‘ARREST AND PROSECUTE SWAZI KING’

Confederation of South African Trade Unions

Statement

20 June 2011

SOURCE

Arrest and prosecute Mswati III

COSATU Mpumalanga statement on Swaziland

The Mswati dictatorship regime is on the verge of collapse. The Tikhundla autocratic government is nearing its demise. The progressive forces in Swaziland are resolute, militant and determined not to surrender until the Mswati regime is brought to its knees.

COSATU in Mpumalanga welcomes the political developments in Swaziland. These actions are a culmination of the struggles and protest actions led by COSATU against the Mswati regime during the past ten years or so, the latest being the successful solidarity protest march to the Oshoek border gate by thousands of COSATU members to demand freedom and democracy in Swaziland.

COSATU welcomes the formation of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) and the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) which was formed on 1 May 2011 – May Day. In combat and unity of purpose the progressive forces in Swaziland led by PUDEMO are on an uninterrupted march and journey to a New and Democratic Swaziland based on the aspirations of the people – COSATU in Mpumalanga commits to walk the last mile and endure the difficulties and pains together with the people of Swaziland.

We call upon the United Nations, to do as they did in Egypt and Libya – to deploy as a matter of extreme urgency the NATO forces to protect the civilians in that country against the brutality of the Mswati regime.

We call on South Africa, SADC, Africa and the World not to bail out the bankrupt Mswati regime. The Swaziland regime should be left to die a peaceful painful death.

We call on the South African government, in particular the Mpumalanga Provincial Government to stop all trade and diplomatic relations with the Swaziland oppressive regime.

We call on the International Criminal Court to arrest and prosecute Mswati for having committed crimes against humanity that have led to thousands of people dying of poverty, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and thousands of activists dying at the hands of the Swaziland police and soldiers.