Attention has focused in the past week on the war of terror unleashed by Swazi King Mswati III against his own people, but we should not forget that the day-to-day repression in Swaziland continues.
On Wednesday (19 November 2008) police officers who have been campaigning to form their own independent trade union were detained and beaten up as they tried to meet with Swazi Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini.
They had assembled at the police college in Manzini where the Prime Minister was due for a meeting, but they were attacked by police recruits and detained before his arrival.
The Times of Swaziland reported yesterday (20 November 2008) that about six officers who are members of the unregistered Swaziland Police Union (SPU) were rounded up and made to sit on the ground for over two hours while they were circled by the recruits who were armed with batons.
Speaking to the Times after they had been released they said one of the senior officers ordered the recruits to remove them. ‘They literally lifted us and carried us to the sports ground where while [we] were seated they would assault us with batons. One of us is presently at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial hospital after he sustained injuries all over the body,’ said one of the police officers.
The Prime Minister was at the police college for a meeting with the Police Staff Association, which is recognised by government.
No comments:
Post a Comment