ALERT: SOSTENIAMO GLI ATTIVISTI SUDAFRICANI DI TAC

["Mauro Guarinieri" <m.guarinieri@agora.it>]

ALERT: SOSTENIAMO GLI ATTIVISTI SUDAFRICANI DI TAC

Mentre la maggior parte di noi si sta mobilitando contro la guerra in
Iraq, sosteniamo allo stesso tempo la lotta delle persone sieropositive
sudafricane che si stanno battendo per l'accesso ai trattamenti
antiretrovirali. Dopo avere chiesto per mesi che il governo sudafricano
approvasse un piano nazionale per il trattamento dell'infezione da HIV/AIDS
il gruppo sudafricano Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) ha dato inizio ad una
campagna di disobbedienza civile. Tale decisione è dovuta al rifiuto del
governo sudafricano a sostenere l'accesso ai farmaci antiretrovirali per i
5 milioni di persone sieropositive che vivono in Sud Africa. 600 di loro
muoiono tutti i giorni. 

INFORMAZIONI RELATIVE ALLA CAMPAGNA

* Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), una delle più importanti organizzazioni
di lotta all'AIDS sudafricane, ha iniziato una campagna di disobbedienza
civile non violenta il 20 Marzo 2003. Sono già state organizzate quattro
azioni di disobbedienza civile, ed una di esse si è scontrata con la
brutalità della polizia (vedi sotto).

* 600 volontari prenderanno parte alle azioni di disobbedienza civile - lo
stesso numero di persone che muore tutti i giorni di AIDS in Sud Africa.

* Qualora il governo Sud Africano rifiutasse di implementare un piano
nazionale per il trattamento dell'infezione da HIV/AIDS TAC chiede che
tutti gli attivisti si mobilitino per una giornata di azione globale il 27
aprile 2003

* Entro pochi anni, a causa dell'AIDS, l'aspettativa di vita per una
persona sieropositiva di colore sudafricana sarà inferiore ai 40 anni

Il 20 Marzo 2003 gli attivisti di TAC si sono concentrati presso le
stazione di polizia di Durban, Sharpeville, e Città del Capo per denunciare
per omicidio il Ministero della Salute ed il Ministero delle Finanze del
Sudafrica. La ragione di tale denuncia è che il governo continua a negare
l'accesso universale ai farmaci antiretrovirali. TAC ha chiesto alla
polizia di arrestare i Ministri della Salute e delle Finanze.

Gli attivisti rischiano ora l'arresto; a Durban la polizia ha risposto con
brutalità alle proteste pacifiche di TAC utilizzando cannoni ad acqua,
lacrimogeni e manganelli. Molti attivisti di TAC sono attualmente in
ospedale a causa delle brutalità della polizia. TAC ha annunciato che le
azioni proseguiranno.

Il 25 Marzo gli attivisti di TAC hanno interrotto il Ministro della Salute,
Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, mentre interveniva nel corso di un dibattito
pubblico distribuendo un documento nel quale si dice che "... Ci avete
ingannato. Speriamo siate in grado di provare che abbiamo torto prendendo
un impegno immediato, inequivocabile ed irreversibile che garantisca
l'accesso universale alle terapie antiretrovirali" (per il testo completo -
in inglese - vedi sotto)

Cosa potete fare

1) Inviare lettere di supporto a TAC alle ambasciate ed ai consolati del
Sud Africa nel periodo compreso tra il 25 Marzo ed il 2 Aprile

2) Telefonare alle ambasciate Sud Africane esprimendo il vostro sostegno a TAC

3) Organizzare iniziative locali a sostegno di TAC il 27 Aprile, in
particolare davanti ai consolati e alle ambasciate del Sud Africa

4) Far circolare questo appello

L'ambasciata Sud Africana in Italia è in Via Tanaro, 14, 00198 Roma.
Fax: +39/06/84.24.22.37 - Tel: +39/06/85.25.41 consular@sudafrica.it



Per maggiori informazioni:

Sito web di TAC: http://www.tac.org.za
Rassegna stampa sulle iniziative globali: http://www.healthgap.org

Se la vostra organizzazione intende scrivere una lettera di supporto a TAC
scrivete all'ambasciata Sudafricana in Via Tanaro, 14, 00198 Roma, Fax:
+39/06/84.24.22.37, consular@sudafrica.it e agli indirizzi riportati di
seguito entro il 28 Marzo 2003. Ricordate di inviare copia della lettera
a TAC all'indirizzo email info@tac.org.za

The Honorable JG Zuma
Deputy President, South Africa:
Via Fax: 011-27-12-323-3114
E-mail: Deputypresident@po.gov.za

