Condemnation of the jailing of Thulani Maseko, the prominent human rights lawyer in Swaziland continues apace.
Ever since Maseko was arrested on 2 June 2009 and thrown in jail on a charge of sedition, democrats in Swaziland and across the world have lined up http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2009/06/us-supports-jailed-swazi-lawyer.html to support him and to condemn the Swazi state.
The latest is the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
It says in a statement, ‘It is our view that laws such as the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act, under which Maseko has been charged, are draconian and unwelcome in a civilized society like Swaziland because they are intimidating and instil further fear among the citizens.
‘We are concerned that the government continues to use such laws to rule by fear and this raises the question whether citizens are free to enjoy the rights as enshrined in the national constitution.
‘MISA stands for freedom of expression, which the Constitution of Swaziland also guarantees, and condemns any action by the government that seeks to silence through draconian pieces of legislation. To this end, we believe the comments Maseko is alleged to have uttered and is detained for were within his basic right to express himself. We further believe that he cannot be persecuted for expressing himself.’
Maseko, the lawyer for Mario Masuku, President of the banned People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) is remanded in jail awaiting trial. Masuku has himself been in jail since November 2008 awaiting trial, also on a charge of sedition.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network, Canada, has set up a website that collects information on Maseko, to access it click here.
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