Police in
Swaziland said they would arrest anyone at this week’s May Day celebrations who
‘utter defamatory statements about authorities’.
But, they
said they would to allow people to mark the day on 1 May.
The Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King
Mswati III, who rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch, reported on Tuesday (28
April 2015) , ‘Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant
Superintendent Khulani Mamba said since this was an internationally recognised
day, they would not hinder the celebrations by workers but would deal with
those that would utter statements against authority.’
He added,
‘However, those that will utter defamatory statements about authorities will be
arrested.’
This warning
was aimed at people who advocate for democracy in Swaziland where no political
parties are allowed to contest elections and opposition groups are banned as
‘terrorists’ under the controversial Suppression of Terrorism Act 2008.
At the
May Day celebrations in 2014, People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO)
President Mario Masuku and the party’s youth congress leader Maxwell Dlamini
were arrested and charged with uttering seditious statements. They have been in
jail for a year awaiting trial.
See also
DEMOCRATS DEFY
POLICE OVER MAY DAY
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/democrats-defy-police-over-may-day.html
POLICE ABDUCT
DEMOCRACY LEADERS
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/04/police-abduct-democracy-leaders.html
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