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Landless People Movement (LPM) dreigement n uittarting van staatsgesag |
Agri SA beskou die onlangse geweldsdreigemente van die Landless Peoples Movement (LPM) in n ernstige lig. Dit is ook n uittarting van die gesag van die staat. Die dreigemente van die LPM wat onlangs in die media verskyn het waarin hulle verklaar dat hulle plase gaan afneem en wit boere soos honde gaan wegjaag asook dat hulle kaders oplei om boere te vermoor, is uiters onverantwoordelik. Hierdie uitsprake is niks anders as n aanhitsing tot geweld, sê Japie Grobler, President van Agri SA.
Grobler sê dat die uitlatings verreikende implikasies inhou vir die veiligheid en stabiliteit van die landelike gebied en dat die uitlatings van die LPM ander oningeligte persone kan aanmoedig om betrokke te raak by geweldsmisdade teen die landbougemeenskap. Dit kan nie geduld word nie. Die LPM sal die verantwoordelikheid moet aanvaar vir geweldsmisdade wat teen die landbougemeenskap gepleeg word
Agri SA het die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) versoek om die beweerde uitlatings en dreigemente van die LPM te ondersoek met die oog daarop om te bepaal of enige landswette oortree is. Indien wel, moet gepaste stappe teen die organisasie geneem word, sê Grobler.
Agri SA het in samewerking met die SAPD n riglyndokument aan sy affiliasies beskikbaar gestel oor die hantering van onwettige plaasbesettings. Boere word aangemoedig om hulself met hierdie riglyne vertroud te maak en waar nodig te volg.
Agri SA het gister ook per brief die Britse Hoëkommissaris in Suid-Afrika ingelig oor die dreigemente van die LPM. Volgens mediaberigte word die LPM onder andere gefinansier deur twee Britse organisasies naamlik OXFAM en War on Want. Die Britse regering is versoek om die twee organisasies se moontlike betrokkenheid by die LPM te ondersoek met die oog op die beëindiging van hulle finansiële ondersteuning aan die LPM. n Afskrif van die brief aan die Hoëkommissaris word ook aan President Mbeki gestuur aangesien die optrede van die LPM die oogmerke van die Strategiese Plan vir die Landbou ondermyn.
Navrae: Japie Grobler, Agri SA President
082 825 8018of 012-322 6980
Kobus Visser, Agri SA Direkteur Owerheidsdienste
082 388 0010 of 012-322 6980
| Landless People's Movement (LPM) threat challenges state's authority |
Agri SA regards the recent threats made by the Landless People's Movement (LPM) to commit violence in a serious light. The LPM also challenges the state's authority. "The LPM's statements recently reported in the media, in which they threaten to take over farms and chase farmers away like dogs, and to train cadres to murder farmers, are extremely irresponsible. These statements are nothing but incitement to violence," said Agri SA president Japie Grobler.
Grobler said the threats "hold far-reaching implications for the safety and stability of rural areas, and the LPM's statements could encourage other uninformed people to become involved in violent crime against the farming community. This cannot be tolerated. The LPM will have to accept responsibility for violent crimes committed against the farming community".
Agri SA has asked the South African Police Service (SAPS) to investigate the LPM's alleged statements and threats with a view to establish whether they have broken any laws. "If this is indeed the case, appropriate steps must be taken against the organisation," said Grobler.
Agri SA, in collaboration with the SAPS, has furnished its affiliates with a guideline document on the handling of unlawful farm occupations. Farmers are encouraged to acquaint themselves with these guidelines and, where necessary, to implement them.
Agri SA yesterday also addressed a letter to the British High Commission in South Africa informing them of the LPM's threats. According to media reports, the LPM is funded by, among others, two British organisations, namely OXFAM and War on want. The British government was requested to investigate the possible involvement of these two organisations in the LPM with a view to terminating their financial support to the movement. A copy of the letter addressed to the High Commissioner is also being sent to President Thabo Mbeki since the actions of the LPM undermine the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Agriculture.
Enquiries: Japie Grobler, Agri SA President
082 825 8018of 012-322 6980
Kobus Visser, Agri SA Director Governmental Services
082 388 0010 or 012-322 6980