DANISH SUPPORT FOR SWAZI STUDENTS

The following is a statement issued by Africa Contact in Denmark on 11 February 2010 concerning the abduction by Swaziland police of student leaders.

Africa Contact in Denmark extends our warmest compliments to the leadership of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) and its members for your strong manifestation in support of better education in Swaziland. We are proud to be your allies in the struggle for a democratic and free Swaziland.

We are therefore shocked and deeply upset to learn that several student leaders have been abducted and held incommunicado by the regime in Swaziland.

These comrades are: Pius Vilikati, President of the Students Representative Council at the University of Swaziland; Maxwell Dlamini, national organizaing secretary of the Swaziland National Union of Students; Sipho Simelane, SRC member at the University of Swaziland; and Thembela Ngcamphalala, vice chairperson of the Kwaluseni branch of SNUS and branch organizing secretary of SNUS Kwaluseni.

We will do everything we can to ensure their safe and swift return.

The abductions are proof that the regime in Swaziland is willing to use all and any means at their disposal to crush the democratic movement in Swaziland.

Africa Contact is therefore going to request a meeting with the Danish Foreign Minister, Per Stig Møller, to inform him of the serious and worrying developments in Swaziland and to oblige the Danish government to protest against the recent abductions.