Charged with terrorism for
shouting ‘viva PUDEMO’
Swazi activists Mario Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini face terrorism charges
and could serve 15 years in prison for expressing support for pro-democracy
party the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), writes Kenworthy News Media.
“If we have to go inside the prisons and be charged, I am the first
one”. This was the prophetic statement of the Mario Masuku, the President of
PUDEMO, on May Day in the tiny absolute monarchy of Swaziland.
Mario Masuku and youth leader Maxwell Dlamini, Mario Masuku were
arrested shortly after having given speeches to approximately 7,000 people at
the 2014 May Day event in Swaziland’s main commercial city, Manzini.
They were charged under section 4 and 11 of the Suppression of Terrorism
Act, an act that Amnesty International has called “inherently repressive” and
claims “continues to use the sweeping provisions of the 2008 Suppression of
Terrorism Act to detain and charge political activists”. They could serve as
long as 15 years in prison if convicted.
Mario Masuku had expressed support for his own organization, PUDEMO, and
Maxwell Dlamini had shouted “viva PUDEMO” along with hundreds of others at the
May Day event and allegedly sung a song that included the words “the king must
go”.
The state prosecution has argued that these utterances are “very
serious” and “threatening to the leadership of the country and the nation at
large”. Mario Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini for their part vigorously deny being
terrorists or that their alleged offenses constitute acts of terrorism.
Both Masuku and Dlamini have been denied bail and are remanded in
custody at Zakhele Remand Centre, where Mario Masuku has contracted pneumonia,
which has exacerbated by his diabetic condition and led to drastic weight loss
and poor eye sight. His legal team is filing a new bail application to try and
ensure that he gets the proper medical attention that he has been refused in
prison.
According to several members of the democratic movement in Swaziland
both Masuku and Dlamini are also facing financial difficulties because of the
legal costs of the trial. Their trial will continue in September.
They have both previously faced both harassment and lengthy spells in
custody for similar charges from Swaziland’s police and legal system, none of
which they have ever been convicted of. Maxwell Dlamini has given a vivid
account of his torture at the hands of Swazi police in 2011 and was receiving
treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder before his arrest.
Swaziland is one of the most unequal countries in the world with nearly
70 per cent of its population living under the poverty line of US$1 a day. King
Mswati III of Swaziland is ranked amongst the richest royals in the world.
See also
DEMOCRAT LEADER ‘CRITICALLY
ILL’ IN JAIL
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