The Honorable Dr NC Dlamini-Zuma
Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Via Fax: 011-27-12-351-0253
E-mail: media@foreign.gov.za

Ms Lakela Kaunda
Chief Director: Communication and Spokesperson
Via E-mail: lakela@po.gov.za

Deputy Chief of Mission Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo
South African Embassy
Via Fax: 202-265-1607
Main Telephone: (202) 232-4400

Consul General Thami Ngwevela
South African Consulate General - New York
Via Fax: 212-213-0102
Main Telephone: 212-213-4880

Consul General Glaudine Mtshali
South African Consulate General - Los Angeles
Via Fax: 323-651-5969
Main Telephone: (323) 651-0902

Consul General Pat Sonjani
South African Consulate General - Chicago
Via Fax: 312-939-2588
Main Telephone: 312-939-7929

Telefonate inoltre all'ambasciata Sudafricana tra il 25 Marzo ed il 2 Aprile.

Il tono della telefonata dovrà essere fermo ma educato. Dite alla persona
che risponde al telefono che volete parlare con qualcuno per esprimere il
vostro sostegno agli attivisti di TAC che hanno lanciato la campagna di
disobbedienza civile il 20 Marzo 2003. Quello che segue è il testo della
telefonata. Ricordate di lasciare i vostri estremi al funzionario
dell'ambasciata.

"Il mio nome è  _____________ e rappresento  ____________. Chiamo per
esprimere il mio sostegno alla campagna di disobbedienza civile non
violenta organizzata da TAC che è iniziata il 20 Marzo.

Le persone sieropositive stanno morendo perché non hanno accesso ai farmaci
antiretrovirali. Le persone sieropositive hanno il diritto di vivere. Il
governo sudafricano rifiuta di sottoscrivere ed implementare un piano
nazionale che includa il trattamento antiretrovirale per le persone
sieropositive.

600 sudafricani muoiono ogni giorno di AIDS. Chiedo che il governo
sudafricano riconsideri immediatamente la propria decisione e sostenga
l'accesso universale al trattamento e alla cura per le persone
sieropositive. Tale programma deve includere il trattamento antiretrovirali.

Condanno inoltre la violenza della polizia di Durban contro gli attivisti
di TAC durante la protesta pacifica del 20 marzo. Chiedo al governo
sudafricano di aprire un inchiesta, e di rimuovere da loro incarico i
responsabili, prendendo le misure opportune perché ciò non accada mai più.

Grazie per la vostra attenzione"

---TAC Statement on their Civil Disobedience Campaign---

"We cannot wait any longer for a visible and dynamic response from the
government, business and international community. We do not need any more
reports to tell us what we already know - HIV/AIDS is killing 600 people a
day in this country and ruining lives and hopes. But with will and
commitment this does not have to happen. With leadership from business and
government, together with labour and communities, it is still possible to
save lives and restore hope." -- Treatment Action Campaign

TAC Civil Disobedience Campaign - 20 March 2003

Statement on civil disobedience campaign, which begins today Docket of
charges of culpable homicide against Minister of Health, Mantombazana Edmie
Tshabalala-Msimang and Minister of Finance, Alexander Erwin handed over to
police

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN BEGINS TODAY

21 March is Human Rights Day. On 21 March 1960, thousands of black African
people in South Africa left their passes at home.  They marched peacefully
to police stations where they handed themselves over for arrest. Our
parents and ancestors chose to go to jail rather than to obey unjust laws
or to allow an immoral and illegitimate regime to continue take away their
dignity and equality. Mandela, Sisulu, Mbeki, Sobukwe, Ngoyi, First, Slovo,
Kathrada and many thousands more sacrificed for democracy, equality and
justice.

Today, we have a democratic and legitimate government of the people. Yet,
today we are once again breaking the law. We accept our Constitution. We
voted for this government, we accept its legitimacy and its laws.

But we cannot accept its unjust policy on HIV/AIDS that is causing the
deaths of more than 600 people every day.  Today we break the law to end an
unjust policy not an unjust government.  For four years, we have done
everything in our power to persuade government to change this policy: we
have provided information and given evidence, campaigned successfully  to
lower the price of drugs such as fluconazole as well as anti-retrovirals.
Eleven months ago, the Cabinet tantalized people with AIDS by recognizing
that anti-retroviral drugs do "improve the condition of people with AIDS".
But the policy of non-provision of these medicines has not changed.

So today, in Durban, Cape Town and Sharpeville 600 TAC volunteers, many of
them people living with HIV, are marching to police stations to lay charges
of culpable homicide against the Ministers of Health and Trade and
Industry. They are acting on behalf of people who have died or who are
dying because government policy denied them the medicine needed to treat
their HIV infection.

