EEN-EN-TAGTIGSTE JAARGANG | NO. 2
WOENSDAG 2 MAART 2022
FIGHT WAR TO END WAR Anti-war protestors rallied by Nina Hugo, chairperson of UNASA. Photo: Jamie Venter
UNASA-SU hosts anti-war protest for Ukraine
AURELIA MOUTON
T
he United Nations Association of South Africa (UNASA) organised a student march in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. The march, which occurred on 1 March, saw the collaborating of UNASA’s Stellenbosch University (SU) and University of Cape Town (UCT) chapters. “The turnout for the event was even better than we hoped. Between 300–400 people attended, so we’re thankful that the Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UAZA) sponsored so many candles for the event,” said Nina Hugo, chairperson of UNASA’S SU chapter. UNASA plead with South Africans to support Ukraine and to put pressure on South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to condemn the actions of the Russian government. The Palestinian Solidarity Forum (PSF) also showed their support at the march and the vigil that followed. “We, as students and as human
beings, have to stand up for what is right, since our government obviously is not doing so. As a country that is intimately familiar with subjugation and oppression, we especially have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with Ukraine,” said Hugo. “It is not conflict. It is not aggression. It is war!” said K ristina Oliinyk, one of the speakers and a Ukrainian citizen. “We are asking the world to cover our skies. Our military is not enough. We just want our skies covered. Our land is ours, but they send rockets,” Oliinyk continued, explaining the severity of the situation in Kyiv. “This protest is important for everyone, because Putin—Russian president [and] t errorist—is attacking not only Ukraine. This is [a] war against democracy, against the whole civilised world. He is fighting against human rights, and independency of other countries. If we are today, then other European countries [are] tomorrow. When he takes other European countries, he will come
for Africa too. This man is very dangerous,” said Oliinyk. Michael du Plessis, South African and Ukranian citizen and also third-year BEng (Mechanical) student, explained that his grandmother is still in Kyiv. “She says that the days go by quickly, but the nights are troubling. During the day there is noises, gun violence. But at nights the bombs come and she has to take cover in the bathroom. [The] children take shelter at the school. “In no society should a country be usurped. This is our reality at the moment. I tried to run away from that in the beginning. It’s just easier, but we have to take it in [and] follow the news to understand what is happening. That’s the only way to know how to support, how to help in any way you can,” Du Plessis said. “There’s not much that one single country can do against the Russian Federation at this very moment, but if people stand together in support, that really makes a difference. [At] the beginning of this . . . there
were many jokes and memes sent on student groups. I found it disappointing to see, but now that there’s more consideration of the topic, I’m happy to see the student support,” Du Plessis continued. Putin announced the launch of the invasion of Ukraine on Russian television on 24 February. Soon thereafter, the first reports of missile air strikes and bomb explosions came from the Ukranian cities of Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Mariupol and the country’s capital, Kyiv. Putin deployed the Russian military under the orders of a “special military operation”, as stated in his televised speech. This followed after months of increased Russian military presence on their side of the Ukrainian border. Many Ukranians citizens fled their cities, seeking refuge in the neighbouring countries of Poland, Hungary and Romania, and many are still waiting for asylum. Putin has since ordered Russian nuclear deterrence forces to be on high alert.
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