The wave of xenophobia must not expand into a human catastrophe. In China the earth has quaked, in Myanmar the water flood, but in South Africa people have seeked for shelter from each other - and are now being beaten.

The Government of Finland and the international community must intervene in this and support the South African government in stopping the violence. But not with violence, but to give shelter to those affected by xenophobia and for giving the poor South Africans a message of social development also from the international community.

The restlessness stems from the troublesome building of democracy, and the slow development of economic, social and educational equality. In the poor black communities unemployment and poverty have not eased off as hoped during the almost 15 years of democracy and now this fact is taken advantage off for political purposes. People in plight react to loss of hope by seeking offenders from people speaking different languages, people who have fled for their lives from Zimbabwe, Somalia and Mozambique.

The world is in the village this weekend in Helsinki. Now interference in the situation is needed both from Finland and the international community. South Africa must not become the new Zimbabwe.

Chairperson Arja Alho, 23.5.2008

Return