Two prodemocracy leaders in Swaziland Mario
Masuku and Maxwell Dlamini who have been in jail on remand
for more than 14 months were granted bail by the Swazi Supreme Court on Tuesday
(14 July 2015).
Masuku is president of the People’s United
Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and Dlamini secretary-general of PUDEMO’s youth
wing, SWAYOCO. Both organisations are banned under the kingdom’s Suppression of
Terrorism Act (STA).
Both men were arrested at a May Day rally in 2014 and
charged with sedition under the STA. They are accused of making statements
in favour of the PUDEMO.
Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III, as
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. Political parties are banned from
taking part in elections and the King chooses government members. All
prodemocracy activities are banned.
The
European Union in Swaziland reported on Tuesday that Masuku
and Dlamini were finally released on bail that day following their appeal
against the High Court’s decision to repeatedly
deny them bail.
The EU
reported on its Facebook page, ‘The two who were arrested
in May 2014 on charges of sedition and terrorism and had remained in detention
since, were granted bail after the Crown said it was not opposing the appeal.
‘However, this was not
before the Supreme Court judges expressed displeasure at the lengthy detention
of the two yet bail was a constitutional right.
‘The two were then released on E12 000 (US$1,200) bail
each with E3 000 (for each) payable in cash and the rest as surety.
‘Their release was met with jubilation from family
and friends as well as PUDEMO members who immediately burst into political
struggle songs and toy-toyed in celebration within the High Court premises.’
In May 2015 European
Parliament members called on King Mswati to free all
political prisoners in the kingdom or face the prospect of economic sanctions.
See also
FREE
POLITICAL PRISONERS: EURO MPs
JAILED
DEMOCRATS NOW IN ISOLATION
http://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/jailed-democrats-now-in-isolation.html
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