Obama's Visit To South Africa Being Met With Protests And Calls For His Arrest

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Obama's Visit To South Africa Being Met With Protests And Calls For His Arrest

June 29. 2013

Barack Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama has embarked on a tour of African nations, but all is not well for the head of state during the trip. Police fired rubber bullets and a stun grenade at hundreds of protestors in South Africa. The large crowd had gathered to protest President Obama's policies.

Elsewhere in South Africa, groups are demanding Obama be arrested. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), African National Congress, South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Muslim Lawyer's Association (MLA) are all calling for Obama's arrest over his policies.

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Anti-Obama protests dispersed by South Africa police

11:18 a.m. EDT June 29, 2013 - President Obama is meeting with South Africa's leader at the start of a weekend visit that will pay tribute to the legacy of critically ill former President Nelson Mandela. JOHANNESBURG — Police fired rubber bullets and a stun grenade into a crowd of hundreds of protesters waiting for President Obama to arrive at the University of Johannesburg on Saturday. The crowd quickly scattered as police officers walked up the street pushing protesters away with shot guns.

http://www.usatoday.com

Q&A: S African group calls for Obama's arrest

28 Jun 2013 15:59 - US President might not be received in South Africa with the aplomb he enjoys elsewhere on the continent...
The country's largest trade union grouping, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), which is in alliance with the governing African National Congress, has called on its members to join workers and citizens across the globe to "actively participate" in protests against Obama's visit.

Cosatu cites Obama's "horrifying record of US foreign policy in the world", highlighting, the "militarisation of international relations for the multinational companies and their profit-seeking classes in the US". It is also opposing the "US support for oppressive regimes that benefit US narrow interests", saying in a statement on its website that its call was part of world-wide struggle against imperialism.

Many in the country have already heeded the call with a huge protests, dubbed the "Nobama campaign", being planned across the country. The University of Johannesburg's decision to award him an honorary degree has already spurred protest and frustration.
Among the various organisations supporting Cosatu's call include the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the Muslim Lawyer's Association (MLA)...

http://www.aljazeera.com