I wonder whether the following quote might apply to The Harbinger ?
(Evens money Prof Anton would tell his students that it applies to.... FIX THE FXI !)
"The strength of blogs," writes journalism professor Anton Harber in his column "The Harbinger" on www.journalism.co.za, "is that they are relaxed, unedited, unmediated and are not bound by many of the standard limitations of journalism -- and it is also their greatest weakness."
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
IS ANTON HARBER A NEO-CONSERVATIVE ?
Does The Freedom of Expression Institute think that Anton Harber is a neo-conservative?
FIX THE FXI posted the following on Anton Harber's blog (The Harbinger) re his article "Are these the thoughts of a neo-conservative?"
September 12th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I think you are an old style ANC leftist. I am not fooled by your attempt to distance yourself from the neo-conservative label. All “old style ANC leftists” are neo-conservatives. It is a particular breed that identifies with the ANC establishment and has to toe the party line either to keep employment or to get rich quick. That, of course, is the awful irony of the New South Africa. Dali Mpofu should be astute enough to realize this.
Anton, give us a straight answer to a straight question..Do you think Snuki Zikalala should be sacked?
http://fixthefxi.blogspot.com/
Why doesn't Harber call for Snuki's sacking in the following article? Surely, Zikalala's role as head of news and current affairs at The ANCB (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS BROADCASTING) should be mentioned? Harber has clearly backed off at a time when he should be sharpening his pen. So... it might be best to take Harber's "beliefs" with a large pinch of politically correct salt. In his position as head of journalism at Wits, Harber is now very much part of the establishment.
Actually, having thought about it a bit more, Harber is a "left-wing ANC neo-conservative". According to the latest edition of The DSM ( The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), this political shizophrenia is not treatable and ultimately leads to censorship and national insanity.
WHAT DOES ANTON HARBER REALLY BELIEVE ?
(1) He believes that he can gently criticize govt but he must not rock the boat.
(2) he believes that if he rocks the boat he will not have a long-term future in South Africa.
(3) He believes that he should be politically correct.
(4) He believes that he should support Ronno Einstein’s anti-zionist escapades.
(5) He believes that Zikalala should be sacked but he doesn’t believe that he has the guts to shout it from the rooftops.
(6) He believes he should have a public spat with Dali Mpofu so that he can underline that his "beliefs"
do not threaten Mbeki's government.
(7) He believes that it is not even worth discussing what a "right wing neo-conservative" actually believes.
(8) He believes that any beliefs he once had must be flushed down The ANC's democratic toilet.
(9) He believes that it is not worth fighting tooth and nail for freedom of expression in South Africa.
(10) He believes, when he turns off the light at night, that he doesn't have any beliefs.
Are these the thoughts of a neo-conservative?
by Anton Harber
September 3rd, 2007
SABC boss Dali Mpofu called me a rightwing neo-conservative in the weekend papers. It is the second time he has done that. But you can judge for yourself.
Let me spell out a few things about myself.
I believe in a public broadcaster, and I would like it to get greater state support and become less dependent on advertising so it can make editorial decisions with greater freedom than the commercial media. The public broadcaster should be able to do more things which commercial media can’t do - those things that may not make commercial sense but make for good journalism, education and public debate. I believe the public broadcaster should be setting the standards for journalism in this country.
I believe the government should, through the Media Development and Democracy Agency, be putting more resources into growing community media. Small, local media is the bedrock of media diversity and will feed the bigger national media. We need more of it, and the government’s role should be to enable and stimulate it.
I support local content regulations and would like to see them gradually increased to promote local drama, music and our indigenous cultural industry.
I believe we need more media in more of our official languages and the government should be subsidising this through channels such as the Pan-Language Board.
I believe the government should be closely watching the development or potential development of media monopolies, or over-powerful media groups, in order to protect and encourage diversity. I believe the state should be ensuring that we have an equitable and accessible newspaper distribution system which is open to all and encourages new and more voices, and is not controlled by the big at the expense of the small players.
I believe we need to strengthen the broadcasting and telecoms regulator and take the power of appointment of councillors away from the Minister, who has too great an influence on this body. I believe we should encourage them to license more television and radio stations.
I believe the state should be much more aggressive and interventionist in promoting cheap broadband access for all South Africans. We cannot fully exercise our economic and political rights without it.
I believe the state should stop taxing books and spend a lot more on libraries and related services.
I believe in a journalism which is fiercely independent, critical and outspoken. I don’t care much whether stories are positive or negative, but I do care if they are insightful, probing, informative and thought-provoking. I believe journalists are there to prod us into thinking about things, to cause trouble for the complacent, and to get up the noses of anyone with power and authority. I believe that patriotic journalism is when we play our proper role in ensuring that power is not abused and that political and financial power is wielded with accountability and transparency. I believe that we practice developmental journalism not when we spend our time telling everyone what government, business or NGOs are doing, but when we ask tough questions on behalf of those who can’t ask themselves, and demand proper answers.
These are all views I have expressed from time to time in my writings. You can decide whether these are the views of a neo-con.
ANTON HARBER BIOGRAPHY
In 1996, Harber helped put together a consortium to bid for privatised radio licences, a group which was the only one to win two licences. In March 1997, Harber was appointed CEO of Kagiso Broadcasting, owners of a number of media interests, and in October 1997 an executive director of Kagiso Media Limited, listed on the JSE. He served as a member of the boards of East Coast Radio (Pty) Ltd, Jacaranda 94.2fm (Pty) Ltd; Ofm (Pty) Ltd, Systems Publishers (Pty) Ltd, Radmark (Pty) Ltd and Kagiso Exhibitions (Pty) Ltd.
He was chairperson of the National Association of Broadcasters for two years (1999/2000), a member of the board of South African Advertising Research Foundation and a trustee of the Media Industry Trust. He has served as a media adviser to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Fellowship for Journalists programme of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a trustee of the Phil Harber Jazz Education Trust and the Anthony Sampson Foundation and he is a member of the board of directors of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism. He is convenor of judges for the Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year Awards and the Taco Kuiper Awards and Grants for Investigative Journalism.
FIX THE FXI posted the following on Anton Harber's blog (The Harbinger) re his article "Are these the thoughts of a neo-conservative?"
September 12th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I think you are an old style ANC leftist. I am not fooled by your attempt to distance yourself from the neo-conservative label. All “old style ANC leftists” are neo-conservatives. It is a particular breed that identifies with the ANC establishment and has to toe the party line either to keep employment or to get rich quick. That, of course, is the awful irony of the New South Africa. Dali Mpofu should be astute enough to realize this.
Anton, give us a straight answer to a straight question..Do you think Snuki Zikalala should be sacked?
http://fixthefxi.blogspot.com/
Why doesn't Harber call for Snuki's sacking in the following article? Surely, Zikalala's role as head of news and current affairs at The ANCB (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS BROADCASTING) should be mentioned? Harber has clearly backed off at a time when he should be sharpening his pen. So... it might be best to take Harber's "beliefs" with a large pinch of politically correct salt. In his position as head of journalism at Wits, Harber is now very much part of the establishment.
Actually, having thought about it a bit more, Harber is a "left-wing ANC neo-conservative". According to the latest edition of The DSM ( The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), this political shizophrenia is not treatable and ultimately leads to censorship and national insanity.
WHAT DOES ANTON HARBER REALLY BELIEVE ?
(1) He believes that he can gently criticize govt but he must not rock the boat.
(2) he believes that if he rocks the boat he will not have a long-term future in South Africa.
(3) He believes that he should be politically correct.
(4) He believes that he should support Ronno Einstein’s anti-zionist escapades.
(5) He believes that Zikalala should be sacked but he doesn’t believe that he has the guts to shout it from the rooftops.
(6) He believes he should have a public spat with Dali Mpofu so that he can underline that his "beliefs"
do not threaten Mbeki's government.
(7) He believes that it is not even worth discussing what a "right wing neo-conservative" actually believes.
(8) He believes that any beliefs he once had must be flushed down The ANC's democratic toilet.
(9) He believes that it is not worth fighting tooth and nail for freedom of expression in South Africa.
(10) He believes, when he turns off the light at night, that he doesn't have any beliefs.
Are these the thoughts of a neo-conservative?
by Anton Harber
September 3rd, 2007
SABC boss Dali Mpofu called me a rightwing neo-conservative in the weekend papers. It is the second time he has done that. But you can judge for yourself.
Let me spell out a few things about myself.
I believe in a public broadcaster, and I would like it to get greater state support and become less dependent on advertising so it can make editorial decisions with greater freedom than the commercial media. The public broadcaster should be able to do more things which commercial media can’t do - those things that may not make commercial sense but make for good journalism, education and public debate. I believe the public broadcaster should be setting the standards for journalism in this country.
I believe the government should, through the Media Development and Democracy Agency, be putting more resources into growing community media. Small, local media is the bedrock of media diversity and will feed the bigger national media. We need more of it, and the government’s role should be to enable and stimulate it.
I support local content regulations and would like to see them gradually increased to promote local drama, music and our indigenous cultural industry.
I believe we need more media in more of our official languages and the government should be subsidising this through channels such as the Pan-Language Board.
