China arms ship poised to dock in Luanda, but dockers refuse to handle cargo

30 April 2008

The ITF today stated that, contrary to some reports, it believes the An Yue Jiang is outside the port of Luanda, and has not docked or made any sign of altering course to return to China since fleeing Durban last week. According to the ITF, although there are 20 ships ahead of it in the queue for a berth, there is no guarantee that it will not be allowed in ahead of them, allowing it to arrive before or during tomorrow’s national holiday in Angola.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft stated: “It appears that the ship slowed right down over the weekend, probably while it awaited orders. The fact that it then made full speed for Luanda suggests that it got them. We trust that they will be for it to take on fuel and make their way home and that no attempt will be made to land any of its cargo of arms. Given the lack of any definitive promise from Cosco or the Chinese government to this effect, we can promise that the world will be watching what happens next.”

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation ) has helped mobilise trade unions across Southern Africa to reject the arms for Zimbabwe. The ITF and ITUC member Federacao dos Sindicatos dos Trabalhadores dos Transportes e Comunicacoes de Angola (FSTTCA) today declared that its members will refuse to unload any arms bound for Zimbabwe from the ship.

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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