'Arrest Zim arms ship'
2008-04-20 16:43
Durban - Should a Chinese ship carrying arms destined for Zimbabwe re-enter South African waters, she should be arrested by the navy, the Justice Alliance of South Africa said on Sunday.
It was very unlikely that the An Yue Jiang would have sufficient fuel to reach Angola without bunkering in another port en route, Jasa said.
The An Yue Jiang did not bunker in Durban. She lifted anchor and set sail from Durban on Friday as the Sheriff of Durban approached the vessel.
Barely an hour before the vessel set sail the Durban High Court ordered that the ship enter Durban's harbour and offload the armaments which had to be held in secure storage by the Sheriff of Durban.
Jasa on Sunday urged the port authorities in East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town to be on their guard lest the ship tries to obtain fuel surreptitiously.
Jasa said when the case returns to the Durban High Court on Friday, Judge Kate Pillay must take judicial notice of the brutal military campaign of repression headlined in all the Sunday newspapers.
"There can be no doubt, as the Sunday Times spells out, that the ship's cargo is designed to strengthen this campaign of intimidation of voters."
Should the ship re-enter SA territorial waters, she should be arrested by the SA Navy, escorted into harbour, and the High Court order taped to her mast.
"The arms must then be put in bond until assurances are obtained from the Chinese Government that they will be returned to China. Any promise from the shipowner is insufficient as it becomes unenforceable the moment the ship leaves SA territorial waters.
"The captain may say he is going home and yet immediately sail for Angola once he has fuel in his bunkers."
- SAPA