I believe the government should be closely watching the development or potential development of media monopolies, or over-powerful media groups, in order to protect and encourage diversity. I believe the state should be ensuring that we have an equitable and accessible newspaper distribution system which is open to all and encourages new and more voices, and is not controlled by the big at the expense of the small players.
I believe we need to strengthen the broadcasting and telecoms regulator and take the power of appointment of councillors away from the Minister, who has too great an influence on this body. I believe we should encourage them to license more television and radio stations.
I believe the state should be much more aggressive and interventionist in promoting cheap broadband access for all South Africans. We cannot fully exercise our economic and political rights without it.
I believe the state should stop taxing books and spend a lot more on libraries and related services.
I believe in a journalism which is fiercely independent, critical and outspoken. I don’t care much whether stories are positive or negative, but I do care if they are insightful, probing, informative and thought-provoking. I believe journalists are there to prod us into thinking about things, to cause trouble for the complacent, and to get up the noses of anyone with power and authority. I believe that patriotic journalism is when we play our proper role in ensuring that power is not abused and that political and financial power is wielded with accountability and transparency. I believe that we practice developmental journalism not when we spend our time telling everyone what government, business or NGOs are doing, but when we ask tough questions on behalf of those who can’t ask themselves, and demand proper answers.
These are all views I have expressed from time to time in my writings. You can decide whether these are the views of a neo-con.
ANTON HARBER BIOGRAPHY
In 1996, Harber helped put together a consortium to bid for privatised radio licences, a group which was the only one to win two licences. In March 1997, Harber was appointed CEO of Kagiso Broadcasting, owners of a number of media interests, and in October 1997 an executive director of Kagiso Media Limited, listed on the JSE. He served as a member of the boards of East Coast Radio (Pty) Ltd, Jacaranda 94.2fm (Pty) Ltd; Ofm (Pty) Ltd, Systems Publishers (Pty) Ltd, Radmark (Pty) Ltd and Kagiso Exhibitions (Pty) Ltd.
He was chairperson of the National Association of Broadcasters for two years (1999/2000), a member of the board of South African Advertising Research Foundation and a trustee of the Media Industry Trust. He has served as a media adviser to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Fellowship for Journalists programme of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a trustee of the Phil Harber Jazz Education Trust and the Anthony Sampson Foundation and he is a member of the board of directors of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism. He is convenor of judges for the Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year Awards and the Taco Kuiper Awards and Grants for Investigative Journalism.
CHANGE "SABC" TO "ANCB"!
Well, it seems that the new SABC Board will support Snuki Zikalala.
FIX THE FXI believes that Dene Smuts's assessment is over-optimistic. Dene Smuts said: “You can see the hand of Luthuli House in those appointments, but there are enough good people on the board to counteract the Luthuli House agenda.”
Until Zikalala is sacked the SABC will remain the ANCB (African National Congress Broadcasting). Perhaps it should get with the times and jettison the old "apartheid" nomenclature ? if place names can be changed why can't it apply to the SABC?
ANC backs Qunta, dumps Ginwala for SABC board
Brendan Boyle Published:Sep 12, 2007 (THE TIMES)
TRUSTED: Christine Qunta
Hand of Luthuli House seen in nominations.
ANC MPs rejected former Speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala’s bid for a seat on the SABC board, but handed controversial lawyer Christine Qunta a second term.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications made 12 nominations from a list of 142 names yesterday , returning six former members and adding to the board a prominent businesswoman and President Thabo Mbeki’s former spokesman.
The board, which has played a key role in positioning the state- owned public broadcaster as a consistent supporter of the ANC , must be formally approved by the national assembly on Thursday. It will serve for up to five years from January.
It is now up to Mbeki to appoint a chairman and deputy chairman of the SABC board from the portfolio committee’s nominations.
Ginwala, who declined to take up her seat in parliament after she was dumped as Speaker, was not supported by her own party, though several opposition members thought she would be a useful addition to the board.
She is a trustee of the Reuters news agency, sitting on a panel that guards the editorial objectivity of the company.
The current chairman of the SABC board, Eddie Funde, was one of 37 candidates selected for an interview, but withdrew from the process.
Speculation among some MPs and candidates was that he had been told that he would not be reappointed as chairman.
Dene Smuts, the DA’ s communications spokesman, said the selection included eight people on her party’s own short list. She said: “This is definitely a better board.”
Smuts said the DA had opposed the appointment of Qunta, of former member Andile Mbeki and of Gloria Serobe.
Smuts said: “You can see the hand of Luthuli House in those appointments, but there are enough good people on the board to counteract the Luthuli House agenda.”
Qunta has supported SABC news chief Snuki Zikalala, who banned a number of commentators from the state airwaves and has accused the commercial print media of a racist campaign against the broadcaster.
Serobe is a shareholder in the Elephant Consortium, which owns a major stake in Telkom, which is bidding for a broadcasting licence that would allow it to compete with the SABC.
The candidacy of Mbeki’s former spokesman, Bheki Khumalo, now a general manager at Sasol, was supported by the ANC and DA, but not by the IFP.
Khumalo has written many articles supporting Mbeki recently, but said during the selection interviews he would be impartial on the board.
Members reappointed to the board are Alison Gilwald, Fadila Lagadien, Andile Mbeki, Khanyi Mkhonza, Qunta and Ashwin Trikamjee.
The new members are Nadia Bulbulia, a former broadcasting regulator, Mpumalanga 2010 World Cup chief Desmond Golding, Khumalo, Serobe, Pansy Tlakula, chief electoral officer of the IEC, and advertising veteran and banker Peter Vundla.
FIX THE FXI believes that Dene Smuts's assessment is over-optimistic. Dene Smuts said: “You can see the hand of Luthuli House in those appointments, but there are enough good people on the board to counteract the Luthuli House agenda.”
Until Zikalala is sacked the SABC will remain the ANCB (African National Congress Broadcasting). Perhaps it should get with the times and jettison the old "apartheid" nomenclature ? if place names can be changed why can't it apply to the SABC?
ANC backs Qunta, dumps Ginwala for SABC board
Brendan Boyle Published:Sep 12, 2007 (THE TIMES)
TRUSTED: Christine Qunta
Hand of Luthuli House seen in nominations.
ANC MPs rejected former Speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala’s bid for a seat on the SABC board, but handed controversial lawyer Christine Qunta a second term.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications made 12 nominations from a list of 142 names yesterday , returning six former members and adding to the board a prominent businesswoman and President Thabo Mbeki’s former spokesman.
The board, which has played a key role in positioning the state- owned public broadcaster as a consistent supporter of the ANC , must be formally approved by the national assembly on Thursday. It will serve for up to five years from January.
It is now up to Mbeki to appoint a chairman and deputy chairman of the SABC board from the portfolio committee’s nominations.
Ginwala, who declined to take up her seat in parliament after she was dumped as Speaker, was not supported by her own party, though several opposition members thought she would be a useful addition to the board.
She is a trustee of the Reuters news agency, sitting on a panel that guards the editorial objectivity of the company.
The current chairman of the SABC board, Eddie Funde, was one of 37 candidates selected for an interview, but withdrew from the process.
Speculation among some MPs and candidates was that he had been told that he would not be reappointed as chairman.
Dene Smuts, the DA’ s communications spokesman, said the selection included eight people on her party’s own short list. She said: “This is definitely a better board.”
Smuts said the DA had opposed the appointment of Qunta, of former member Andile Mbeki and of Gloria Serobe.
Smuts said: “You can see the hand of Luthuli House in those appointments, but there are enough good people on the board to counteract the Luthuli House agenda.”
Qunta has supported SABC news chief Snuki Zikalala, who banned a number of commentators from the state airwaves and has accused the commercial print media of a racist campaign against the broadcaster.
Serobe is a shareholder in the Elephant Consortium, which owns a major stake in Telkom, which is bidding for a broadcasting licence that would allow it to compete with the SABC.
The candidacy of Mbeki’s former spokesman, Bheki Khumalo, now a general manager at Sasol, was supported by the ANC and DA, but not by the IFP.
Khumalo has written many articles supporting Mbeki recently, but said during the selection interviews he would be impartial on the board.
Members reappointed to the board are Alison Gilwald, Fadila Lagadien, Andile Mbeki, Khanyi Mkhonza, Qunta and Ashwin Trikamjee.
The new members are Nadia Bulbulia, a former broadcasting regulator, Mpumalanga 2010 World Cup chief Desmond Golding, Khumalo, Serobe, Pansy Tlakula, chief electoral officer of the IEC, and advertising veteran and banker Peter Vundla.
"SOMETHING IS STIRRING... "
Will other blogs emerge in South Africa, fighting for freedom of expression and demanding that The Freedom of Expression Institute is fixed?
According to the latest research it could just be a matter of time....
SA BLOGS ON THE RISE
Zahira Kharsany | Johannesburg, South Africa (M&G)
06 September 2007 05:00
"Something is stirring in the South African blogosphere. This year will probably be remembered as a time when blogs came of age, with more than 600 000 internet users visiting blogs by their fellow South Africans in just one month.
Electronic-media analyst Arthur Goldstuck has provided the online world with relevant South African statistics on the number of bloggers in South Africa for the month of August 2007.
