Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has affirmed its support for South Africa’s efforts at bringing about peaceful resolutions to the conflicts afflicting Africa and the world.
Committee Chairperson Mr Tiisetso Magama said they support the calls by the African Union and attempts through its High Level Panel to broker a ceasefire by Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gadaffi and the rebels to create the space for a political solution to be pursued.
“We remain extremely concerned by the continued violence which threatens to destroy Libya and the traumatic impact it has on the civilian population, in particular women and children,” said Magama.
Furthermore, the committee also expressed its principled support for the people of North Africa and the Middle East for their calls for political reforms and democratisation. “We call on the governments of Yemen, Bahrain, Syria and Saudi Arabia to immediately stop the brutal suppression of the popular demands of their people,” said the Chairperson.
Magama said the committee viewed these uprisings as a natural consequence of the suppression and fear experienced by a people and are inextricably linked to the struggles of the People of Western Sahara and Palestine for the rights to self-determination and self-government.
The committee also calls on the Moroccan and Israeli governments to take progressive steps towards the realisation of the fundamental human rights of their country’s people.
“The suppression by both these states of the legitimate ideals and aspirations of the Palestinians and Saharawi is not sustainable and is an affront to human dignity and universal human rights. These repressive regimes must realise that the tide of freedom and self-determination is irreversible,” said Magama
He added that the committee will remain focussed on these issues and actively campaign for the realisation of these goals.
Magama further said the committee has noted with concern the recent developments in Swalizand. However, he said they will discuss the situation in the country in detail in the coming weeks.
Enquiries:
Modise Kabeli
Tel: 021 403 3403
Cell: 082 077 4682
E-mail: mkabeli@parliament.gov.za
Source: The Presidency
