BARBARIC POLICE AT WORKERS' DAY

The following is a media release from the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] about police tactics at the recent May Day / Workers’ Day celebrations

03 May, 2010

A Most barbaric form of "Dialogue" at May Day Celebrations by State police

Staying true to its new found but rather imaginary self-image of a tolerant and democratic government that is open to dialogue with the country’s opposition, the government of Swaziland had a rather unique sort of dialogue this weekend during the May Day celebrations. In a move which infuriated members of the two organizations who had converged at the Salesian sports ground in Manzini, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the police disrupted the celebrations by arresting invited guests and workers and confiscating their recording equipment.

The four invited guests who were taken into the Manzini police station for questioning were: The People’s United Democratic Movement [PUDEMO] activist Mphandlana Shongwe; Swaziland Youth Congress [SWAYOCO] President, Wandile Dludlu; Dr. Sikelela Dlamini, a PUDEMO activist and Marie da Silva who is part of the recently launched Swaziland Democracy Campaign.

The reason given for taking in these four for questioning and disallowing them from taking part in the celebrations was the false statement they are not employed and thus should not participate in a function of workers. Despite the fact that it is untrue that all four are unemployed and cannot fit the definition of the word worker, unemployed people have always participated in May Day celebrations and in fact many of the people present at the event were not employed. The real reason behind what the workers have labelled “a barbaric act by police” is that these four are associated with the Liberation movement [PUDEMO] in the country. They were later released after it was certain that they had missed out of the celebrations. Other workers, however, were detained and charged.

An unidentified man from Ncabaneni was arrested and charged for contravening the controversial Suppression of Terrorism Act by wearing a t-shirt bearing the PUDEMO logo. Another unidentified man was also detained for unknown reasons but was later released without being charged. A teenage girl who was part of a drama group that performed at the event was saved by throngs of workers from the police who wanted to arrest her under the terrorism act as well for merely shouting the words “VIVA” to one of the proscribed entities. While all this was going on, a group of workers from SNAT, the teachers’ organization were taking pictures. This did not go down well with the police who confiscated the camera and only agreed to give it back to its owners after they had deleted all the pictures that showed their barbaric actions.

Despite being infuriated by the fact that their speakers had been barred from the event by the police who were intent on disrupting it, the workers decided to go ahead with the celebrations. It was evident, however, that the spirit of the event was not as jubilant as it otherwise could have been.

As the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] we strongly condemns this barbaric behaviour of the Swazi police under the command of King Mswati and call for urgent intervention by SADC into the Swaziland situation before is too late.

Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] South Africa chapter

ARRESTED FOR BEING UNEMPLOYED

Four pro-democracy activists were arrested in Swaziland on May Day (1 May 2010) because they are ‘unemployed’.

At least that’s the excuse the Swazi state forces gave when they stopped the four from attending a workers’ rally organised by the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions.

Police said they arrested the four before the meeting started because it was a function especially for workers and the speakers were not workers.

Sikelela Dlamini, Mphandlana Shongwe, Wandile Dludlu and Marie da Silva – all well known activists - had been invited guests.

Police grabbed the original copy of Sikelela Dlamini’s speech and photocopied it for ‘filing purposes’.

Mphandlana Shongwe is one of the leaders of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign. He says he was subjected to house arrest after police arrested him. He said after being interrogated for two hours, he was taken to his home where he was warned to remain indoors.

He says he was ordered to make a statement in writing, explaining why he attended the Workers’ Day because he was not a worker. He said police also told him that he was not supposed to celebrate with workers because his group, the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), was proscribed as a terrorist entity by government.

The four were taken to the Manzini Regional Police Headquarters. A police spokesperson said the four were not charged but were held for questioning.

Police were reported to be on the lookout the rally at the Salesian Sports Ground for anyone seen wearing T-shirts supporting banned organizations or who were heard shouting pro-liberation slogans.

A teenage girl who introduced a drama group by shouting VIVA was whisked away by marshals to safety. The police had wanted to apprehend her. One of the senior officers told the marshals that an offence had been committed.

Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions Secretary General, Mduduzi Gina, received a tip-off that police were planning to arrest him for praising one of the proscribed entities through a VIVA shout.