In a blog entry posted this week on the Mail & Guardian Online's Thought Leader, Goldstuck says he believes that by August next year, "blogs will not only be a mainstream component of most online media in South Africa, but they will also be a dominant component".
According to the latest research it could just be a matter of time....
SA BLOGS ON THE RISE
Zahira Kharsany | Johannesburg, South Africa (M&G)
06 September 2007 05:00
"Something is stirring in the South African blogosphere. This year will probably be remembered as a time when blogs came of age, with more than 600 000 internet users visiting blogs by their fellow South Africans in just one month.
Electronic-media analyst Arthur Goldstuck has provided the online world with relevant South African statistics on the number of bloggers in South Africa for the month of August 2007.
In a blog entry posted this week on the Mail & Guardian Online's Thought Leader, Goldstuck says he believes that by August next year, "blogs will not only be a mainstream component of most online media in South Africa, but they will also be a dominant component".
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
MBEKI, THE PRESS AND 2010
From: amposner
Subject: ATT; SOPHIE RICHARDSON
Date: 11 September 2007 11:37:52 AM
To: hrwnyc@hrw.org
Cc: jduncan@fxi.org.za
Hi Sophie Richardson,
Interesting that FIFA is now visiting Zimbabwe to check out accommodation for 2010 World Cup. Amazing that FIFA can even contemplate involving themselves with Mugabe !
I wonder whether the IOC and FIFA are really bothered about press freedom ?
regards
http://fixthefxi.blogspot.com/
As The Freedom of Expression Institute is reluctant to confront Mbeki's attempts to muzzle the South African press, perhaps Human Rights Watch and Fix The Fxi will have to intervene as South Africa heads towards 2010.
"The Chinese government seems to see a free media as an enemy rather than a watchdog of public safety and social stability." (HRW)
A sentiment that could equally apply to Mbeki's government ?
\
Attacks on media freedom continue despite government assurances to International Olympic Committee
Country/Topic: China
Date: 07 September 2007
(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch press release:
China: Media Freedom Attacks Continue Despite Pledges
11 Months Ahead of Beijing Olympics, Journalist Harassment Ongoing
(New York, September 7, 2007) - The Chinese government continues to violate the rights of journalists in spite of assurances to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the 2008 Beijing Olympics would foster improvements in human rights and of specific pledges of wider media freedoms, Human Rights Watch said today.
Just 11 months before the 2008 Beijing Games begin, journalists in China continue to face physical abuse and harassment from police and plainclothes thugs who appear to work at official behest.
"The continuing harassment and physical abuse of journalists in the countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing raises serious questions about the sincerity of government pledges to greater media freedom," said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. "The Chinese government seems to see a free media as an enemy rather than a watchdog of public safety and social stability."
As part of its 2001 bid for the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese government expressly assured the IOC that it would loosen its long-held grip on the media during the Olympic Games. That commitment is consistent with the obligation of Olympic host cities to comply with Article 51 of the Olympic Charter, which stipulates that the IOC should take "all necessary steps in order to ensure the fullest coverage by the different media and the widest possible audience in the world for the Olympic Games." Moreover, Article 35 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China specifically guarantees "freedom . . . of the press."
Subject: ATT; SOPHIE RICHARDSON
Date: 11 September 2007 11:37:52 AM
To: hrwnyc@hrw.org
Cc: jduncan@fxi.org.za
Hi Sophie Richardson,
Interesting that FIFA is now visiting Zimbabwe to check out accommodation for 2010 World Cup. Amazing that FIFA can even contemplate involving themselves with Mugabe !
I wonder whether the IOC and FIFA are really bothered about press freedom ?
regards
http://fixthefxi.blogspot.com/
As The Freedom of Expression Institute is reluctant to confront Mbeki's attempts to muzzle the South African press, perhaps Human Rights Watch and Fix The Fxi will have to intervene as South Africa heads towards 2010.
"The Chinese government seems to see a free media as an enemy rather than a watchdog of public safety and social stability." (HRW)
A sentiment that could equally apply to Mbeki's government ?
\
Attacks on media freedom continue despite government assurances to International Olympic Committee
Country/Topic: China
Date: 07 September 2007
(HRW/IFEX) - The following is a Human Rights Watch press release:
China: Media Freedom Attacks Continue Despite Pledges
11 Months Ahead of Beijing Olympics, Journalist Harassment Ongoing
(New York, September 7, 2007) - The Chinese government continues to violate the rights of journalists in spite of assurances to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the 2008 Beijing Olympics would foster improvements in human rights and of specific pledges of wider media freedoms, Human Rights Watch said today.
Just 11 months before the 2008 Beijing Games begin, journalists in China continue to face physical abuse and harassment from police and plainclothes thugs who appear to work at official behest.
"The continuing harassment and physical abuse of journalists in the countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing raises serious questions about the sincerity of government pledges to greater media freedom," said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. "The Chinese government seems to see a free media as an enemy rather than a watchdog of public safety and social stability."
As part of its 2001 bid for the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese government expressly assured the IOC that it would loosen its long-held grip on the media during the Olympic Games. That commitment is consistent with the obligation of Olympic host cities to comply with Article 51 of the Olympic Charter, which stipulates that the IOC should take "all necessary steps in order to ensure the fullest coverage by the different media and the widest possible audience in the world for the Olympic Games." Moreover, Article 35 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China specifically guarantees "freedom . . . of the press."
PLEASE VOTE
FIX THE FXI is running a poll about Mbeki's weekly ANC letter (www.anc.org.za) and hopes that all staff members at The Freedom of Expression Institute will find time to vote.
Of course, it would be 100% ubuntu if other visitors to FIX THE FXI also vote.
Of course, it would be 100% ubuntu if other visitors to FIX THE FXI also vote.
Monday, September 10, 2007
MBEKI LEARNS FROM LENIN ?
This is Mbeki's conclusion from this week's presidential ANC letter:
As we strive continuously to advance the national democratic revolution, determined to achieve successive victories, we must pay the closest attention to, and understand with no illusions, the domestic objective and subjective conditions we face, and the related objective and subjective conditions in Africa and the rest of the world. In this regard, as the actual vanguard of the democratic revolution, we must fully understand the meaning of the expression - if wishes were horses, beggars would ride!
Lenin concluded his 1918 article, "The Revolutionary Phrase", with these words: "In the summer of 1907 our Party also experienced an attack of the revolutionary phrase that was, in some respects, analogous. In St Petersburg and Moscow nearly all the Bolsheviks were in favour of boycotting the Third Duma: they were guided by 'sentiment' instead of an objective analysis, and walked into a trap. The disease has recurred.
"The times are more difficult. The issue is a million times more important. To fall ill at such a time is to risk ruining the revolution. We must fight against the revolutionary phrase; we have to fight it; we absolutely must fight it, so that at some future time people will not say of us the bitter truth that 'a revolutionary phrase about revolutionary war ruined the revolution'."
A century after 1907, in 2007, we should not, and will not fall into a trap, as a result of being guided by ill-informed revolutionary phrases rather than objective analysis, allowing ourselves to become victim to seduction by the repetition of revolutionary slogans irrespective of objective circumstances, leading to the ruin of the national democratic revolution.
Rather, given what has been happening, affecting our movement and revolution, we may very well have arrived at the moment when, as Lenin said, questions must be raised sharply and things given their proper names, the danger being that otherwise irreparable harm may be done to the Party and the revolution.
As we strive continuously to advance the national democratic revolution, determined to achieve successive victories, we must pay the closest attention to, and understand with no illusions, the domestic objective and subjective conditions we face, and the related objective and subjective conditions in Africa and the rest of the world. In this regard, as the actual vanguard of the democratic revolution, we must fully understand the meaning of the expression - if wishes were horses, beggars would ride!
Lenin concluded his 1918 article, "The Revolutionary Phrase", with these words: "In the summer of 1907 our Party also experienced an attack of the revolutionary phrase that was, in some respects, analogous. In St Petersburg and Moscow nearly all the Bolsheviks were in favour of boycotting the Third Duma: they were guided by 'sentiment' instead of an objective analysis, and walked into a trap. The disease has recurred.
"The times are more difficult. The issue is a million times more important. To fall ill at such a time is to risk ruining the revolution. We must fight against the revolutionary phrase; we have to fight it; we absolutely must fight it, so that at some future time people will not say of us the bitter truth that 'a revolutionary phrase about revolutionary war ruined the revolution'."
A century after 1907, in 2007, we should not, and will not fall into a trap, as a result of being guided by ill-informed revolutionary phrases rather than objective analysis, allowing ourselves to become victim to seduction by the repetition of revolutionary slogans irrespective of objective circumstances, leading to the ruin of the national democratic revolution.
Rather, given what has been happening, affecting our movement and revolution, we may very well have arrived at the moment when, as Lenin said, questions must be raised sharply and things given their proper names, the danger being that otherwise irreparable harm may be done to the Party and the revolution.
MBEKI LEARNS FROM KHAMENI ?
Following Ronno Einstein's visit to Iran.....
IFEX WEBSITE
Supreme Leader publicly condemns media; persecuted journalist allowed to leave country
Country/Topic: Iran
Date: 07 September 2007
Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Person(s): Parnaz Azima
(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is concerned about a verbal assault on the media delivered by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, during a speech to the Assembly of Experts on 5 September 2007.
