Socialist Youth call for
democracy in Swaziland now
Kenworthy
News Media, 29 March 2017
The
International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) is calling for governments,
regional bodies and multilaterals to pressurize the Swazi regime to introduce
multiparty elections in the absolute monarchy of Swaziland, writes Kenworthy News Media.
“We are
appealing to democratic governments, regional bodies, and multilateral
institutions to raise the issue of Swaziland and hold the authoritarian regime
accountable. We call for political and economic pressure on the regime … [and]
a peaceful transition to democracy,” the IUSY wrote in a resolution passed at
the IUSY World Council held in Rosario, Argentina last week.
The IUSY
is an international youth organisation with UN ECOSOC consultative status. It
has 134 member organisations in over 80 countries, including the youth league
of banned pro-democracy party PUDEMO, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO).
Denied
freedom
The IUSY, amongst other things, urged international bodies to apply smart sanctions on Swaziland’s royal family until multiparty democracy was implemented. It also demanded the unbanning of political parties, removal of repressive legislation towards political parties and labour unions, an end to systematic harassment of political activists, and the unconditional release of political prisoners and the return of exiles.
The IUSY, amongst other things, urged international bodies to apply smart sanctions on Swaziland’s royal family until multiparty democracy was implemented. It also demanded the unbanning of political parties, removal of repressive legislation towards political parties and labour unions, an end to systematic harassment of political activists, and the unconditional release of political prisoners and the return of exiles.
“Swaziland
remains the only African state that is ruled by an absolute monarchy … The
people of Swaziland have been denied their freedom … since political parties
were banned in 1973 by the monarchy,” who control the government, courts and
economy, the resolution stated.
“The
authoritarian rule has failed to transform the lives of the ordinary citizenry,
as we witness that more than 60 percent of Swazis live below the poverty datum
line whilst the royal family lives lavishly … The youth is faced with the
reality of grinding poverty, HIV/AIDS pandemic and a very high unemployment
rate.”
More
pressure on regime
The world must put more pressure on Mswati’s regime, says IUSY Vice President Bheki Dlamini, who is also President of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO).
The world must put more pressure on Mswati’s regime, says IUSY Vice President Bheki Dlamini, who is also President of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO).
“Mswati
must remember that there is no hiding place for his dictatorship. Young people
from Swaziland and across the globe are demanding democracy and respect for
human rights, and we shall not rest until Swaziland is politically free.”
The
International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) was formed in 1907 as the youth
organization of the Second International. It is the biggest political youth
organization in the world, working to help promote strategies on issues such as
poverty, gender equality and youth education and unemployment.
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