Times of Swaziland
18 December 2008
Cops force Kenyan activist to leave SD
MBABANE – A foreign human rights activist and refugee has allegedly been forced to leave for supposedly bringing the international image of the country into disrepute.
James Maina Kabutu, a Kenyan national, was allegedly given seven days by the police to voluntarily leave the kingdom or face being deported to his homeland.
International watchdogs on human rights have already been informed about this development.
Kabutu opted for the first option and subsequently left the kingdom last Thursday, December 11, 2008. Given that he was allegedly wanted dead in Kenya, a situation that had forced him to seek refugee status in Swaziland, Kabutu flew to the United States of America (USA).
His time in the country was spent helping the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations (SCCCO) with human rights and civic education work.
The SCCCO has confirmed the expatriate’s departure and the cloud of controversy under which he left.
SCCCO Co-ordinator Musa Hlophe said Kabutu made a sworn affidavit detailing the events that led to his departure.
Wrong
According to the Coalition, Kabutu rubbed the state the wrong way when he notified human rights groups, the Human Rights Observatory, about pressure exerted on human rights workers in the kingdom.
In turn, the Human Rights Observatory put out a protection notice alerting the world and the Swazi government about this situation, specifically naming Hlophe and Kabufu as some of the people being victimised.
As a result of the notice, the police Intelligence Unit in Manzini hauled Kabutu for an ‘interview’.
"…they also added that any further attempts to bring the international reputation of Swaziland into disrepute would result in him being forced to live in a refugee camp or deported home.
"Seven days afterwards Mr Maina was again interviewed by the police who said the attorney general had now been contacted by the UN (United Nations) Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and that Maina had been warned about the consequences of bringing Swaziland into disrepute, therefore, he had seven days in which to voluntarily leave the country or he would be deported back to Kenya," claimed the SCCCO.
Hlophe described Kabutu as a fine African who brought many insights and examples of human rights and civil society activities. He said although he would be missed at the Coalition, their first duty was the safety of their personnel.
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