"What is left of press freedom now in Iran?" the organisation asked. "Ayatollah Khamenei's comments have reinforced the climate of censorship that oppresses all journalists who do not toe the official line. The last time the Supreme Leader attacked the media, in the spring of 2000, a wave of repression was unleashed on pro-reform newspapers."
In his 5 September address, Khamenei accused the Iranian media of "malice" and of "collaborating with enemy media" and he condemned the way some newspapers hailed former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's election on 3 September to head the Assembly of Experts as a blow to the hardliners.
Khamenei's attack on the media came less than a week after the release of a joint statement signed by more than 150 journalists protesting against a decline in press freedom. They criticised Tehran prosecutor Said Mortazavi for summoning newspaper editors to ban them from referring to the case of three students who have been held for three months for allegedly publishing "anti-Islamic" articles. They also threatened to continue issuing joint statements if the situation did not change.
Meanwhile, Iranian-American journalist Parnaz Azima was summoned by intelligence ministry officials on 4 September and told that she would be given her passport back and would be allowed to leave the country. Azima's passport was confiscated when she arrived in Iran last January with the aim of visiting her ailing mother.
Azima is nonetheless still charged with circulating anti-revolutionary propaganda and engaging in activities against state security because she works for Radio Farda, an independent station based in Prague.
Mbeki's ANC newsletter
However, nobody, and nothing whatsoever, will persuade us to change our conviction that our two Ministers of Health during our years of liberation, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, are genuine heroines of our people and our democratic revolution. Our movement is fully conscious of the fact that because the health portfolio in any government deals literally with matters of life and death, it is one of the most difficult, challenging and controversial in all governance systems.
We will, constantly and without equivocation, with no exceptions, combat the evil attempt to present our Ministers of Health, past and present, as legitimate targets of personal vilification by those who made a minimal contribution to our struggle for liberation, which cost the lives of many of our people, and have made and are, at best, making a paltry contribution to the complex task of building a non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous and peaceful South Africa.
Recent events have brought to the fore the obligation our movement faces, to choose between either ecstatic media adulation, or the defence of the truth as it understands this truth. The decisive factor in this regard has been whether we would fight for the health of our people or sacrifice this to gain media popularity. In obverse, we confront the challenge whether to enhance our media approval or persist on a scientifically based pursuit of the goal of health for all.
IFEX WEBSITE
Supreme Leader publicly condemns media; persecuted journalist allowed to leave country
Country/Topic: Iran
Date: 07 September 2007
Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Person(s): Parnaz Azima
(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is concerned about a verbal assault on the media delivered by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, during a speech to the Assembly of Experts on 5 September 2007.
"What is left of press freedom now in Iran?" the organisation asked. "Ayatollah Khamenei's comments have reinforced the climate of censorship that oppresses all journalists who do not toe the official line. The last time the Supreme Leader attacked the media, in the spring of 2000, a wave of repression was unleashed on pro-reform newspapers."
In his 5 September address, Khamenei accused the Iranian media of "malice" and of "collaborating with enemy media" and he condemned the way some newspapers hailed former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's election on 3 September to head the Assembly of Experts as a blow to the hardliners.
Khamenei's attack on the media came less than a week after the release of a joint statement signed by more than 150 journalists protesting against a decline in press freedom. They criticised Tehran prosecutor Said Mortazavi for summoning newspaper editors to ban them from referring to the case of three students who have been held for three months for allegedly publishing "anti-Islamic" articles. They also threatened to continue issuing joint statements if the situation did not change.
Meanwhile, Iranian-American journalist Parnaz Azima was summoned by intelligence ministry officials on 4 September and told that she would be given her passport back and would be allowed to leave the country. Azima's passport was confiscated when she arrived in Iran last January with the aim of visiting her ailing mother.
Azima is nonetheless still charged with circulating anti-revolutionary propaganda and engaging in activities against state security because she works for Radio Farda, an independent station based in Prague.
Mbeki's ANC newsletter
However, nobody, and nothing whatsoever, will persuade us to change our conviction that our two Ministers of Health during our years of liberation, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, are genuine heroines of our people and our democratic revolution. Our movement is fully conscious of the fact that because the health portfolio in any government deals literally with matters of life and death, it is one of the most difficult, challenging and controversial in all governance systems.
We will, constantly and without equivocation, with no exceptions, combat the evil attempt to present our Ministers of Health, past and present, as legitimate targets of personal vilification by those who made a minimal contribution to our struggle for liberation, which cost the lives of many of our people, and have made and are, at best, making a paltry contribution to the complex task of building a non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous and peaceful South Africa.
Recent events have brought to the fore the obligation our movement faces, to choose between either ecstatic media adulation, or the defence of the truth as it understands this truth. The decisive factor in this regard has been whether we would fight for the health of our people or sacrifice this to gain media popularity. In obverse, we confront the challenge whether to enhance our media approval or persist on a scientifically based pursuit of the goal of health for all.
WHO IS "RACING TO HELL" ?
Iran's foes racing to hell says Ahamadinejad
TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday lashed out at his Western foes which demand Iran halt its sensitive nuclear activities, saying they were "racing to hell".
"The Iranian people have climbed over difficult mountain passes on their path of progress. The enemies need to step aside from our path and give up their satanic ideas," he said, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.
"One or two countries are refusing to accept that Iran is now mastering nuclear technology ... Some countries are racing towards hell. But this makes us sad and, for the good of their people, we will resist." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, reiterated yesterday that Tehran was not seeking to manufacture atomic weapons.
TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday lashed out at his Western foes which demand Iran halt its sensitive nuclear activities, saying they were "racing to hell".
"The Iranian people have climbed over difficult mountain passes on their path of progress. The enemies need to step aside from our path and give up their satanic ideas," he said, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.
"One or two countries are refusing to accept that Iran is now mastering nuclear technology ... Some countries are racing towards hell. But this makes us sad and, for the good of their people, we will resist." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, reiterated yesterday that Tehran was not seeking to manufacture atomic weapons.
IS SANEF SANE ?
FIX THE FXI believes that Sanef should not be meeting either with government or The SABC. Now is the time for SANEF to tell both Mbeki and Zikalala to get lost. The press should not be bullied into even listening to their bankrupt agenda.
However if Sanef is insane enough is to meet them.... why not save travelling expenses and deal with "The ANC and The SABC" together in one session ?
The M&G
Following a debate on privacy and the public interest, Sanef's council agreed to a proposed seminar between editors and the government on the matter.
The council also supported a decision to meet with the South African Broadcasting Corporation to discuss a decision by the broadcaster's CEO, Dali Mpofu, to cut ties with Sanef.
However if Sanef is insane enough is to meet them.... why not save travelling expenses and deal with "The ANC and The SABC" together in one session ?
The M&G
Following a debate on privacy and the public interest, Sanef's council agreed to a proposed seminar between editors and the government on the matter.
The council also supported a decision to meet with the South African Broadcasting Corporation to discuss a decision by the broadcaster's CEO, Dali Mpofu, to cut ties with Sanef.
NA'EEM JEENAH'S BLOG
The following editorial clearly reveals that Na'eem Jeenah ( Director of The Freedom of Expression Institute) does not adopt an independent, fair and objective stance with regard to his work at The FXI.
He launches a personal attack on Geoff Sifrin ( editor of The South African Jewish Report), referring to him as "not a very trustworthy editor" and "less than ethical editor".
Clearly ,Jeenah would not have felt "a tad uncomfortable with the whole discussion" if he was not director of The Freedom of Expression Institute. However, riding two horses is not only uncomfortable...it is also extremely dangerous for freedom of expression in South Africa.
4 May 2007 (NA'EEM JEENAH'S BLOG)
Ethical journalist, less than ethical editor.
Na'eem Jeenah writes:
I felt a tad uncomfortable with the whole discussion. I was a speaker at the Al-Nakba Conference in Cape Town, commemorating the 59th anniversary of the Catastrophe visited on the Palestinian people in 1948.
I was to speak on the third and last day of the conference, on the “Founding myths of the State of Israel”. But, just after all the speakers had been introduced and just before we could start speaking, one of the organisers asked for the mike to raise an issue.
Apparently, a reporter of the South African Jewish Report was present in the audience and some conferees had complained to the organisers that they did not feel comfortable about this. The organiser who announced this asked the conference what their feeling was about what should be done.
Now before any accusations of “anti-Semitic” start flying around, let me just mention that there were a number of Jews that had been present at the conference from the first day. In fact, most also participated very strongly in the discussions and one Jewish person facilitated the crucial “Way Forward” session at the end (and did a damn good job of it too). So the complaint from some members of the audience had nothing to do with the fact that Moira Schneider was a Jew. Rather, they were concerned, as it emerged in the discussion, about what she would write and whether the organisers would have the right to reply if they felt that her report contained certain falsities.
I sat there somewhat bemused as I observed the debate. Being the Director of Operations of the Freedom of Expression Institute, I knew what my position was on the issue. But this was not my conference; I was just a speaker. So I watched and listened.
