Away with US Imperialism demanded the statement delivered by South African Communist Party Western Cape Provincial Chairperson, Leonard Ramatlakane and a delegation from the SACP, COSATU and other unions to the United States Embassy.
We the undersigned organisations, on behalf of our membership and the communities we represent and the South African public at large, wish to relay the following message to the President of the USA on his controversial visit to our country.
We reject the US government's recent legislation for the structural adjustment of our continent in the form of the cynically named "Africa Growth and Opportunity Act" It is not about real growth for Africa but about further opportunities for US companies. This will not bring development and will rob us of our hard won political sovereignty South Africa supports real sovereignty for Africa, not neo-imperialism.
This self-serving us legislation seeks to force our countries to follow the path of neo-liberal madness, - implement radical free trade policies cutting across our own plans - private our national assets and call these off to US companies and give special tax and other dispensations to investors that will undermine our own national investments programmes and create virtual US enclaves in our country.
Furthermore
We reject the continued US blockade of Cuba and demand that this blockade BE lifted immediately. We still similarly not be dictated to by the US government in terms of who we trade with and in our commitment to a world of peace, equality and social progress.
We reject the continued US domination of the world and it's willingness to turn a blind eye or remain passive with respect to human rights abuses by regimes that the US considers useful to its own interests
And we reject the fostering of violence and disorder whether in Palestine/Israel, Libya .Iraq, Cuba or anywhere else in the world. We demand just solutions to US promoted or instigated conflicts.
The US should show its commitment to real development in Africa and the rest of the impoverished countries of the world by ensuring the debt of these countries is cancelled.
The US AS self appointed global policeman policies the world in it's own national economic and global strategic interests and those of it's trans-national companies.
It's unfortunate that in this era of increasing human interactions and interdependence, the people of the US and South Africa can not be allowed to develop mutually beneficial relationships in trade and commerce, cultural exchange co-operation and political solidarity.
Issued by: SACP,FAWU,CAWU,COSATU,SASCO