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0 viewsThe Right2Know Campaign (R2K) marched from Kaizersgracht Street to Parliament on Wednesday in protest against the Protection of Information Bill (or Secrecy Bill).
The march was the finale to a Week of Action, during which volunteers collected more than 30,000 signatures nationwide opposing the Secrecy Bill. Campaign organizers chose to march on Wednesday because President Zuma was scheduled to appear in parliament on that day.
“We’ve been through this before; there’s a long history of covert government,” said David Robert Louis, of the Alternative Media Forum (AMF). “Who’s going to control the information at the end of the day?” His question echoed the concerns of the protestors at large.
According to R2K, the bill allows virtually any elected official to declare public information secret, and anyone who discloses “unauthorized” information can be prosecuted. The R2K organization was founded on the belief that the language of the bill is too broad and shields the government from scrutiny.
The R2K Campaign, composed of more than 400 organizations concerned about the implications of the Secrecy Bill, was created less than two months ago. Protestors consisted of organization members and leaders, religious activists, supporters of the campaign and community members.
“Look what we have created,” said R2K leader Henry Joseph Daniels. “We are here to send a message to elected leaders – no more secrecy … the government should fear the people, not the people fearing the government.”
Protestors began the march towards parliament at approximately 11:15 a.m., with journalists in the lead. Supporters chanted “Viva, the Right2Know, viva!” and “Down with the society of secrets!” They waved signs that read “The truth will set you free” and “What do you have to hide?” while singing traditional songs of protest.
The massive crowd, flanked by policemen, arrived outside of parliament shortly after noon. More than twenty police officials blockaded parliament’s gates, but they were unprovoked. The crowd listened peacefully as various officials spoke against the bill.
Tango Lamani, Chief Operations Officer of parliament, received the memorandum and addressed the people.
“I have received the memorandum on behalf of the presiding officers of parliament, and I will definitely take it back to them and they will respond to the organizers of the march. I thank you,” Lamani said.
Organizers insisted that parliament members do more than respond to the memorandum, but react in way that would reflect the voice of the people.
“Sometimes it’s worthwhile even for politicians to have principles,” said Former Cabinet Minister Kader Asmal, who resigned in 2008. “This bill is a betrayal of all of the principles we fought for [during the old regime]; it deliberately rejects those principles.”
“We want people inside the house to hear us,” said Mail & Guardian Editor Nick Dawes. “We remember what it was like to live in a society of secrets; we remember what it was like not to know. We’re not going to stop making noise until they hear us.”