Fortunately, conference made the correct decision: it decided to allow Ms Schneider to stay in the conference and to do her report. This followed her assurance to the conference that she would not submit her report to the SAJR until she received a guarantee from the editor, Geoff Sifrin, that he would allow the conference organisers – the Friends of Al-Aqsa – the right to reply if they felt aggrieved by the report. Conferees accepted her “journalistic ethic”, believed she was sincere in her assurance, everyone seemed to relax and we were finally allowed to speak.
I began my presentation by informing the audience of my position in the FXI and telling them that if they had decided to ask the journalist to leave the conference, I would have issued a media statement the next morning condemning the conference for its stance. Fortunately, the right decision was made and I was spared the tediousness of writing yet another media release.
Everyone seemed happy, so this story should end here. I cannot allow it to, however. Accepting Ms Schneider’s assurance was the right thing to do. However, the conference was also implicitly accepting another assurance – that of the SAJR editor, who wasn’t even there to give it. If recent events are anything to go by, Mr Sifrin does not have the best reputation for giving people the right of reply.
At the end of last year, the SAJR ran an article which was a direct challenge to Minister Ronnie Kasrils, asking him to answer a number of questions. Sifrin had assured Kasrils that the paper would publish Kasrils response. However, when Kasrils submitted his reply, Sifrin refused to publish. Not only did Sifrin deny Kasrils the right of reply, he also went back on his word. Not a very trustworthy editor, in my opinion. I’m sure the Friends of Al-Aqsa are waiting to see what Schneider’s article will say. And then they will probably wait to see whether the editor will make good on his promise. People do change, sometimes.
For some background on the SAJR-Kasrils issue, see "On Jewish Report's censoring of Ronnie Kasrils"
Posted by na'eem jeenah at 04:46 1 comments Links to this post
Post a Comment On: na'eem jeenah blog
"Ethical journalist, less than ethical editor"
1 Comment - Show Original Post
THE DICTATOR / EMBITTERED CORRESPONDENT said...
Dear Na'eem Jeenah,
I quote your latest blog editorial (May 14th 2007) "ETHICAL JOURNALIST, LESS THAN ETHICAL EDITOR" http://naeemjeenah.blogspot.com/
"At the end of last year, the SAJR ran an article which was a direct challenge to Minister Ronnie Kasrils, asking him to answer a number of questions. Sifrin had assured Kasrils that the paper would publish Kasrils response. However, when Kasrils submitted his reply, Sifrin refused to publish. Not only did Sifrin deny Kasrils the right of reply, he also went back on his word. Not a very trustworthy editor, in my opinion. I’m sure the Friends of Al-Aqsa are waiting to see what Schneider’s article will say. And then they will probably wait to see whether the editor will make good on his promise. People do change, sometimes."
As you are well aware, the reason that Mr Sifrin refused Mr Kasril's right to reply was that his article was littered with assertions that The Israelis are Nazis. Some of The SAJR's readers are holocaust survivors and find such comments extremely abhorrent. They did not escape the gas chambers to have "their dignity violated" when reading their community newspaper.
Would a Muslim newspaper in South Africa be compelled to feature The Danish cartoons if an article had appeared denigrating them? I don't think so!
On April 26th 2007, in an email to me, you wrote the following:
I'm unsure whether I can agree that "most members of the Jewish
community" would feel their dignity violated by Minister Kasrils
comments, since I don't have any proper poll results available to
me. However, I have no doubt that a substantial section of the
Jewish community would feel that way. Similarly, a substantial
section of the Muslim community felt that way about the Danish
cartoons.
In the circumstances please, as a representative of The FXI, withdraw your comment that Mr Sifrin is "not a very trustworthy editor."
21 May, 2007 18:22
He launches a personal attack on Geoff Sifrin ( editor of The South African Jewish Report), referring to him as "not a very trustworthy editor" and "less than ethical editor".
Clearly ,Jeenah would not have felt "a tad uncomfortable with the whole discussion" if he was not director of The Freedom of Expression Institute. However, riding two horses is not only uncomfortable...it is also extremely dangerous for freedom of expression in South Africa.
4 May 2007 (NA'EEM JEENAH'S BLOG)
Ethical journalist, less than ethical editor.
Na'eem Jeenah writes:
I felt a tad uncomfortable with the whole discussion. I was a speaker at the Al-Nakba Conference in Cape Town, commemorating the 59th anniversary of the Catastrophe visited on the Palestinian people in 1948.
I was to speak on the third and last day of the conference, on the “Founding myths of the State of Israel”. But, just after all the speakers had been introduced and just before we could start speaking, one of the organisers asked for the mike to raise an issue.
Apparently, a reporter of the South African Jewish Report was present in the audience and some conferees had complained to the organisers that they did not feel comfortable about this. The organiser who announced this asked the conference what their feeling was about what should be done.
Now before any accusations of “anti-Semitic” start flying around, let me just mention that there were a number of Jews that had been present at the conference from the first day. In fact, most also participated very strongly in the discussions and one Jewish person facilitated the crucial “Way Forward” session at the end (and did a damn good job of it too). So the complaint from some members of the audience had nothing to do with the fact that Moira Schneider was a Jew. Rather, they were concerned, as it emerged in the discussion, about what she would write and whether the organisers would have the right to reply if they felt that her report contained certain falsities.
I sat there somewhat bemused as I observed the debate. Being the Director of Operations of the Freedom of Expression Institute, I knew what my position was on the issue. But this was not my conference; I was just a speaker. So I watched and listened.
Fortunately, conference made the correct decision: it decided to allow Ms Schneider to stay in the conference and to do her report. This followed her assurance to the conference that she would not submit her report to the SAJR until she received a guarantee from the editor, Geoff Sifrin, that he would allow the conference organisers – the Friends of Al-Aqsa – the right to reply if they felt aggrieved by the report. Conferees accepted her “journalistic ethic”, believed she was sincere in her assurance, everyone seemed to relax and we were finally allowed to speak.
I began my presentation by informing the audience of my position in the FXI and telling them that if they had decided to ask the journalist to leave the conference, I would have issued a media statement the next morning condemning the conference for its stance. Fortunately, the right decision was made and I was spared the tediousness of writing yet another media release.
Everyone seemed happy, so this story should end here. I cannot allow it to, however. Accepting Ms Schneider’s assurance was the right thing to do. However, the conference was also implicitly accepting another assurance – that of the SAJR editor, who wasn’t even there to give it. If recent events are anything to go by, Mr Sifrin does not have the best reputation for giving people the right of reply.
At the end of last year, the SAJR ran an article which was a direct challenge to Minister Ronnie Kasrils, asking him to answer a number of questions. Sifrin had assured Kasrils that the paper would publish Kasrils response. However, when Kasrils submitted his reply, Sifrin refused to publish. Not only did Sifrin deny Kasrils the right of reply, he also went back on his word. Not a very trustworthy editor, in my opinion. I’m sure the Friends of Al-Aqsa are waiting to see what Schneider’s article will say. And then they will probably wait to see whether the editor will make good on his promise. People do change, sometimes.
For some background on the SAJR-Kasrils issue, see "On Jewish Report's censoring of Ronnie Kasrils"
Posted by na'eem jeenah at 04:46 1 comments Links to this post
Post a Comment On: na'eem jeenah blog
"Ethical journalist, less than ethical editor"
1 Comment - Show Original Post
THE DICTATOR / EMBITTERED CORRESPONDENT said...
Dear Na'eem Jeenah,
I quote your latest blog editorial (May 14th 2007) "ETHICAL JOURNALIST, LESS THAN ETHICAL EDITOR" http://naeemjeenah.blogspot.com/
"At the end of last year, the SAJR ran an article which was a direct challenge to Minister Ronnie Kasrils, asking him to answer a number of questions. Sifrin had assured Kasrils that the paper would publish Kasrils response. However, when Kasrils submitted his reply, Sifrin refused to publish. Not only did Sifrin deny Kasrils the right of reply, he also went back on his word. Not a very trustworthy editor, in my opinion. I’m sure the Friends of Al-Aqsa are waiting to see what Schneider’s article will say. And then they will probably wait to see whether the editor will make good on his promise. People do change, sometimes."
As you are well aware, the reason that Mr Sifrin refused Mr Kasril's right to reply was that his article was littered with assertions that The Israelis are Nazis. Some of The SAJR's readers are holocaust survivors and find such comments extremely abhorrent. They did not escape the gas chambers to have "their dignity violated" when reading their community newspaper.
Would a Muslim newspaper in South Africa be compelled to feature The Danish cartoons if an article had appeared denigrating them? I don't think so!
On April 26th 2007, in an email to me, you wrote the following:
I'm unsure whether I can agree that "most members of the Jewish
community" would feel their dignity violated by Minister Kasrils
comments, since I don't have any proper poll results available to
me. However, I have no doubt that a substantial section of the
Jewish community would feel that way. Similarly, a substantial
section of the Muslim community felt that way about the Danish
cartoons.
In the circumstances please, as a representative of The FXI, withdraw your comment that Mr Sifrin is "not a very trustworthy editor."
21 May, 2007 18:22
LINKS ON NA'EEM JEENAH'S WEBSITE
The following "links" are on the Na'eem Jeenah ( Director of The Freedom of Expression Institute) website.
I think that it is quite evident where Mr Jeenah's interests lie.
It should be noted that there is no link to The IFEX website. Perhaps freedom of expression is not Mr Jeenah's prime concern?
