Two trade unionists in Swaziland were arrested and beaten
by police at a May Day rally.
They were arrested because they were holding a banner
with markings of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), a labour
organisation that is not recognised by the Swazi Government.
The Centre for Human Rights, Swaziland, reported the two
men, ‘were violently arrested, beaten up and later released without charge by
state police in Swaziland’.
The Centre named the two as Muzi Mhlanga, who is
Secretary General of the Swaziland National Teachers’ Association (SNAT), and
another member of the union identified only as ‘Oscar’.
The Centre said the two were arrested at a May Day rally
in Manzini, the main commercial city in the kingdom, ruled by King Mswati III,
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
In a statement the Centre said the men, ‘were arrested
after police pounced on toyi-toying workers who were carrying a banner with
TUCOSWA markings’.
It added, ‘The two were taken to the Manzini Regional
Police Headquarters where they were detained for two hours. They were later
called into an office and asked what their business was at the police
headquarters, to which they responded that they had not gone there voluntarily,
but were brought in by the police.
‘According to Mhlanga, who was interviewed by the Centre
after his release, five plain clothed police officers pounced on them as soon
as the van delivered them at the regional headquarters.
‘Mhlanga was shoved to the floor, and beaten by these
members of the law enforcement agency. During the fall he sustained injuries to
his knees and face. During the interview, Mhlanga spotted a visibly swollen
face, especially around his eyes. Oscar on the other hand sustained injuries
while state police dragged him and threw him into the police van which sped off
immediately. Ironically, no charges were preferred against the two.’
The Centre said the two would bring charges against the police
officers.
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