Thulani Maseko, the lawyer representing Swaziland’s jailed opposition leader Mario Masuku, has been arrested himself because he is alleged to have spoken approvingly of an attempt last September by two men to bomb a bridge near one of King Mswati III’s palaces.
The South Africa Press Association (SAPA) is reporting today (3 June 2009) that Maseko Maseko is alleged to have made the remarks at a May Day rally in Manzini. Maseko was due to appear in Manzini magistrates court today charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
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SAPA says the failed bomb attack took place against the backdrop of growing calls in the impoverished kingdom for democracy. Political parties are banned from contesting parliamentary elections in the country of around 1 million people, where the king, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, rules by decree.
Mario Masuku, president of the banned People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), has been in prison awaiting trial for more than six months.
SAPA reports Masuku was also arrested under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, but in the absence of evidence supporting terrorism-related charges, the charges against him have been downgraded.
He now faces charges under the more wide-ranging Sedition Act. No trial date has been set in his case eight months after his arrest.
Several other members of PUDEMO have also been detained in recent months.
King Mswati’s government has rebuffed calls for multi-party politics, saying the monarchy is a guarantor of stability.
2 comments:
HELLO SWAZILAND IAM INFORMING YOU THAT kING LUHLEKO MASEKO 2 IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY SWAZILAND IS BEING GOVERNED BY THESE THONGA OPPRESSERS FROM KWATEMBE HE WANTS SWAZILAND TO BE INCORPORATED BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA.
SWAZIS WAKE UP YOU ARE NOT AMATHONGA KA NGWANE YOU ARE EMASWATI KA NGCAMANE THAT BASTARD MSWATI IS NOT EVEN A SWAZI LI THONGA LENTO OUR PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF HIM IT IS TIME HE ABDICATE THE KING OF THE SWAZI PEOPLE IS HRH lUHLEKO 2 THE SON TO THE LATE KING DUMAKUDE MASEKO.
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