Armed police in
Swaziland have cordoned off the venue for a scheduled public debate on
democracy in the kingdom to prevent it taking place.
Earlier today
(12 April 2013), police, acting without a court order, told organisers the
meeting could not take place because it ‘presented a threat to national security’.
The intended
venue, the Greater Alpha restaurant in Manzini was surrounded by about seven
police and army vehicles and between 30 and 40 paramilitary police officers.
Local embassies, church leaders, community organisations,
the local and international media were among those invited to attend the
meeting.
The joint organisers
of the meeting the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and the Swaziland
Democracy Campaign (SDC) had told police this morning they would defy the ban.
This afternoon they told followers of social media sites they would continue to
seek a venue so the meeting could go ahead.
The public meeting was to mark the 40th anniversary of
the Royal Decree made by King Sobhuza II in 1973 that turned Swaziland from a
democracy to a kingdom ruled by an autocratic monarchy.
See also
POLICE BAN DEMOCRACY PUBLIC MEETING
No comments:
Post a Comment