Latest on An Yue Jiang

9 May 2008. For immediate release

Press update: latest on An Yue Jiang

At late morning today the vessel was approximately 120 nautical miles off the coast of Namibia, in international waters, making around 8.5 knots (the slower speed than before is because it is sailing against the Benguela current). The current position as of 16:45 BST today is estimated to be due west of Walvis Bay, but well outside of Namibian territorial waters. If the An Yue Jiang continues at its current speed and course its estimated time of arrival off Cape Town will be late night on Monday 12th May. If it increases speed to 10 knots its ETA would be mid-afternoon on 12th May.

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation ) has helped mobilise trade unions across Southern Africa to block the delivery of the arms for Zimbabwe,and make it impossible for them to be removed from the ship on land or sea. ITF General Secretary David Cockfroft today commented: “For over two weeks ordinary working men and women have kept these bullets and bombs out of the hands of Mugabe’s killers. That work continues. The ship and its cargo of destruction remain under close watch. Any attempt to further arm the Government of Zimbabwe will be resisted.”

Cockroft also dismissed claims by Bright Matonga of Zanu-PF that the arms shipment was in his possession as: ‘laughable; the empty propaganda of someone who, like his leader, doesn’t know when he’s beaten.’

ENDS

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