The following is a media release from the Swaziland Solidarity Network
Another Day Another Victim
18 June, 2010
Yet another member of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) member has fallen victim to the Swazi government’s scheme to smear the good name of the movement by arresting its members in connection with the recent spate of petrol bombings. Bheki Dlamini, a young man from Mpofu, in the Northern side of the country, was arrested at his flat at Mhlaleni, a township just outside Manzini.
This makes him the second activist within a week that has be arrested and charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act after the arrest of Zonke Dlamini last week Friday. He is alleged to have been involved in the bombing of the residences of the police PRO and the member of parliament of Mtsambama, David ‘Lion’ Shongwe.
The state plans to arrest as many political activists as possible and keep them behind bars indefinitely, knowing well that it does not have any evidence linking them to the crimes for which they have been arrested. The 16 activists, including the recently murdered Sipho Jele, who were arrested in 2005 after a spate of bombings, are still awaiting trial even today. In their case at least they were allowed bail.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network is extremely disappointed with the rate at which the political climate in Swaziland is deteriorating and calls upon all pro-democratic movements and parties in that country to intensify the struggle for democracy in order to save these youth from lengthy jail sentences.
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