Constitutions, Courts, and Women

Iraq’s sovereignty has been destroyed by the US-led invasion and occupation, and the US cannot re-establish it on their own behalf or even for a puppet. See linked article for a description of the whole mess as it now is. Let nobody doubt the importance of retaining our national sovereignty, and respecting that of others. The nation-state will go one day, but war and weapons of war will have to go first. I received some furious feedback for writing that the Friends of JZ had the best reports of Jacob Zuma’s rape trial. Of course all the reports are biased, including those in the newspapers. None are objective, but the reports on the JZ site are credibly professional and extensive. They cover days 1 to 5 of the trial in full, unlike the newspapers. In that sense, they are the best. It is those who write who get published. The Friends of JZ have taken that advantage. They could have squandered it by working unprofessionally, but that is not what they have done. (See link for day 5). The testimony is upsetting. Jeremy Gordin does quite a good job of opening up the awful picture. See the linked article below called “Court of Horrors”. Neither side will like it much, but it deserves reflection. What emerges surely does not amount to rape of the complainant by Jacob Zuma. The trial should have been stopped when that became clear. It will be a mercy if it is stopped before Monday. It would also be nice to think that the complainant will be looked after. But by whom? Note Gordin’s final paragraph. The Communist University’s decision to programme discussions about women is fully vindicated. The part called “No Woman, No Revolution” (formerly “Women, for Women and Men”) has gone through five sessions so far and has another four to go, plus further relevant sessions later in the year. The Women’s Jail on Constitution Hill is where we meet, and in the same building, next Tuesday, March 14th at 18h00, there will be an event to reflect upon ten years of the current South African Constitution, which will be addressed by, among others, the Director of CALS, Prof. Cathi Albertyn. CALS is the organisation that recently helped overturn the municipal practice of evicting people on to the street without alternative accommodation. See linked notice. Also on Tuesday March 14th, but starting in the morning at 08h30, there will be an event on “Freedom of Expression in the Context of Religious Diversity” at the Human Rights Commission, 29 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg. See also below for a timely warning from COSATU on pensions. Links: Iraq's Sovereignty Vacuum, Michael Schwartz, Tomdispatch (5606 words) Court of horrors, Jeremy Gordin, Saturday Star (851 words) Zuma Rape Trial Day 5, Friends of JZ (5264 words) Constitution Ten Years on Programme, Con Hill (Notice) COSATU, Pension Reform (279 words)