PUDEMO CONDEMNS EDITOR’S CONVICTION

People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) statement on Bheki Makhubu sentence
18 April 2013

PUDEMO would like to condemn the Royal Courts in Swaziland for fining and sentencing the Nation Magazine and its editor Bheki Makhubu E100 000 or 2 years imprisonment. The royal court instructed that the fine must be paid by next Tuesday; failing which 2 years imprisonment for Makhubu. 

This is disgusting and an affront to all that the courts should stand for. This judgement effectively shuts out the smallest door of freedom of expression that some had thought we had. Again, this confirms our profound assessment that all people must engage in this political struggle not to create illusional and false enclaves of freedom in a sea of dictatorship. 

We stand in solidarity with Bheki Makhubu, the Nation Magazine and the entire media fraternity in this dark hour. This again shows that Swaziland is a brutal dictatorship and the sooner we deal with it collectively as Swazis assisted by the world. The better for us all.

See also

ARTICLES THAT MIGHT GET EDITOR JAILED

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/articles-that-might-get-editor-jailed.html

SOUTH AFRICA EDITORS BACK MAKHUBU

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/south-africa-editors-back-makhubu.html

HIGH COURT SUPPRESSES MEDIA FREEDOM

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/high-court-suppresses-media-freedom.html

MISA: EDITOR’S CONVICTION ‘BRUTAL’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/misa-editors-conviction-brutal.html

EDITOR’S CONTEMPT SENTENCE ‘SHOCKING’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/editors-contempt-sentence-shocking.html

EDITOR SET FOR TWO YEARS IN JAIL

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/editor-set-for-two-years-in-jail.html