|
|
|
Change low graphic options | Change language | Skip content to navigation
Page context: Home > Press area
Arms ship: Matonga spins the same old story
20 May 2008
The ITF - which helped stop the An Yue Jiang unloading its cargo of military supplies anywhere in Southern Africa, and regularly revealed the location of the fugitive ship - today again disproved the Zimbabwean government’s claim that it was in possession of the arms.
David Cockroft, ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) General Secretary explained: “Zimbabwean deputy information minister Bright Matonga is at it again. This is the recycled claim he made two weeks ago that the An Yue Jiang offloaded arms in Lobito. Unfortunately Matonga is living down to his reputation for ineptitude and mendacity. When he put out that story the ship was actually 230 nautical miles south of Lobito and didn’t come anywhere near that port for two days, when it actually bypassed it and tried to sneak into Luanda undetected. Similarly, the vessel has been nowhere near DR Congo or Congo-Brazzaville.”
“In their attempts to get these arms Zanu-PF have been publicly beaten – something they should be getting used to by now. Their propagandist lies are just the latest failed attempt to salvage something from this latest humiliation.”
Cockroft confirmed that the ITF’s location report from the end of last week, which had the An Yue Jiang on a course consistent with a return to China, remained valid.
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
Related press:
9 May 2008
Press update: latest on An Yue Jiang
14 May 2008
An Yue Jiang Position Update
At midday...
6 May 2008
An Yue Jiang news. Ship makes no attempt to offload arms, trade unions report (UPDATED)
Title7 May 2008
An Yue Jiang location update as of 7 May
The...
30 April 2008
China arms ship poised to dock in Luanda, but dockers refuse to handle cargo
The ITF today stated that, contrary to some reports, it...
24 April 2008
Arms ship ‘returning to China’: ITF response
The ITF, which has helped mobilise workers across Southern...
22 April 2008
China arms ship update and position. ITF: ‘return to China only option’
Update as of 16:00, 23 April 2008
No assurance has been...
21 April 2008
Chinese arms ship latest: unions mobilise to stop weapons transfer
Global union federation the ITF today reported that the An Yue...
18 April 2008
ITF: South African dockers act against Zimbabwe arms shipment
April 18, 2008. For immediate release
The ITF has expressed...
Related news:
9 May 2008
Chinese arms vessel leaves Angola
A shipment of arms bound for Zimbabwe has been reported to have...
Back to current press releases
Section home:
Press area
Main Sections:
Home | About us | Solidarity | Flags of Convenience campaign | Seafarers | Dockers | Civil Aviation | Railways | Road transport | Urban Transport | Fisheries | Tourism | Inland Navigation | Education | Young workers | Women | ETF Home | Congress 2010
Transport International Magazine
accessibility | site help | site map
ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR | +44 20 7403 2733 | mail@itf.org.uk
