DIPLOMAT DENIED ACCESS TO MASUKU

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Swaziland Mark Norton was yesterday denied permission to meet Mario Masuku, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) at the Matsapha Maximum Security Prison.

Norton said he wanted to find out for himself the facts behind Masuku’s arrest and subsequent remand in custody awaiting trial.

He told the Times Sunday today (23 November 2008) he wanted to get Masuku’s side of the story after Swaziland Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini had given his side of the story at a luncheon he hosted for diplomats on Friday.

Masuku was arrested last Saturday and charged with making public statements in support of terrorism. This was one day after the Swazi Prime Minister branded four political entities (including PUDEMO) as ‘terrorist’ organisations under the Suppression of Terrorism Act 2008.

Norton wanted to find out whether or not the Swazi Government used the Suppression of Terrorism Act against Masuku reasonably.

Norton told the Times Sunday, ‘As a diplomat, my job is to inform myself of the facts and I wanted an account from PUDEMO; since PUDEMO has been prescribed, I cannot talk to them without breaking the Swazi laws. I, therefore, decided to talk to Mario Masuku to hear his side of the story.’

He added, ‘I went to Matsapha Maximum Prison this morning (Saturday), I introduced myself as the British Deputy High Commissioner and I asked to see Mario Masuku.

‘I was shown a notice which states that in the case of King versus Mario Masuku, the authorities would strictly enforce Section 16 (6) (b) of the 2005 Constitution, which suggests that only Mario’s next of kin, legal representatives and doctor have the right to see him.’

Norton said he believed that any other person could see him at the discretion of the Chief Prison Officer. He asked the Chief Prison Officer to exercise his discretion and allow him to see Masuku but he refused to do so.

Norton told the newspaper, ‘I need to establish the fact over Mario’s arrest in order to come to a view on whether the government is applying the new terrorist legislation reasonably. Since that legislation (prescription) was used against Mario within 24 hours of enactment and since I have been denied permission to talk to Mario, I have yet to form a view on whether the government acted reasonably or not.’

He said he was not pleased with the manner he was being treated because he was doing his job as a diplomat authorised to represent the UK’s interests.

Correctional Services Public Relations Officer Nomkhosi Maseko said in such sensitive matters that attracted global attention and lots of people in the kingdom, the prison officers exercised caution, strictly selective in requests for seeing Masuku.

She said their intention was not to harass the diplomat but wanted to ensure Masuku received maximum protection. Maseko said they were duty-bound to safeguard Masuku because they were too many people who wanted to see him.