LINKS
Na'eem Jeenah Home Page
Shamima Shaikh
Muslim Youth Movement
Palestine Solidarity Committee
Al-Qalam
Freedom of Expression Institute
HotCoals zine
Ihsan Blog
Electronic Intifada
Stop the Wall
Palestine Remembered
Electronic Iraq
ZNet
Muslim Women's League
Women Living Under Muslim Laws
South African History Online
History of Muslims in SA: A Chronology
Qur'an with Translations
I think that it is quite evident where Mr Jeenah's interests lie.
It should be noted that there is no link to The IFEX website. Perhaps freedom of expression is not Mr Jeenah's prime concern?
LINKS
Na'eem Jeenah Home Page
Shamima Shaikh
Muslim Youth Movement
Palestine Solidarity Committee
Al-Qalam
Freedom of Expression Institute
HotCoals zine
Ihsan Blog
Electronic Intifada
Stop the Wall
Palestine Remembered
Electronic Iraq
ZNet
Muslim Women's League
Women Living Under Muslim Laws
South African History Online
History of Muslims in SA: A Chronology
Qur'an with Translations
ZILLE AND ZIKALALA
The attached SABC "Zille" news item reveals how Zikalala's SABC reports a major news story.
If David Cameron (leader of the Conservatives) was arrested in The UK would The BBC website give the story such minimal coverage?
This report really is indicative of a public broadcaster that has lost its way:
SABC NEWS WEBSITE
Zille to appear in court tomorrow
"Police say Zille was arrested following an illegal gathering
September 10, 2007, 05:45
The Cape Town Mayor and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Helen Zille, will appear in the Mitchell's Plain Magistrates Court tomorrow. Police say Zille was earlier arrested following an illegal gathering. She was then released on a warning at the Mitchells Plain police station on the Cape Flats.
Zille faces a charge of violating the Gatherings Act.
Zille says she was taking part in a march against drug lords on the Cape Flats. She says police gave them three minutes to disperse, and then started arresting women and children, including her."
To add insult to injury, Zikalala follows the above with a further report that denigrates Zille:
W Cape police take offense to Zille’s comments
Zille was arrested in the Cape flats for participating in a march against drug lords
September 11, 2007, 22:15
Western Cape police say comments by Cape Town mayor, Helen Zille - that her arrest after a protest march against drug barons was politically motivated - are an insult to their profession.
Zille claimed at her court appearance in Mitchells Plain today that she had been arrested by police who had been strategically deployed. Station commissioner at Mitchells Plain, Jeremy Veary, says they feel offended.
“People can swear at us on the streets when we arrest them. They can do all sorts of things, but once you say something like this to us, it insults our professional integrity. I was appointed by the provincial commissioner… and chosen because of the particular skills. To even cast aspersion in why the police would deploy me there is an insult not only to me, but to the SA police service,” says Veary.
If David Cameron (leader of the Conservatives) was arrested in The UK would The BBC website give the story such minimal coverage?
This report really is indicative of a public broadcaster that has lost its way:
SABC NEWS WEBSITE
Zille to appear in court tomorrow
"Police say Zille was arrested following an illegal gathering
September 10, 2007, 05:45
The Cape Town Mayor and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Helen Zille, will appear in the Mitchell's Plain Magistrates Court tomorrow. Police say Zille was earlier arrested following an illegal gathering. She was then released on a warning at the Mitchells Plain police station on the Cape Flats.
Zille faces a charge of violating the Gatherings Act.
Zille says she was taking part in a march against drug lords on the Cape Flats. She says police gave them three minutes to disperse, and then started arresting women and children, including her."
To add insult to injury, Zikalala follows the above with a further report that denigrates Zille:
W Cape police take offense to Zille’s comments
Zille was arrested in the Cape flats for participating in a march against drug lords
September 11, 2007, 22:15
Western Cape police say comments by Cape Town mayor, Helen Zille - that her arrest after a protest march against drug barons was politically motivated - are an insult to their profession.
Zille claimed at her court appearance in Mitchells Plain today that she had been arrested by police who had been strategically deployed. Station commissioner at Mitchells Plain, Jeremy Veary, says they feel offended.
“People can swear at us on the streets when we arrest them. They can do all sorts of things, but once you say something like this to us, it insults our professional integrity. I was appointed by the provincial commissioner… and chosen because of the particular skills. To even cast aspersion in why the police would deploy me there is an insult not only to me, but to the SA police service,” says Veary.
"IDENTIFY THE ENEMY AND DEFEAT IT"
Snuki Who? (M&G)
Matebello Motloung
01 December 2006
Political analyst, professor Sipho Seepe, says Zikalala is known to "work out" those who dare to oppose him.
"Snuki is a reflection of exactly what is wrong within the ANC. His intolerance of different views has become the prevailing culture within the organisation since post 1994," says Seepe.
"It mainly has to do with the training and tradition from the ANC. It's the military way of thinking and the language of everyone who has been deployed - identify the enemy and defeat it."
Matebello Motloung
01 December 2006
Political analyst, professor Sipho Seepe, says Zikalala is known to "work out" those who dare to oppose him.
"Snuki is a reflection of exactly what is wrong within the ANC. His intolerance of different views has become the prevailing culture within the organisation since post 1994," says Seepe.
"It mainly has to do with the training and tradition from the ANC. It's the military way of thinking and the language of everyone who has been deployed - identify the enemy and defeat it."
NA'EEM JEENAH: "MUSLIM ACTIVIST"
Is it possible that Na'eem Jeenah's portfolios outside of The Freedom of Expression Institute might have impinged on his ability to be objective, fair and independent in his role as director of The Freedom of Expression Institute?
The following is from WIKIPEDIA :
Jeenah currently works for the Freedom of Expression Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has also taught Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Jeenah was born in the coastal city of Durban on the 8 August 1965. Under South Africa's Apartheid Population Registration Act he was classified "Indian". He cut his political in the 1980s when, while he was still in secondary school, the country erupted into almost a decade of nationwide student protests, followed by widespread resistance in trade unions and communities - especially in the African "townships". This was the period when the liberation movement succeeded in making South Africa "ungovernable".
After school, Jeenah entered the highly-politicized University of Natal Black Section, the medical school (only for Black students) that was attached to the White University of Natal. Through his activities with the Muslim Students Association of South Africa and the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa, he was thrust into the political limelight as these organizations became increasingly involved in the anti-Apartheid struggle. His activism, however, was mostly inspired by Islam and was prosecuted through Muslim organizations.
After spending two years at the Medical School and a year at the University of Durban-Westville, Jeenah dropped out of university to find a job and get married. He married Shamima Shaikh, who he met for the first time when the couple was arrested during a consumer boycott campaign. Shaikh became one of South Africa's most well-known Islamic feminists. She died in January 1998, leaving Jeenah with two sons.
Jeenah rose in the ranks of the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa to become its national General Secretary and, later, its president. He was also, for a period, the editor of the Movement's mouthpiece newspaper, Al-Qalam. He steered the movement in a way that increased its political activism during the anti-Apartheid struggle. He also, along with Shaikh and others, founded the Muslim Youth Movement Gender Desk, the foremost organization of Islamic feminism in South Africa. It was also during the 1980s that Jeenah helped his organization and the Muslim community in South Africa to get involved in inter-faith activities - particularly through the South African chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. Working with the latter, he was also a member of the drafting committee of a landmark document produced during South Africa's constitution-drafting period called the Declaration on Religious Rights and Responsibilities.
In 1994, on the eve of South Africa's first democratic elections, Jeenah's family joined those in South Africa who had sacrificed family members for the struggle: his brother, Mohseen Jeenah, a student leader and anti-Apartheid activist, was gunned down in the early hours of the morning of the 17th January by Apartheid police.
Jeenah and Shaikh undertook the hajj pilgrimage in 1997, while Shaikh was already suffering from the effects of breast cancer, which had affected her severely. On the couple's return the authored a book about their pilgrimage called Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj. Soon after, they founded the Johannesburg-based Muslim community radio station called The Voice, which exposed radical and progressive Muslim voices to the Muslim community and became a flagship for women's rights, inter-religious tolerance and anti-imperialist rhetoric. It also gave a voice to refugee communities and social movements. Shaikh died just four months after the station went on air.
Jeenah's career has been a checkered one, spanning the NGO sector, academia, religious organizations and journalism. But it is as a progressive Muslim activist and an international solidarity activist that he has made his mark.
Jeenah currently holds the position of Director: Operations at the Freedom of Expression Institute. He is also the Coordinator of a progressive Johannesburg mosque, Masjidul Islam, a steering committee member of an inter-religious organization focusing on women's issues called The Other Voices, a spokesperson for South Africa's Palestine Solidarity Committee and Anti-War Coalition and is a member of the International Coordinating Network for Palestine. He is often interviewed as an expert by various media on issues related to Islam or the Muslim world, Muslims in South Africa, the Middle East, Islamic Feminisms, political Islam, freedom of expression and various other issues. An experienced journalist, he writes for a number of publications and reports for a network of radio stations in the US. He is also a monthly columnist for the South African newspaper Al-Qalam.
