Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-01-15

The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) [uFasimba] together with the Palestinian solidarity organisation "Boycott Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa" (BDS South Africa) will hold a memorial service in Vilakazi and Makhetha Street, Soweto, Johannesburg on Wednesday (15 January) at 6:30pm in honor of the victims of the Israeli war criminal Ariel Sharon.

In a statement on the death of Ariel Sharon, the league said it stands in solidarity with the victims of the "Butcher of Beirut”- former Israeli Prime Minister and War Criminal Ariel Sharon.

The league said it noted the passing of the former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, otherwise known as the "Butcher of Beirut" and congratulates the South African government for not sending any high profile delegation to his funeral and not releasing any official message as some other Western and Imperialist countries have.

“We further condemn attempts by South African Zionists and Israeli supporters that are, in celebrating Ariel Sharon’s legacy, essentially honouring and celebrating a war criminal, a murderer who used chemical weapons obtained from the USA against Palestinians.”

“We, together with other peace-loving peoples of the world choose to rather solemnly commemorate and stand in solidarity with the thousands of Palestinians and others that have been murdered and displaced by Sharon’s war actions and settlement enterprise,” said the league.

The memorial service in solidarity with Sharon’s victims will be held at the same time as the Israeli Embassy and the South African Zionist Federation and the Chief Rabbi will be shamefully holding a service to “honour” Sharon, the war criminal.

The league said Sharon’s death comes as the world continues to mourn the father of the South African nation comrade Nelson Mandela and remember his greatness as a revolutionary, militant and statesman.

“There can be no greater contrast between the legacies of Cde Mandela and Sharon. The former Israeli prime minister is remembered for his slaughter of Palestinian civilians and aggressive colonial and apartheid policies. Our Mandela is remembered for his support of the Palestinian people and all other peoples of the world struggling against oppression, including, what Nelson Mandela termed “Israeli colonialism” it said.

The league called for all peace loving people to reject any attempt by apartheid Israel supporters in South Africa to honour war crimes and war criminals such as Sharon and instead join them in standing in solidarity with the victims of his ruthless brutality.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)