Contact the ASC

	Latest News - Article
Swazi Regime Launches Bitter Attack on Democracy Activists Press Release 30 June 2010 While the World Celebrates Football, The Swazi Regime Launches Bitter Attack on Democracy Activists: SADC Must Act! South African Government Must Act! An Injury to One is an Injury To All! This is an Urgent Call to Action! Over the last 24 hours, the police in Swaziland have launched a reign of repression on democracy activists and their communities. Using old and discredited legislation in the form of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and under direct orders of the so-called Minister of Justice, the police have smashed their way into the homes of democracy activists and wreaked havoc amongst all those within their path. Attached to this statement is a harrowing account of the barbarity that is being used to intimidate democracy activists, their families and communities where they live and work. Trade Unionists, Religious Leaders, Democracy activists and all those deemed to be associated with the main democratic opposition organisation, PUDEMO have been subjected to extreme harassment, illegal arrest and intimidation. Their persons and property have been assaulted. The same Minister of Justice, and the Swazi Regime as a whole were roundly chastised by the recent ILO meeting in Geneva. The Swaziland Democracy Campaign and other organisations have successfully exposed the realities of life in Swaziland today. Instead of Swaziland being projected as an idyllic Kingdom of benevolent leadership complete with happy and loyal subjects, it is finally being seen for what it actually is. A place of chronic destitution for the vast majority of its people, where HIV/Aids have reached catastrophic proportions, reducing the life span to a mere 44 years, and where the most basic of human rights are trodden underfoot. Meanwhile, through plunder and patronage, the Swazi Elite enjoy the lifestyles of the super rich, and flaunt their wealth in an arrogant display of disregard for the people they claim to serve. As the attached indicates, in reaction to being exposed at the ILO, the regime has escalated not demobilised repression. This is a very grave situation indeed. We demand action now. The world remembers that the South African government came into being because democratic forces at home and abroad refused to be silenced and compromised. It must therefore illustrate its commitment to the democratic values of the SA constitution and immediately raise these matters with the Swazi Regime. Human rights are more important that even the greatest football tournament in the world. As a first step, the SA Government must immediately and publicly condemn the use of state repression to silence democratic voices in Swaziland. Through SADC and the AU, the SA Government must also pressurise the regime to stop behaving in this tyrannical manner, which brings the whole African Continent as a whole into global disrepute. Despite the latest wave of repression, democratic forces inside Swaziland, inspired by the courage of PUDEMO, church, community and union based activists have vowed to continue their noble fight for a democratic Swaziland. The attacks on them by the regime are indicative of their growing influence amongst the mass of people. Democrats know that this is a defining moment in their struggle for a Swaziland free of poverty and wastefulness. It is our duty to support them and ensure that they are able to continue their struggle for liberation. To help escalate the campaign for democracy in Swaziland, the Swaziland Democracy Campaign invites all comrades to a crisis reportback meeting at SAMWU, 84, Frederick Street (corner of Frederick and Von Brandis), Marshaltown Joburg CBD, on Monday 5th July at 12.00 – 14.00. For more information contact: Ntokozo Mbhele on 072 370 0974 Ntoko@publicservices.co.za or Philani Ndebele on 076 942 3565 philani@asc.org.za

Latest News - Article

Swazi Regime Launches Bitter Attack on Democracy Activists
Press Release 30 June 2010

While the World Celebrates Football, The Swazi Regime Launches Bitter Attack on Democracy Activists: SADC Must Act! South African Government Must Act! An Injury to One is an Injury To All! This is an Urgent Call to Action!

Over the last 24 hours, the police in Swaziland have launched a reign of repression on democracy activists and their communities. Using old and discredited legislation in the form of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and under direct orders of the so-called Minister of Justice, the police have smashed their way into the homes of democracy activists and wreaked havoc amongst all those within their path.

Attached to this statement is a harrowing account of the barbarity that is being used to intimidate democracy activists, their families and communities where they live and work. Trade Unionists, Religious Leaders, Democracy activists and all those deemed to be associated with the main democratic opposition organisation, PUDEMO have been subjected to extreme harassment, illegal arrest and intimidation. Their persons and property have been assaulted.

The same Minister of Justice, and the Swazi Regime as a whole were roundly chastised by the recent ILO meeting in Geneva. The Swaziland Democracy Campaign and other organisations have successfully exposed the realities of life in Swaziland today. Instead of Swaziland being projected as an idyllic Kingdom of benevolent leadership complete with happy and loyal subjects, it is finally being seen for what it actually is. A place of chronic destitution for the vast majority of its people, where HIV/Aids have reached catastrophic proportions, reducing the life span to a mere 44 years, and where the most basic of human rights are trodden underfoot.

Meanwhile, through plunder and patronage, the Swazi Elite enjoy the lifestyles of the super rich, and flaunt their wealth in an arrogant display of disregard for the people they claim to serve. As the attached indicates, in reaction to being exposed at the ILO, the regime has escalated not demobilised repression. This is a very grave situation indeed. We demand action now.

The world remembers that the South African government came into being because democratic forces at home and abroad refused to be silenced and compromised. It must therefore illustrate its commitment to the democratic values of the SA constitution and immediately raise these matters with the Swazi Regime. Human rights are more important that even the greatest football tournament in the world. As a first step, the SA Government must immediately and publicly condemn the use of state repression to silence democratic voices in Swaziland.

Through SADC and the AU, the SA Government must also pressurise the regime to stop behaving in this tyrannical manner, which brings the whole African Continent as a whole into global disrepute.

Despite the latest wave of repression, democratic forces inside Swaziland, inspired by the courage of PUDEMO, church, community and union based activists have vowed to continue their noble fight for a democratic Swaziland. The attacks on them by the regime are indicative of their growing influence amongst the mass of people. Democrats know that this is a defining moment in their struggle for a Swaziland free of poverty and wastefulness. It is our duty to support them and ensure that they are able to continue their struggle for liberation.

To help escalate the campaign for democracy in Swaziland, the Swaziland Democracy Campaign invites all comrades to a crisis reportback meeting at SAMWU, 84, Frederick Street (corner of Frederick and Von Brandis), Marshaltown Joburg CBD, on Monday 5th July at 12.00 – 14.00.

For more information contact: Ntokozo Mbhele on 072 370 0974 Ntoko@publicservices.co.za or Philani Ndebele on 076 942 3565 philani@asc.org.za