The following is the text of a letter sent by the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) to Swaziland’s King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
To: His Majesty the King Mswati III
Royal Kingdom of Swaziland
Att: Swaziland Johannesburg Consular Mr. Tsabedze
From: Swaziland Solidarity Network
Date: Friday, July 24th, 2009
MEMORANDUM OF DEMANDS TO THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
The Swaziland Solidarity Network submits this memorandum to mark 251 days of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku’s incarceration. We bring to your attention our strong objection to his continued imprisonment upon trumped up political charges.
Your regime is doing all it can to find a non-existent link between PUDEMO and any acts of what you term terrorism.
We demand of your regime to unconditionally release Masuku from prison and recognise the legitimate rights of your people to put forward the demand for multi-party democracy.
Your regime has perpetrated scores human rights violations against political activists, trade unions, the media and anyone that criticizes your system of political rule.
Political parties are repressed; there are widespread detentions of political activists and constant threats and intimidation against them. Your regime is corrupt and the responsible for the suffering and misery of the poor Swazis.
Your regime disrespects the rule of law and your King has placed himself above the constitution. Your regime has issued threats against public servants who belong to political parties. It is your aim to dismiss them of their jobs once the public service bill has been passed.
It is against that background that we place to your regime the following demands:
- The Unconditional and immediate release of PUDEMO President Comrade MARIO Masuku and all political prisoners.
- The dropping of all the ridiculous charges against Thulani Maseko.
- A democratically elected constituent assembly to develop a new constitution to lead the country into a constitutional Multi-party democracy.
- Removal of the draconian 1973 decree which bans political parties
- An end to the harassment and intimidation trade unions and other organisations in exercising their legitimate political and other trade union activities.
- The unconditional return of all exiles
- Swaziland must comply with the AU's Charter on Human and People's Rights.
We demand a response within 7 days of the submission of this memorandum.
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