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According to a South African news agency police have opened fire on a group of striking miners killing at least 18. Whilst this news is dreadful reports also claim that some protesters were carrying machetes and spears. Thousands of miners are said to have descended on the platinum mine. Looking at the video footage though it appears to have rapidly become a blood bath.
In what has become something of a "turf war" between two unions and their members the stakes are high. When the two sides came into contact the situation rapidly snowballed to a dangerous level. As police attempted to barricade the mine a large group of the striking miners caught them off guard.
The miners Union is a no sense organisation called radical by many. Negotiations between the Police and the mine workers union and the construction workers union had soon broken down. Police were determined to move the striking miners out of the area. The striking miners were maybe in no mood to give in easily and some were armed for a fight. The police were prepared for the worst and had no qualms about acting in the way they did.
Trouble has been brewing for some time. During the last week 10 people have died as the rift deeps. Yesterday there was a heavy police presence but no injuries. Today August 16, 2012, it has been a different matter altogether.
Full story here
August 17 update: At least 34 miners were killed and 78 injured. The Police claim that they had no aternative but to open fire when faced with an armed and angry mob of protesters. Two police officers were killed by members of the striking miners earlier this week. Weapons were recovered yesterday. The police however opened fire with automatic weapons.
In what has become something of a "turf war" between two unions and their members the stakes are high. When the two sides came into contact the situation rapidly snowballed to a dangerous level. As police attempted to barricade the mine a large group of the striking miners caught them off guard.
The miners Union is a no sense organisation called radical by many. Negotiations between the Police and the mine workers union and the construction workers union had soon broken down. Police were determined to move the striking miners out of the area. The striking miners were maybe in no mood to give in easily and some were armed for a fight. The police were prepared for the worst and had no qualms about acting in the way they did.
Trouble has been brewing for some time. During the last week 10 people have died as the rift deeps. Yesterday there was a heavy police presence but no injuries. Today August 16, 2012, it has been a different matter altogether.
Full story here
August 17 update: At least 34 miners were killed and 78 injured. The Police claim that they had no aternative but to open fire when faced with an armed and angry mob of protesters. Two police officers were killed by members of the striking miners earlier this week. Weapons were recovered yesterday. The police however opened fire with automatic weapons.
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