Plain clothed police confiscated a digital camera belonging to the Swaziland National Union of Teachers (SNAT) and deleted 35 pictures - they were apparently angry that they were being photographed.

Among the deleted pictures were some of police taking the four arrested political activists to a van.

POLICE DEFY COURT, STOP MEETING

Swazi police are up to their old tricks – banning ‘political’ meetings on their own authority. This time they have acted in direct opposition to a ruling of the Swaziland High Court.

Today (17 April 2010) the Swaziland Democracy Campaign - Swaziland Chapter had planned to hold its launch – but (let’s be honest) as expected the police stepped in.

Two of the organisers of the event, Mary Da Silva and Sikelela Dlamini were rounded up and taken to the Manzini Police Headquarters for interrogation.

This is despite the fact that the High Court of Swaziland yesterday granted the organizers the right to continue with the activity.

Scores of progressives went to the police headquarters to demand their release of Da Silva and Dlamini. Reports from the scene say ‘over two hundred hostile looking and dangerously armed police officers’ are standing guard at the police station.

SWAZI RULERS 'SELF-DESTRUCTING'

The acquittal on a terrorism charge of Mario Masuku, president of the banned People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), after the High Court threw out the prosecution case shows the undemocratic Tinkhundla system of government in Swaziland ‘has completely run out of tricks and is now knowingly self-destructing’.

This is according to Sikelela Dlamini, one of the most prolific critics of the undemocratic regime in Swaziland.

Dlamini, writing on his blog says, it is only a matter of time before people such as Masuku emerge victorious ‘to reap the rewards of their life-long sacrifices for the cause of Swaziland’s greater political freedom’.

He says the Swazi police are under immense pressure from King Mswati III (sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch) and others in the ruling elite ‘to be seen to be carrying out their witch-hunting mandate to root out largely imagined terrorism; which is in fact a deliberate euphemism for silencing political discontent in all its manifestations’.

Dlamini goes on, ‘We have tirelessly argued that the greatest threat to this country’s security, peace, and stability is not the presence of political dissent but rather its denial.’

To read more, click here.

SWAZILAND’S MANZINI DECLARATION

The full text of Swaziland’s Manzini Declaration has been released, following the kingdom’s first People’s Dialogue.

Leaders, members and representatives of Swazi civil society, the labour movement, political formations, the faith communities, women, youth, rural folk and the general public of Swaziland gathered in Manzini two weeks ago to deliberate, discuss and debate on a wide range of social, economic, cultural and political concerns affecting our people in Swaziland.

The Manzini Declaration is the result and it could become a crucial document in the fight for democracy in Swaziland as it was created and adopted by such a large number of people and organisations.

The Manzini Declaration states that ‘having affirmed our unity and solidarity in our diversity;

Cognizant of the many challenges confronting us as a nation; Desirous of entrenching democracy, peaceful conflict transformation, gender equality, sustainable development and national unity in Swaziland do make the following resolutions:

That we need to come together and struggle for sustainable development, decent work and end to abject poverty in Swaziland;

That all of our people have a right to health, education, housing, security and all the basic amenities of life;

That democracy, justice and freedom is the birthright of each and every Swazi, young or old, male or female, able bodied or living with a disability;

That freedom of expression, assembly, association and belief are constitutional guarantees that should not be violated by the state using any pretext;

That as a nation grappling with the AIDS pandemic, those living with HIV/AIDS or affected by it, directly or indirectly must have access to affordable health and medical services, be free from stigma and demonization in order to live productive lives full of dignity;

That Swazi women and girl children must be safeguarded from rape and other acts of gender specific violence and related outrages;

That our vibrant youth, being the future of the nation must be accorded all the support.

The Manzini Declaration sets out 13 demands around democracy and good governance; human rights; crime and the rule of law; gender and women’s issues; decent work; youth; education; plight of workers in the informal sector; land, environment, food security, agriculture; regional and international affairs; customs, tradition and culture.

To read the full Manzini Declaration click here.

Sikelela Dlamini writes about the People’s Dialogue on his blog. Click here.