SWAZI MARCH BANNED – STATEMENT

Last weekend the banned political party PUDEMO attempted to march and rally in Swaziland.

As I wrote on Monday (7 July 2008) the Swazi police brutally broke up the rally. Some people were physically taken up to 40km away from the rally and dumped by police. Others, including a man on crutches were assaulted by police.

Now the Swaziland Solidarity Network has issued a media release supporting PUDEMO (The People's United Democratic Movement) and condemning the police.

Since I haven’t seen any reference to this release in the Swazi media, here it is.


PRESS STATEMENT
Date: 11 July 2008

PUDEMO RALLY BRUTALLY DISPERSED BY ROYAL POLICE IN MANZINI, SWAZILAND

On 5 July 2008 , The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) held a rally in Manzini, Swaziland, to commemorate the organization's founding day. The rally was banned and brutally dispersed by the intolerant king and his oppressive police.

This behaviour once again demonstrates King Mswati III disdain for democracy and the right of people to peacefully assemble. What kind of democracy is this? The kind that bans people from assembling, because we oppose the King? PUDEMO did not mushroom from the ground yesterday, for us to be treated like ‘naughty kids’

PUDEMO is a liberation movement committed to a truly free and democratic Swaziland. The King and his Tinkundla induna's are not committed to democracy and freedom, but want to maintain his tyranny through undemocratic means. No democracy can exist without the right of people to organize into political parties and contest free and fair elections.

Violence is no means to address political problems. However, it must be mentioned that for the oppressed people any means necessary to defend themselves is legitimate and we fully endorse it.

To insult freedom and democracy further, Mswati has the arrogance to try to play referee in the Zimbabwe crisis. While he bans political parties in Swaziland, bans and intimidates PUDEMO and the democratic forces, he wants to ensure there is free and fair multi-party democracy in Zimbabwe – what a hypocrite!

As the Swaziland Solidarity Network, we condemn Mswati’s double standards. We further condemn SADC attempts to use this Swazi tinpot dictator as a referee in this sensitive crisis that requires credible people. We call on SADC to fire Mswati as a member of the security troika, for he does not qualify to police anyone in SADC.

We want to extend our warm wishes to PUDEMO’s existence for 25 years, and wish our comrades, particularly Comrade Mario Masuku victory in the democratic struggle of Swaziland.

We endorse PUDEMO’s call to SADC, African Union, NEPAD and Commonwealth, to stand by their resolutions to determine whether the Swaziland elections are democratic before they are determined to be free and fair. We know it will not be, due to political parties being banned. We support PUDEMO’s boycott of the elections and all efforts to render it unworkable. The only way forward is a constituent Assembly that will lead to unbanning of political parties, free and fair elections and a constitutional monarchy.

Viva PUDEMO Viva!

Long Live the Swazi People's Democratic Struggle.

Issued by Swaziland Solidarity Network
For more information contact
Lucky Lukhele- [SSN- SPOKESPERSON]
Cell: 072 502 4141
Tell: 011 339 3621

See also
SWAZI COPS BEAT UP PUDEMO - UPDATE