Jeenah has various Islamic qualifications through international courses completed at different universities in the Muslim world. He has organized and addressed numerous meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences, and training programs on various issues related to Islam, South Africa, the Middle East, youth development, journalism, information technology and various other issues – in South Africa and internationally. He has co-authored a book and has published articles and papers in journals, magazines, newsletters, newspapers and other publications. These have ranged from news pieces to analyses and opinion pieces.
The following is from WIKIPEDIA :
Jeenah currently works for the Freedom of Expression Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has also taught Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Jeenah was born in the coastal city of Durban on the 8 August 1965. Under South Africa's Apartheid Population Registration Act he was classified "Indian". He cut his political in the 1980s when, while he was still in secondary school, the country erupted into almost a decade of nationwide student protests, followed by widespread resistance in trade unions and communities - especially in the African "townships". This was the period when the liberation movement succeeded in making South Africa "ungovernable".
After school, Jeenah entered the highly-politicized University of Natal Black Section, the medical school (only for Black students) that was attached to the White University of Natal. Through his activities with the Muslim Students Association of South Africa and the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa, he was thrust into the political limelight as these organizations became increasingly involved in the anti-Apartheid struggle. His activism, however, was mostly inspired by Islam and was prosecuted through Muslim organizations.
After spending two years at the Medical School and a year at the University of Durban-Westville, Jeenah dropped out of university to find a job and get married. He married Shamima Shaikh, who he met for the first time when the couple was arrested during a consumer boycott campaign. Shaikh became one of South Africa's most well-known Islamic feminists. She died in January 1998, leaving Jeenah with two sons.
Jeenah rose in the ranks of the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa to become its national General Secretary and, later, its president. He was also, for a period, the editor of the Movement's mouthpiece newspaper, Al-Qalam. He steered the movement in a way that increased its political activism during the anti-Apartheid struggle. He also, along with Shaikh and others, founded the Muslim Youth Movement Gender Desk, the foremost organization of Islamic feminism in South Africa. It was also during the 1980s that Jeenah helped his organization and the Muslim community in South Africa to get involved in inter-faith activities - particularly through the South African chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. Working with the latter, he was also a member of the drafting committee of a landmark document produced during South Africa's constitution-drafting period called the Declaration on Religious Rights and Responsibilities.
In 1994, on the eve of South Africa's first democratic elections, Jeenah's family joined those in South Africa who had sacrificed family members for the struggle: his brother, Mohseen Jeenah, a student leader and anti-Apartheid activist, was gunned down in the early hours of the morning of the 17th January by Apartheid police.
Jeenah and Shaikh undertook the hajj pilgrimage in 1997, while Shaikh was already suffering from the effects of breast cancer, which had affected her severely. On the couple's return the authored a book about their pilgrimage called Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj. Soon after, they founded the Johannesburg-based Muslim community radio station called The Voice, which exposed radical and progressive Muslim voices to the Muslim community and became a flagship for women's rights, inter-religious tolerance and anti-imperialist rhetoric. It also gave a voice to refugee communities and social movements. Shaikh died just four months after the station went on air.
Jeenah's career has been a checkered one, spanning the NGO sector, academia, religious organizations and journalism. But it is as a progressive Muslim activist and an international solidarity activist that he has made his mark.
Jeenah currently holds the position of Director: Operations at the Freedom of Expression Institute. He is also the Coordinator of a progressive Johannesburg mosque, Masjidul Islam, a steering committee member of an inter-religious organization focusing on women's issues called The Other Voices, a spokesperson for South Africa's Palestine Solidarity Committee and Anti-War Coalition and is a member of the International Coordinating Network for Palestine. He is often interviewed as an expert by various media on issues related to Islam or the Muslim world, Muslims in South Africa, the Middle East, Islamic Feminisms, political Islam, freedom of expression and various other issues. An experienced journalist, he writes for a number of publications and reports for a network of radio stations in the US. He is also a monthly columnist for the South African newspaper Al-Qalam.
Jeenah has various Islamic qualifications through international courses completed at different universities in the Muslim world. He has organized and addressed numerous meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences, and training programs on various issues related to Islam, South Africa, the Middle East, youth development, journalism, information technology and various other issues – in South Africa and internationally. He has co-authored a book and has published articles and papers in journals, magazines, newsletters, newspapers and other publications. These have ranged from news pieces to analyses and opinion pieces.
PROF ADAM HABIB AND THE SABC
The Freedom of Expression Institute has nominated Prof Adam Habib for The SABC board.
Doesn't Prof Habib want South Africa at The UN to ally itself more closely with China and Russia ?
The regimes in China and Russia are not known for advocating freedom of expression. Would a supporter of these regimes really be an ideal candidate for the SABC board?
Prof Habib was denied entry to the United States...a badge of honour to be worn at The SABC's board meetings?
Would Prof Habib's views on the direction of South Africa's foreign policy be much different from Snuki Zikalala's?
Hasn't Prof Habib recently been influential in setting the agenda for South Africa's dismal performance on The UN's security council? How ironic that The Freedom of Expression Institute is now punting his SABC board nomination!
Interesting also to contemplate Prof Habib's comments about Mbeki's Zim stance in July 2006. He said " I think South Africa is taking a much harder stance." Clearly, it wasn't!
July 20 2006 at 01:05AM
Professor Adam Habib from the Human Sciences Research Council told the
SABC conditions exist for South Africa to play a leading role in
facilitating negotiations between Zimbabwean parties and the international
community.
"There is greater pressure. I think the economic crisis is bigger. I
think South Africa is taking a more harder stance, I think support
continentally is far bigger in our favour than it has been before, but I
really think the big debate is 2008... when presidential elections are
scheduled."
Doesn't Prof Habib want South Africa at The UN to ally itself more closely with China and Russia ?
The regimes in China and Russia are not known for advocating freedom of expression. Would a supporter of these regimes really be an ideal candidate for the SABC board?
Prof Habib was denied entry to the United States...a badge of honour to be worn at The SABC's board meetings?
Would Prof Habib's views on the direction of South Africa's foreign policy be much different from Snuki Zikalala's?
Hasn't Prof Habib recently been influential in setting the agenda for South Africa's dismal performance on The UN's security council? How ironic that The Freedom of Expression Institute is now punting his SABC board nomination!
Interesting also to contemplate Prof Habib's comments about Mbeki's Zim stance in July 2006. He said " I think South Africa is taking a much harder stance." Clearly, it wasn't!
July 20 2006 at 01:05AM
Professor Adam Habib from the Human Sciences Research Council told the
SABC conditions exist for South Africa to play a leading role in
facilitating negotiations between Zimbabwean parties and the international
community.
"There is greater pressure. I think the economic crisis is bigger. I
think South Africa is taking a more harder stance, I think support
continentally is far bigger in our favour than it has been before, but I
really think the big debate is 2008... when presidential elections are
scheduled."
Sunday, September 9, 2007
FIX THE FXI' S "SHORT ANALYSIS"
"SABC board candidates were asked for a short analysis of the problems at the SABC and how they would rebuild the reputation of the public broadcaster."
Is this "analysis" short enough?....... "SACK SNUKI.NO ANC AT THE SABC!"
Btw, it seems that Vavi might agree although I don't think that Cosatu is actually campaigning for Snuki's dismissal:
09 September 2007 11:11 (M&G)
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelenzima
Vavi on Saturday warned that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was "showing clear signs" of becoming a broadcaster of the state.
In a speech to the Creative Workers' Union of South Africa (CWUSA) on Saturday, Vavi said: "The SABC is showing clear signs of returning to its previous role as a broadcaster for the state not the public.
"Increasingly our government and the SABC talk about controlling and limiting what the public broadcaster can or should convey to our people."
Is this "analysis" short enough?....... "SACK SNUKI.NO ANC AT THE SABC!"
Btw, it seems that Vavi might agree although I don't think that Cosatu is actually campaigning for Snuki's dismissal:
09 September 2007 11:11 (M&G)
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelenzima
Vavi on Saturday warned that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was "showing clear signs" of becoming a broadcaster of the state.
In a speech to the Creative Workers' Union of South Africa (CWUSA) on Saturday, Vavi said: "The SABC is showing clear signs of returning to its previous role as a broadcaster for the state not the public.
"Increasingly our government and the SABC talk about controlling and limiting what the public broadcaster can or should convey to our people."
THE NEW SABC BOARD
So...the next SABC board is going to be "pro freedom of expression" ?
And candidates were asked how they would "rebuild the reputation" of The SABC ? This is the sort of "western / racist / Blairist / Bushist / pro-apartheid / anti-democratic etc" language that really upsets The Blacklisted Dictator.
As if Mpofu and Zikalala had not made The SABC the envy of Mugabe's world.
List of SABC board candidates is ready (THE TIMES WEBSITE)
Published:Sep 09, 2007
Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications will submit its recommended list of candidates for the new SABC board next week.
The committee members have interviewed 37 candidates on a variety of issues, including their stance on press freedom. Deliberations on the final list of 12 will start on Tuesday, be presented to Parliament on Thursday and sent to President Thabo Mbeki for approval thereafter.
Among the people interviewed are Professor Adam Habib of the Human Sciences Research Council, journalist Zubeida Jaffer, current board member Christine Qunta, former SABC radio news head Pippa Green and former Speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala .
