The Swaziland magazine editor Bheki Makhubu, jailed
for two years for writing
articles critical of Swazi judges, is to appeal against his sentence.
In the appeal papers lawyers for Makhubu say the High Court
Judge Mpendulo Simelane erred on several matters when convicting the editor of the
Nation magazine.
The Media
Institute of Southern Africa reported,
‘Many local and international observers condemned the sentence of
Makhubu and his co-accused Thulani Maseko, saying that the trial highlighted
the crumbling state of free speech while raising more questions over the
independence of the justice system.’
The Nation
magazine and the Swaziland Independent Publishers (PTY) Ltd, which were also
found guilty on two counts of contempt of court and sentenced to a fine of E50,000
(US$5,000) on each count, are also to appeal sentence.
In his appeal statement Makhubu said the sentence had
stifled ‘vibrant journalism’ in Swaziland. Broadcast media are almost entirely
state-controlled and censorship
is endemic.
In his appeal, Makhubu said
Judge Simelane’s sentence was ‘so harsh that it has the
effect of discouraging critical and vibrant journalism in this country’.
In his judgement at the High
Court, Judge
Simelane had said, ‘No one, I repeat, has a right to write scurrilous articles
in the manner the Accused persons did.
Such conduct destroys public confidence in the Courts, without which
this country cannot function effectively. The Courts hence have to use the very
ammunition of Contempt of Court in self-protection from journalists like the
Accused persons.’
See also
JOURNALISTS JAILED TO DETER OTHERS
US BACKS
CONVICTED SWAZI JOURNALISTS
JUDGE RESTRICTS PRESS FREEDOM
No comments:
Post a Comment