Police brutality towards visiting poets at Woordfees
Statement
March 18, 2008
Poetry International Web (South Africa) deplores the recent raids at the University of Stellenbosch, where patrons, including Belgian poet Dirk van Bastelaere and his wife, and Tommy Wieringa from the Netherlands, were assaulted by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
We stand with South African writers, Breyten Breytenbach and Rachelle Greeff in condemning the treatment our literary colleagues received at the hands of the police.
The raid, which was carried out with shocking disregard for civil rights, was caught on video. Wieringa says the police gave no explanation during the raid about their reasons.
Regrettably, this is not an isolated event; SAPS brutality appears to be increasing, particularly in poorer sectors of society. South Africa might be a democracy, but the country is still far from free.
We acknowledge that while we have the right to protest this action, there are writers in other countries who do not enjoy even this basic liberty. It is a right we cherish and wish to protect.
The raid, which was carried out with shocking disregard for civil rights, was caught on video. Wieringa says the police gave no explanation during the raid about their reasons.
Regrettably, this is not an isolated event; SAPS brutality appears to be increasing, particularly in poorer sectors of society. South Africa might be a democracy, but the country is still far from free.
We acknowledge that while we have the right to protest this action, there are writers in other countries who do not enjoy even this basic liberty. It is a right we cherish and wish to protect.
Charl-Pierre Naude
Pravasan Pillay
Vonani Bila
Danie Marais
Liesl Jobson
Pravasan Pillay
Vonani Bila
Danie Marais
Liesl Jobson
