11 November 2004
The SACP sends its revolutionary condolences to the family, friends of Comrade Yasser Arafat and all the Palistinian people, on the passing away of this heroic leader. The untimely passing away of this revolutionary icon of our time saddens the people of South Africa and the South African Communist Party. Arafat will always occupy a very special place in the hearts of many in this world especially the poor and the colonised.
History will record the role that the Palistian Liberation Organisation [PLO] played under his leadership in support of the poor and oppressed people of South Africa in our struggle against the apartheid regime. We shared trenches and pain; we shared revolutionary values and space.
Ours is not to praise Arafat as a person but as a committed leader of the oppressed people of Palestine, his vision for a free Palestine and the Middle East should and will remain the main task facing the current PLO Leadership. The SACP lowers its flag and banners in honour of this Revolutionary leader of the Palestinian people. We believe the Palestinians will remain united in taking forward the struggle for the liberation of the people, even if it means facing the brutal face of the Sharon Zionist and apartheid regime.
We believe that now is the time to intensify the Palestinian revolution for their freedom from Israeli colonialism. We call upon the working class internationally to unite in solidarity with the Palestinians in their just struggle for freedom and basic human rights and condemn the role that the US imperialists continue to play in supporting the Israeli regime against the Palistian people.
CONTACT: Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara)
Head of the Office of the General Secretary
South African Communist Party (SACP)
Tel: (011) 339-3621/2
Fax: (011) 339-4244/6880
Cell: 083 651 0271
Email: mazibuko@sacp.org.za