We demand a real partnership that prevents new infections and saves lives.

We demand that the government immediately announce an antiretroviral
treatment programme in the public sector and that it signs the NEDLAC
treatment and prevention plan.

[ENDS]

---------text of TAC statement delivered March 25, 2003----------

TO BE READ OUT AT HEALTH SYSTEMS TRUST MEETING

Message for the South African Minister of Health, Mantombazana Edmie
Tshabalala-Msimang or Her Representative

We are angry. According to Government's sources over 600 people will die of
AIDS everyday on average this year. We stand here today to say to  you that
you have  wilfully and negligently failed to implement the necessary
interventions, including antiretroviral treatment, that would prevent many
of these deaths. Nevertheless, we also stand here today to say that we will
always be available to work with government, health-care workers and all of
South African society for a better public health-care system.

For many  years doctors, nurses, researchers, people with HIV/AIDS,
churches, unions, businesses, provincial ANC congresses, the South African
Communist Party, the SANAC [South African National AIDS Council] Youth
Sector and organisations such as the Treatment Action Campaign have been
trying to convince you to adopt and implement an HIV/AIDS treatment and
prevention plan. We have been model citizens in this regard, using
negotiations, demonstrations, the media, the courts, the Human Rights
Commission, NEDLAC [National Economic, Development, and Labour Council] and
numerous other democratic means to convince you to do the right thing.

Instead of embracing the dozens of opportunities we have given you to work
together with civil society to treat our people and reduce new infections,
your response has been to resort to pseudo-science, thereby showing
disrespect for people with HIV, women, the poor and black people. You have
consorted (and continue to consort) with HIV denialists and have never once
on record stated without condition that you believe that HIV causes AIDS,
though you have claimed it is a premiss, not a fact, of government policy.
You have caused public confusion over the efficacy of antiretrovirals and
it took a court case to get your department to implement mother-to-child
transmission prevention. Instead of seizing the opportunity to implement
this programme without condition, you offered succour to a corrupt MEC
[Member of the Executive Council] for Health, Ms. Sibongile Manana, who has
failed to implement the programme. To this date, you have not issued a
single national circular to all health-care workers and Provincial
Departments informing them properly of their Constitutional obligations.
You have also failed to inform every pregnant woman who uses the public
health care sector of your plans to reduce  the risk of HIV infection to
their children.

Instead of leading government to adopt the NEDLAC and framework agreement
on a treatment and prevention plan, you undermined and misrepresented it.
You did not have time in the last few months to ensure that whatever
concerns you have about the agreement were addressed, but you had time to
seek publicity in Iraq and to consort with the charlatan, Roberto Girraldo.
Nor have you ever taken the time to visit antiretroviral treatment projects
in Khayelitsha or Gugulethu.

We have heard a number of excuses from you as to why antiretroviral therapy
should not be implemented. You have cited toxicity. You have said
prevention rather than treatment. You have cited the cost. Now that all
these excuses have been shown to be false, you misuse the need and hunger
of our people by chanting nutrition rather than treatment as if the two are
mutually exclusive.

In the Sunday newspapers government talks about its desire to work with
partners. Government also acknowleges the efficacy of antiretroviral
therapy and says it will consider proposals from a joint health and finance
committee that has costed a number of interventions, including
antiretroviral treatment. But we have heard promises on antiretroviral
therapy from government for nearly a year since the 17 April Cabinet
Statement. In effect, you have wasted money by advertising a wish list
described as a plan.We are aware that the costing study is complete. We can
only hope, that unlike the MRC report and the HST/DOH Scientists report on
antiretroviral therapy, you will not attempt to censor this report.

Almost no progress has been made on the implementation of treatment
programmes since we jointly won the court case against the drug companies
on 18 April 2001 or since the 17 April Cabinet Statement of 2002. All
efforts to reduce medicine prices have come from civil society, not
government.  You have ignored the desperation of the doctors, nurses and
patients in the public health care system. We are tired of promises. We
must see a plan and its reasonable implementation. Millions of lives depend
on it.  However, we also no longer believe that you have the will or
competence to manage the HIV epidemic or the public health care sector
appropriately. Inequity and quality of service in the public health care
sector have worsened since you took over from your predecessor who made a
valiant effort to transform the health care service. You have deceived,
misrepresented, delayed and denied for too long.  We hope you will prove us
wrong by making an unequivocal and irreversible committment to
antiretroviral therapy and by signing the NEDLAC agreement. If you fail to
do this, we will take legal action and continue
our civil disobedience to ensure that the public health care sector
succeeds in spite of you.