/ 10 September 2001

MASSIVE CROWD ON ITS WAY TO WCAR

THE SA National NGO Coalition on Friday said its march to mark the opening of the World Conference Against Racism in Durban had exceeded all expectation. A massive crowd, tens of thousands strong was by noon still winding its way to the International Convention Centre where they were expecting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and South African president Thabo Mbeki to personally receive a People’s Manifesto. The crowd was taking up to half-an-hour to pass any given point along its route. Thousands more were lining that route, encouraging the marchers and repeating its slogans. Large contingents of police were accompanying the march, which was causing huge traffic disruption. Eight organisations including the Durban Social Forum, the Treatment Action Campaign, Jubilee 2000 SA, the Palestinian Caucus, the Landless People’s Movement, the Anti-Privatisation Forum from Johannesburg, the SA Council of Churches and protesters in favour of the Dalit cause in India helped organise the march. . The march has meanwhile adopted a distinctly pro-Palestinian flavour with thousands carrying anti-Zionist placards and T-shirts. Many demonstrators also carried Palestinian flags. As far as the eye could see the long march was dominated by large banners declaring both Israeli premier Ariel Sharon and US President George W Bush war criminals. – Sapa