The rights to freedom of expression, association and
peaceful assembly continued to be violated in Swaziland during 2012, Amnesty
International said in its annual report, just published.
There were also ‘arbitrary arrests and excessive force
used to crush political protests,’ the report stated.
In a review of 2012, Amnesty International, global human
rights organisation, said, ‘torture and other ill-treatment remained a
persistent concern’ in Swaziland.
Amnesty noted that in May 2012 the African Commission on
Human Rights adopted a resolution ‘expressing alarm’ at the Swazi Government’s
failure to implement previous decisions and recommendations of the Commission
relating to the rights of freedom of expression, association, and assembly.
Amnesty International’s report stated these violations
included the use by police of, ‘rubber bullets, tear gas and batons to break up
demonstrations and gatherings viewed as illegal’.
Swaziland is in economic and political upheaval at
present, with an economy close to collapse and growing demands for King Mswati
III, who rules the kingdom as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, to
implement political reforms.
A parliamentary election due in Swaziland later this year
has focussed attention on the lack of democracy in the kingdom.
All political parties are banned from taking part in the
elections and many other major political parties have been branded ‘terrorists’
and banned from operating altogether because they are advocating for democracy
in the kingdom.
Police and security services have been accused of operating as private militias for King Mswati’s regime.
In its report, Amnesty also stated, ‘Torture and other
ill-treatment remained a concern, with a High Court judge in April [2012]
calling for a commission of inquiry into repeated allegations by accused in
criminal trials that they had been subjected to torture, which included
beatings and suffocation.
‘Deaths under suspicious circumstances and the failure of
the authorities to ensure independent investigation and accountability
continued to cause concern. Police and members of the military were implicated
in the reported incidents.’
See also
GOVT TRYING TO CRUSH UNIONS - AMNESTY
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