SWAZI POLICE ASSAULT SCHOOLKIDS

Another case of Swaziland police beating up schoolchildren who took part in demonstrations has been reported.

Police are said to have assaulted pupils of Mbukwane High School. The Swazi Observer, the newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, reported police went to the homes of the pupils, took them to the police station where they were interrogated ‘before being beaten up’. The pupils were said to have been involved in what the newspaper described as a ‘riot’ at the school last year.

One parent told the newspaper, ‘The police were moving from home to home in search of those children they thought were ringleaders. My son was among those who were taken to the police station. I had to take my child to hospital after the beating.’

Another parent said his child was not himself of late as a result of the assault by the police.

Last week, it was reported that 12 schoolchildren from Kubongeni High School, who were accused of being leaders in a class boycott, were beaten up by police officers with batons and fists, in their own school.