Internationalist Manifesto Against the War 07:38 Apr 15 24 comments War and Anarchists: Anti-Authoritarian Perspectives in Ukraine 19:25 Feb 22 12 comments We condemn the Turkish state attack and invasion of the Iraqi Kurdistan 07:12 Jun 26 4 comments A Dirty Military Incursion into Venezuela 23:20 May 11 7 comments US refusal to withdraw troops from Iraq is a breach of international law 22:27 Feb 08 2 comments more >> |
Recent articles by Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front
Combatendo e Derrotando o Racismo 1 comments [Appel à solidarité] Les « Quatre de Boiketlong » et la criminalisatio... 0 comments [Appello di solidarietà] I ‘4 di Boiketlong’ e la criminalizzazione de... 1 comments Recent Articles about Southern Africa Imperialism / WarLe vieux et le Coup d’État Dec 06 17 The Old Man and the Coup Dec 01 17 Swallowed by Mzansi: South Africa’s ruling class in Africa Jun 10 11 Don’t Kill or be Killed for Free Education
southern africa |
imperialism / war |
press release
Friday February 06, 2009 22:02 by Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front - ZACF zacf at zabalaza dot net
Statement distributed by ZACF members and progressive students at the Wits University Orientation Week in response to the presence of the South African National Defence Force and attempts by it to recruit students to the military by offering to pay for their education. Don’t Kill or be Killed for Free EducationWhat is worse than the mere presence of the Defence Force in institutions of higher learning - despicable and reminiscent of apartheid as it is - is the fact that it is offering to pay for students university fees, in full, if they join the military. We condemn Wits' invitation for SANDF to be on campus with the weak excuse that students would have the chance to get additional bursaries, instead of offering free education in the first place. It is clear that Wits is only concerned with making a profit out of its students at all costs, even if it means sending them off to possible death in the DRC or Darfur. That the SANDF is offering to pay student fees only serves to strengthen our argument that it is, as has always been, the poor and working class who are used as pawns in the imperialist and sub-imperialist wars of the bosses and politicians. The state, and indeed its armed wing, is nothing but a tool of class domination. The South African state is using the prospects of so-called free education, which for some will no doubt be paid for in blood, to lure innocent youth, particularly from the poor and working classes, to defend its sub-imperialist interests on the continent, and those of the capitalists and politicians. It is apparent that most people who can easily afford an education at Wits or other universities, where these scoundrels are no doubt also trying to recruit youngsters to their deaths, would not be interested in enrolling in the military. It is therefore to the sons and daughters of the poor and working poor that the military looks to fill its bloody ranks - those that cannot afford their studies, have to take out big student loans and are heavily indebted to banks, money-lenders and loan-sharks. Those that, even with a university degree, see an uncertain future for themselves in light of economic crises and growing unemployment. The degrading circumstance in which soldiers are forced to live, submitting themselves to humiliation and dehumanisation at the will of their superiors is known to us. We have all read the stories of soldiers who, unable or unwilling to submit themselves to racist and authoritarian degradation any longer, have turned their weapons on their fellow soldiers and on themselves. We also know that because of the high unemployment rate in South Africa, the army is often the only way to survive for many poor people. We do not condemn poor people for becoming soldiers as it is just another job for them. We condemn the very system we live in that forces people to this decision - the capitalist system (that survives on unemployment) and the state (that needs an army to uphold its power). We do not know who the SANDF is targeting for recruitment - educated and wealthier people for the officer levels, or working class students for lower-ranking jobs. We know that many poorer people join the army because it provides an opportunity to learn a skill or trade which may help them to find employment after they leave. We appeal to these people, and all people of good conscience to organise, on campus and in their communities, to demand the free quality education that we have been promised. Nobody should have to make the decision of joining the army, preparing themselves to kill or be killed, for an education. We must demand free quality education for all, not just those who join the army. The first step of such a campaign must be to chase the SANDF off the campuses, and from there to form students’ and community assemblies to discuss how to build a strong movement for free quality education and against war and militarism. For the complete demilitarisation of society! |
Front pageSupport Sudanese anarchists in exile Joint Statement of European Anarchist Organizations International anarchist call for solidarity: Earthquake in Turkey, Syria and Kurdistan Elements of Anarchist Theory and Strategy 19 de Julio: Cuando el pueblo se levanta, escribe la historia International anarchist solidarity against Turkish state repression Declaración Anarquista Internacional por el Primero de Mayo, 2022 Le vieux monde opprime les femmes et les minorités de genre. Leur force le détruira ! Against Militarism and War: For self-organised struggle and social revolution Declaração anarquista internacional sobre a pandemia da Covid-19 Anarchist Theory and History in Global Perspective Capitalism, Anti-Capitalism and Popular Organisation [Booklet] Reflexiones sobre la situación de Afganistán South Africa: Historic rupture or warring brothers again? Death or Renewal: Is the Climate Crisis the Final Crisis? Gleichheit und Freiheit stehen nicht zur Debatte! Contre la guerre au Kurdistan irakien, contre la traîtrise du PDK Meurtre de Clément Méric : l’enjeu politique du procès en appel |