Statement of solidarity with peace-loving people of Swaziland from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).
14 April 2011
The WFTU expresses shock and condemns the brutal response of the Swaziland government against the peaceful demonstrations by its own citizens. It is well known all over the world that the people of Swaziland are demanding a democratic government which will rule in the genuine interests of all the citizens of that country. It is also known that the oppressed and exploited people of Swaziland are against the concentration of the resources of that country in the corrupt hands of the family of the monarchy and its cronies. It is also known that the corrupt and cruel conduct of the despotic rule of the monarch has reduced that country into a ruin of abject poverty. The citizens are victims of unemployment and diseases. This kind of cruelty is unacceptable in our modern day and age.
We call on the monarchy and its henchmen to stop the brutal assaults of the people
We call on the Swaziland police to stop arresting and torturing the people and their leaders. We stand by our friends in the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU), Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL) and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT).
We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested comrades and their leadership. Over the past three days over 50 union leaders and the whole leadership of PUDEMO inside Swaziland have been arrested for organising peaceful protests to demand free political activity and protest against job cuts and retrenchments.
We call for the recognition of the legitimate democratic demands of the people of Swaziland primary being the unbanning of political parties. We call on the regime to open dialogue with the liberation movement of the people of Swaziland, Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).
We call on the leaders of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to intervene and assist in finding a democratic solution that will be acceptable to the people of Swaziland. Our call also goes to the South African government to play its role in the situation in Swaziland.
We reiterate our unequivocal solidarity with the people of Swaziland and the leaders of their organizations. We call on all our members, worldwide, to take solidarity action with the people of Swaziland. All our member unions must establish Swaziland Democracy Campaign chapters in their countries in order to intensify the global solidarity movement in support of the liberation struggle led by PUDEMO and its allies in the Swaziland United Democratic Front-SUDF.
As the WFTU we will always be on the side of the oppressed. Our 16th congress was very clear in giving us marching orders in support of all struggling people of the world.
Let the struggle intensify until freedom is achieved.
ALUTA CONTINUA!
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