Two Swaziland schoolgirls, one aged nine, have been shot
by state police in separate incidents during a teachers’ strike in the kingdom.
The nine-year-old, a grade five pupil from St Andrews
Primary in Malkerns, 30 km outside the commercial city of Manzini, was shot and
wounded in the leg by state police today (14 June 2012).
The Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Swaziland, reports,
‘The shooting came as hundreds of students from surrounding schools were chased
and beaten by state police armed with teargas, guns and batons.’ This was on
the second day of a nationwide strike by teachers seeking a 4.5 percent pay
rise.
CHR reports, ‘According to students, who declined to be
identified, a group of teachers came chanting and toyi-toying into Bosco High
School and forced them out of classes. The students claimed even though their
teachers were not around, they were continuing with their studies inside their
classrooms.
‘A few minutes after the group of teachers had left fully
armed members of the riot squad, and personnel from His Majesty’s Correctional
Services budged into the school and fired tear gas canisters into classrooms.’
The shooting was confirmed by authorities at the St
Andrews Primary School. They also confirmed that the young girl was heavily
traumatised and had been admitted at Mankayane Hospital.
In a separate incident, another schoolgirl, whose age is
not reported, was shot in the shoulder by police using rubber bullets.
CHR reports the form one pupil, who attends school at St
Annes High School, was shot in the left shoulder, and was also injured on the
forehead.
Her mother told CHR that after the shooting she took her
daughter to the local police station where they were given a police report to
enable her to go to hospital. They eventually returned home due to lack of
transportation.
CHR reports, ‘Police brutality was also witnessed during
the teachers’ protest march in the streets of Manzini. At least two members of the
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) were interviewed by the
Centre soon after their injuries.
‘A marshal, Mr Menzi Tsabedze, who was visibly in pain
was injured in the leg during a scuffle that ensued between striking teachers
and riot police. Mr Tsabedze believes he was hit on the leg with the butt of a
gun whilst he was trying to control the crowd, whilst another female teacher
bore a visibly bruised and bleeding knee; an injury she sustained after police
tripped her and beat her.
‘At the close of the protest march in Manzini, tear gas
canisters were fired, protestors were beaten up by fully armed riot police
and personnel from His Majesty’s Correctional Services.’
See also
DEFIANT TEACHERS DELIVER PETITION
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