SOLIDARITY WITH SWAZI PROTEST

Solidarity messages in support of the protest march held in Swaziland on Wednesday (17 November 2010) have come in from all over.

Here are some of them.

Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) supports the people of Swaziland in their quest for democracy, development, rights and justice. We support the efforts of those in Swaziland who are progressing the struggle for democracy, rights and freedom, in spite of the challenges imposed against them by the regime and add our voice of support to those from across southern Africa. The Swazi people are denied democratic rights; their freedom to organise and of expression is under the attack and in a country with the highest rate of HIV in the world there is a deepening economic crisis.

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) joins the international community in supporting nurses and the entire working class of Swaziland as they embark on a mass action to demonstrate their opposition to the oppressive regime that exists in their country. With great admiration we commend the courage of Swaziland workers and community for their bold move to fight for democracy. We also wish to emphasize that we stand with them in their struggle to abolish the rule of a dictatorial rule.

POPCRU joins the millions of progressive Allies in general in the country and across the globe to offer our unqualified support in consolidation of the demands for Democracy by the people of Swaziland and for the people of Swaziland. We applaud all progressive organizations in Swaziland unqualified for resolving to merge to form one Federation as part of the deepening of working class hegemony in the fight for Democracy and Freedom of Association in Swaziland. We reiterate a call for all revolutionaries to join all Swazis, Civil Society, Organized Labour and Community Based Organizations in Swaziland to work together for a real change against poverty, under-development, repressive regime, high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and absence of freedom of association.

SAMWU salutes the trade union, civil, faith-based and social organisations of Swaziland for their continued courageous struggle for the democratic soul of Swaziland. As the infamous anniversary of Black Wednesday is once again upon us, we are reminded of the complete absence of democratic rights in Africa’s last remaining dictatorial monarchy. It is very clear at this time that the democratic movement in Swaziland is not only in a state of renewal, but is showing a determination that has not been seen for many years. The unity of purpose that is being shown by all democratic organisations is truly inspirational, despite the heavy handed responses of the repressive regime.

Swaziland Democracy Campaign South Africa takes this opportunity to express its full and profound support to the Wednesday, 17 November 2010 mass action in Swaziland, led by its counterparts, the SDC Swaziland Chapter. We salute the courage of Swazi workers and progressive forces in general for their undying commitment to the democratic cause. In this regard, we continue to render our fullest support. We further assure our comrades inside Swaziland and the world in general, that we shall never abdicate our responsibility to offer practical solidarity to the struggling people of Swaziland. The hostility of the Tinkhundla regime is the more reason for us to intensify our solidarity.

World Federation of Trade Unions salutes the gallant people and the working people of Swaziland in their determined and unwavering struggle against oppression and exploitation. We stand on the side of the masses of people who struggle to abolish poverty and want, unemployment and diseases, homelessness and hunger – the people who say enough is enough to the rule by the corrupt monarchy that continues to squander resources of the country whilst the poor citizens are ravaged by poverty and diseases, and HIV/AIDS in particular. We call on all peace loving people and organizations, all over the world, to support the efforts and struggle of the people of Swaziland led by their progressive organizations.

And a solidarity message from Unison is posted here.

SWAZI DEMOCACY CAMPAIGN LATEST

The following is a statement from the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) of COSATU about the launch of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign and the abduction of Swazi student leaders by the police.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.

11 February 2010.

SAMWU fully supports the Swaziland Democracy campaign and the necessity of such a campaign.

Yesterday morning, a group of representatives from trade unions, civil society and faith based organisations were gathered in Johannesburg to finalise a programme to launch the new Swaziland Democracy Campaign. The Campaign is designed to be an active partnership of Swazi and South African organisations committed to achieving democracy in Swaziland. It is to be formally launched on Sunday 21st February after a strategy workshop the day before.

As if to emphasise the absolute necessity of such a Campaign, news came through from Swaziland via text messages while we were meeting, informing those present that four prominent student leaders had just been arrested by the police and taken to an undisclosed destination. Other students were manhandled and threatened with state violence if they tried to intervene. Part of the town where a student protest was planned was cut off by armed police.

This is just one example of the day to day terror that exists in Swaziland and that serves to completely contradict the manipulated image of a peaceful kingdom ruled over by wise men and much loved royal elite. The royal Swazi regime can boast two shocking world records. The first is that they have maintained through force, the longest State of Emergency in Africa, for 36 years to be exact. A State of Emergency that grants the repressive state draconian powers of arrest, bannings and ‘disappearances’ the like of which was not out of place under apartheid.

The second world record is that Swaziland has the highest infection rates of HIV than anywhere else in the world. Infection rates that are no doubt exacerbated by chronic poverty and the absence of even basic facilities for the overwhelmingly poor population. This stands in stark comparison to the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by the royal elite and their shameless hangers-on.

We commend the Swaziland National Union of Students and all those other progressive forces who have dared to stand up and fight for their rights despite the constant threat of suppression. We demand the immediate release of the student leaders and an end to the repressive actions of the state.

We applaud all of those who have courageously committed themselves to forming the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, even though they risk being victimised for daring to voice the need for human rights within a democratic Swaziland.

The new Campaign will call upon the South African Government and SADC countries as a whole to acknowledge that within their ranks they are effectively protecting a regime that denies its citizens even the most fundamental rights. This cannot continue without being challenged. A very large number of organisations in Swaziland, South Africa and across the world have already committed themselves to the Campaign. There is no doubt in our minds that the days of the Swaziland regime are limited. As South Africans and democrats everywhere celebrate 20 years of Nelson Mandela’s walk to freedom, we would do well to remember that the once powerful apartheid regime once poured scorn on those demanding freedom as the much less secure Swazi regime does today.

We urge all those who are inspired by the progressive actions of students and the countless others who have refused to remain subjugated, to embrace the new Swaziland Democracy Campaign and attend its launch on Sunday the 21st February at 11.00am the Civil Centre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.