Swaziland refused to withdraw all charges against
people brought under the Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA), when it appeared
before a United Nations review of human rights in the kingdom.
The STA has been criticised across the world because
it is used to arrest and jail people, including trade unionists, who are
legitimately calling for their rights.
Human Rights Watch in its World Report 2016,
said ‘The Suppression of Terrorism Act, the Sedition and Subversive Activities
Act of 1938, and other similarly draconian legislation provided sweeping powers
to the security services to halt meetings and protests and to curb criticism of
the government, even though such rights are protected under Swaziland’s 2005
constitution. In September 2015, eight human rights defenders challenged the
constitutionality of these security laws in the High Court of Swaziland. A
final ruling has yet to be handed down.’
The STA was ‘regularly used’ by the police to
interfere in trade union activities, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) said in a
submission to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)
in 2015.
Amnesty International has criticised
of Swaziland for the ‘continued persecution of peaceful political opponents and
critics’ by the King and his authorities. It said the Swazi authorities
were using the Acts, ‘to intimidate activists, further entrench political
exclusion and to restrict the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression,
association and peaceful assembly.’
Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan
Africa’s last absolute monarch. Political parties are not allowed to contest
elections. The people are only allowed to select 55 of the 65 members of the
House of Assembly, with the King appointing the others. No members of the
30-strong Swaziland Senate are elected by the people.
Swaziland appeared before the United Nations Human
Rights Council Working Group for a five-yearly Universal Periodic Review in May
2016.
A draft
report of the review published online, stated that Swaziland
refused to accept 14 recommendations from members of the review panel,
including one from Norway that recommended a, ‘Withdraw all criminal charges
brought against human rights defenders and political opponents under laws such
as the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 and other security legislation, and
ensure that proposed amendments to these acts bring them in conformity with
international human rights standards.’
See also
SWAZI
TERROR LAW COURT CHALLENGE
SWAZI
TERROR ACT STOPS FREE SPEECH
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/11/swazi-terror-act-stops-free-speech.html
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