Communications portfolio committee chairman Godfrey Oliphant said the board members “would be chosen for being pro-press freedom and pro- freedom of expression, the values important in a democracy”.
Candidates were asked for a short analysis of the problems at the SABC and how they would rebuild the reputation of the public broadcaster.
And candidates were asked how they would "rebuild the reputation" of The SABC ? This is the sort of "western / racist / Blairist / Bushist / pro-apartheid / anti-democratic etc" language that really upsets The Blacklisted Dictator.
As if Mpofu and Zikalala had not made The SABC the envy of Mugabe's world.
List of SABC board candidates is ready (THE TIMES WEBSITE)
Published:Sep 09, 2007
Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications will submit its recommended list of candidates for the new SABC board next week.
The committee members have interviewed 37 candidates on a variety of issues, including their stance on press freedom. Deliberations on the final list of 12 will start on Tuesday, be presented to Parliament on Thursday and sent to President Thabo Mbeki for approval thereafter.
Among the people interviewed are Professor Adam Habib of the Human Sciences Research Council, journalist Zubeida Jaffer, current board member Christine Qunta, former SABC radio news head Pippa Green and former Speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala .
Communications portfolio committee chairman Godfrey Oliphant said the board members “would be chosen for being pro-press freedom and pro- freedom of expression, the values important in a democracy”.
Candidates were asked for a short analysis of the problems at the SABC and how they would rebuild the reputation of the public broadcaster.
IS THE SABC SPREADING ANTI-MUGABE LIES ?
The SABC reports that "Zimbabwe faces serious bread shortages." Surely Zikalala and Mbeki should realize that this is just "western / racist / Blairist" propaganda ?
Do they really think that Mugabe and the thugs that keep him in power are not having toast and marmalade for breakfast ??
And if the masses in Zimbabwe are really starving why doesn't Mbeki send cake ?
"Zimbabwe faces serious bread shortages" (SABC NEWS WEBSITE)
September 07, 2007, 06:15
Zimbabwe winter wheat production has dropped significantly owing to power outages, and now the country's leading bread producer, Lobels Bread, has only until today's supply of bread.
Zimbabwe, facing acute foreign exchange problems has failed to import about 36 000 tons of what from neighboring Mozambique. Lobels Bread management announced it has scaled down its operations after exhausting its reserves, which had about 4000 tons.
Power utility Zesa introduced power cuts in most residential areas throughout winter and diverted power to help commercial farmers raise maximum production. But most farmers, including Commercial Farmers Union President Doug Free, ended up destroying huge hectares of wheat owing to power outages which destroyed the quality of wheat.
Looming food crisis
Lobels has already shut down its factory in the city of Bulawayo, and is only operating one unit out of six in the capital, Harare. So far, close to 2000 employees have been sent on leave after the company scaled down its operations.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has received about $35 million to avert what it says is a looming food crisis in the southern parts of Zimbabwe where a targeted four million people will receive humanitarian assistance in the coming months.
Diplomats here have urged Harare to revisit its policies and restore confidence in the market after it slashed prices or basic food commodities creating shortages. Most supermarkets in Harare are emptying fast, with no bread, meat, cooking oil, and milk on the shelves.
Do they really think that Mugabe and the thugs that keep him in power are not having toast and marmalade for breakfast ??
And if the masses in Zimbabwe are really starving why doesn't Mbeki send cake ?
"Zimbabwe faces serious bread shortages" (SABC NEWS WEBSITE)
September 07, 2007, 06:15
Zimbabwe winter wheat production has dropped significantly owing to power outages, and now the country's leading bread producer, Lobels Bread, has only until today's supply of bread.
Zimbabwe, facing acute foreign exchange problems has failed to import about 36 000 tons of what from neighboring Mozambique. Lobels Bread management announced it has scaled down its operations after exhausting its reserves, which had about 4000 tons.
Power utility Zesa introduced power cuts in most residential areas throughout winter and diverted power to help commercial farmers raise maximum production. But most farmers, including Commercial Farmers Union President Doug Free, ended up destroying huge hectares of wheat owing to power outages which destroyed the quality of wheat.
Looming food crisis
Lobels has already shut down its factory in the city of Bulawayo, and is only operating one unit out of six in the capital, Harare. So far, close to 2000 employees have been sent on leave after the company scaled down its operations.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has received about $35 million to avert what it says is a looming food crisis in the southern parts of Zimbabwe where a targeted four million people will receive humanitarian assistance in the coming months.
Diplomats here have urged Harare to revisit its policies and restore confidence in the market after it slashed prices or basic food commodities creating shortages. Most supermarkets in Harare are emptying fast, with no bread, meat, cooking oil, and milk on the shelves.
PHONE THE PHILOSOPHY DEPT !
From: aposner
Subject: PHONE THE PHILOSOPHY DEPT!
Date: 09 September 2007 10:41:29 AM
To: jduncan@fxi.org.za
Dear Jane Duncan,
In your role as exec director of The Freedom of Expression Institute, you should immediately distance The FXI from the "logic" of The Media Review Network.
When I wrote to The Citizen stating that Na'eem Jeenah's position as spokesperson for The Palestinian Solidarity Committee compromised his work at The Freedom of Expression institute, Iqbal Jassat from the Media Review Network immediately replied with the attached email.
Because FIX THE FXI has questioned Jeenah's independence, Jassat argues that it wants to "go back to the tyranny of the past". Is this the level of The FXI's "logic"? If it is perhaps you and Na'eem Jeenah would benefit form a first year philosophy course at Wits? You should phone the dept for a prospectus!
viva etc
blacklisted etc.
Activist`s ties sway FXI stance ( The Citizen Aug 7th)
•WIKIPEDIA makes it quite clear that Na`eem Jeenah is essentially an Islamic activist. The question arises whether this spokesman for the Palestine Solidarity Committee should be the director of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI). Likewise, would it be fair if someone at SA Jewish Board of Deputies or SA Zionist Federation was running the FXI? It is evident Na`eem Jeenah`s allegiances outside of the FXI are influencing the FXI`s stance toward the SABC and the SAJBD. ANTHONY POSNER by e-mail
STRANGE LOGIC OVER ACTIVIST AT FXI (The Citizen Aug 9th)
ANTHONY Posner complains about Na’eem Jeenah’s association with the Freedom of Expression Institute (The Citizen, August 7).
Posner suspects that Jeenah’s profile as an “Islamic activist” is problematic for the SA Jewish Board of Deputies. What a strange sense of logic!
It’s no different from the weak, defeatist approach adopted by failed apologists of South Africa’s racist past, who constantly clamoured against those seeking to question an ideology of hate.
Many respected academics, journalists and others were hounded and persecuted as a consequence of intolerance displayed by apartheid-era agents.
Does Posner desire that his intolerance of critics of Israeli apartheid result in barring Jeenah’s links with the FXI?
If so, he certainly cherishes a foolish desire to turn SA’s momentous strides back to the tyranny of the past.
IQBAL JASSAT
Media Review Network
Subject: PHONE THE PHILOSOPHY DEPT!
Date: 09 September 2007 10:41:29 AM
To: jduncan@fxi.org.za
Dear Jane Duncan,
In your role as exec director of The Freedom of Expression Institute, you should immediately distance The FXI from the "logic" of The Media Review Network.
When I wrote to The Citizen stating that Na'eem Jeenah's position as spokesperson for The Palestinian Solidarity Committee compromised his work at The Freedom of Expression institute, Iqbal Jassat from the Media Review Network immediately replied with the attached email.
Because FIX THE FXI has questioned Jeenah's independence, Jassat argues that it wants to "go back to the tyranny of the past". Is this the level of The FXI's "logic"? If it is perhaps you and Na'eem Jeenah would benefit form a first year philosophy course at Wits? You should phone the dept for a prospectus!
viva etc
blacklisted etc.
Activist`s ties sway FXI stance ( The Citizen Aug 7th)
•WIKIPEDIA makes it quite clear that Na`eem Jeenah is essentially an Islamic activist. The question arises whether this spokesman for the Palestine Solidarity Committee should be the director of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI). Likewise, would it be fair if someone at SA Jewish Board of Deputies or SA Zionist Federation was running the FXI? It is evident Na`eem Jeenah`s allegiances outside of the FXI are influencing the FXI`s stance toward the SABC and the SAJBD. ANTHONY POSNER by e-mail
STRANGE LOGIC OVER ACTIVIST AT FXI (The Citizen Aug 9th)
ANTHONY Posner complains about Na’eem Jeenah’s association with the Freedom of Expression Institute (The Citizen, August 7).
Posner suspects that Jeenah’s profile as an “Islamic activist” is problematic for the SA Jewish Board of Deputies. What a strange sense of logic!
It’s no different from the weak, defeatist approach adopted by failed apologists of South Africa’s racist past, who constantly clamoured against those seeking to question an ideology of hate.
Many respected academics, journalists and others were hounded and persecuted as a consequence of intolerance displayed by apartheid-era agents.
Does Posner desire that his intolerance of critics of Israeli apartheid result in barring Jeenah’s links with the FXI?
If so, he certainly cherishes a foolish desire to turn SA’s momentous strides back to the tyranny of the past.
IQBAL JASSAT
Media Review Network
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