Churches protest against brutality towards HIV protestors
-22/07/05
An HIV advocacy project supported by the Christian churches has expressed its concern about an incident in Queenstown, South Africa last week, when police used rubber bullets, batons and tear gas against unarmed, peaceful protestors asking for better treatment.
Demonstrators from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) were calling on the authorities for the rapid expansion of the antiretroviral treatment programme in the Eastern Cape province.
Many of the demonstrators were people living with HIV themselves. Some 50 protestors were injured by police action. Ten sustained gunshot wounds and others were beaten.
The Treatment Action Campaign has received programme support from the Church of Scotland and from other church and civil society groups.
While police claimed that they were only acting on orders, because the hospital itself had called them to remove the demonstrators, TAC spokesperson Sipho Mthati asserted that they ìused really excessive force against a peaceful protest.î
Mr Mthati said of the incident: ìThe police started beating people, then shooting at them.î
The Church of Scotlandís HIV/AIDS Project co-ordinator, Nigel Pounde, has supported the protestors. He said: ìWe deplore this use of violence. HIV and AIDS know no boundaries. Those demonstrating were taking action on behalf of their whole community and in defence of their human right to have access to health services, which their government has promised them but failed to provide.î
Added Mr Pounde: ìWe stand in solidarity with all those around the world living with HIV and AIDS and we call for increasing access to treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS.î
He went on: ìWe trust that G8 and other donor countries will deliver on their promises when they meet in London in September to firm up their funding pledges to the Global Fund for 2006 and 2007.î
The Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, which brings together the World Council of Churches and other major confessional bodies, has called on its members to protest to the South African government about the incident and to request an investigation.
The growth of AIDS and HIV in South Africa has been epidemic in proportions in recent years, and medics and campaigners say that the situation has been worsened by the public scepticism of President Thabo Mbeki towards antiretroviral drugs.
Former President Nelson Mandela, now in retirement from political life, has joined churches and others in urging more determined action in procuring and supplying drugs, as well as health education.
Campaigners have also criticised drug companies and Western governments for seeking to maintain profits by declining to lower prices sufficiently for antiretrovirals.
Churches protest against brutality towards HIV protestors
-22/07/05
An HIV advocacy project supported by the Christian churches has expressed its concern about an incident in Queenstown, South Africa last week, when police used rubber bullets, batons and tear gas against unarmed, peaceful protestors asking for better treatment.
Demonstrators from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) were calling on the authorities for the rapid expansion of the antiretroviral treatment programme in the Eastern Cape province.
Many of the demonstrators were people living with HIV themselves. Some 50 protestors were injured by police action. Ten sustained gunshot wounds and others were beaten.
The Treatment Action Campaign has received programme support from the Church of Scotland and from other church and civil society groups.
While police claimed that they were only acting on orders, because the hospital itself had called them to remove the demonstrators, TAC spokesperson Sipho Mthati asserted that they ‘used really excessive force against a peaceful protest.’
Mr Mthati said of the incident: ‘The police started beating people, then shooting at them.’
The Church of Scotland’s HIV/AIDS Project co-ordinator, Nigel Pounde, has supported the protestors. He said: ‘We deplore this use of violence. HIV and AIDS know no boundaries. Those demonstrating were taking action on behalf of their whole community and in defence of their human right to have access to health services, which their government has promised them but failed to provide.’
Added Mr Pounde: ‘We stand in solidarity with all those around the world living with HIV and AIDS and we call for increasing access to treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS.’
He went on: ‘We trust that G8 and other donor countries will deliver on their promises when they meet in London in September to firm up their funding pledges to the Global Fund for 2006 and 2007.’
The Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, which brings together the World Council of Churches and other major confessional bodies, has called on its members to protest to the South African government about the incident and to request an investigation.
The growth of AIDS and HIV in South Africa has been epidemic in proportions in recent years, and medics and campaigners say that the situation has been worsened by the public scepticism of President Thabo Mbeki towards antiretroviral drugs.
Former President Nelson Mandela, now in retirement from political life, has joined churches and others in urging more determined action in procuring and supplying drugs, as well as health education.
Campaigners have also criticised drug companies and Western governments for seeking to maintain profits by declining to lower prices sufficiently for antiretrovirals.