South Africa’s African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has turned up the heat ahead of Friday’s mass demonstrations in Mbabane to threaten King Mswati III that it will use ‘radical action’ against the Swaziland state if he allows his security forces to fire on and kill his own people.
‘The ANC Youth League would like to specifically caution the Swaziland monarchy and its security forces that if they unleash violence against their own people which leads to the loss of life, we will intervene with even more radical and militant ways of ensuring that there is democracy, peace and freedom in Swaziland,’ it said in a statement issued today (16 March 2011).
The ANCYL said, ‘The ANC Youth League will employ whatever mechanism available to make sure that the people of Swaziland are liberated, including active border blockades, radical mass protests inside Swaziland and all sorts of campaigns to ensure that anything that is associated with the Swaziland monarchy is isolated in South Africa and the world. The people of Swaziland, like all other people of the oppressed world who have recently liberated themselves, should be allowed the freedom to raise their voices against injustices of the monarchy.’
It added, ‘The Swaziland monarchy should by now know that the ANC Youth League does not make empty promises, nor do we pose threats, because any attempt on their part to unleash violence on peaceful protestors will be met by even more radical action from the ANC Youth League and all progressive forces that support democracy and change in Swaziland.’
On Friday (18 March 2011) a mass march is planned by labour unions and students to protest against the government. This is ahead of more protests in April, including an ‘uprising’ planned for 12 April.
The ANCYL said it, ‘totally supports the protests led by all civil society, workers and students’ formations in Swaziland against the repressive monarch of King Mswati III’.
It went on, ‘The ANC Youth League is inspired that the people of Swaziland are rising against the repressive royal regime, which for many years has neglected the wellbeing of the people of Swaziland and concentrated on the self-gratification and enrichment of the King, his immediate family, friends and relatives amidst massive poverty, starvation and sicknesses in Swaziland.
‘These should come to an immediate end, and requires the dedication and focus of the people of Swaziland to stand firm and not be intimidated by the monarchy and its Security forces.
‘The people of Swaziland should fight with determination and always know that all peace
loving youth of South Africa, Africa and the world are fully behind them.’
The ANCYL said, ‘the fate of the people of Swaziland is intractably linked to the fate of the
people of South Africa. The pain and suffering of the people of Swaziland is our pain and suffering and we will forever support all struggles to bring social justice, peace and democracy to Swaziland.
‘The Swaziland monarchy should by now know that the ANC Youth League does not make empty promises, nor do we pose threats, because any attempt on their part to unleash violence on peaceful protestors will be met by even more radical action from the ANC Youth League and all progressive forces that support democracy and change in Swaziland.’
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