course, adequate response is expected.

Sincerely,
International Forum, Denmark
www.internationaltforum.dk