There are no known
terrorist groups operating in Swaziland, but even so the government has banned
several local organisations as terrorist groups, a new report from the United
States has revealed.
Police see no difference
between protestors and bystanders and will fire teargas and rubber bullets at
close range to disperse protestors.
These insights were contained in a report from the United
States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security, just published. It is
aimed at American diplomats in Swaziland.
The report assessed the
Swaziland capital Mbabane as a ‘low-threat location for political violence’. It
stated, ‘In 2016, there
were no acts of terrorism in Swaziland and no known terrorist organizations.
Through the Swazi Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008, the government deemed
several local political organizations as terrorist groups.’
Swaziland is ruled by King
Mswati III as an absolute monarch. Political parties are banned from taking
part in elections and the King choses the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers and
senior judges among others.
In September 2015, Amnesty International reported the Swazi government continued to use ‘repressive
laws, including the 1938 Sedition and Subversive Activities Act (SSA Act) and
the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA) as a tactic to silence its critics
and suppress their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful
assembly.’
It added, ‘Critics
of Africa’s last remaining absolute monarchy, who regularly advocate for the
opening up of the political space in the country and the respect for human
rights, are put in jail or face other forms of harassment, including
persecution and surveillance. The government is also misusing its criminal
justice system to criminalize and stigmatise their activities, imposing charges
like contempt of court or sedition.’
The report from the United States called Swaziland 2017 Crime & Safety Report also said
civil unrest in Swaziland was limited to public protests. It added, ‘Civil servant demonstrations and strikes are fairly
common. These demonstrations, which are widely advertised in local media, are
usually in response to labor/political disputes.’
It said, ‘When a
demonstration is pending, the Royal Swaziland Police Service (RSPS) is called
out to monitor. Americans are cautioned to stay away from demonstrations, as
the police use non-lethal force to control and disperse protestors; teargas and
rubber bullets (shot at close range) are the most common forms of crowd
control. Police have also shot warning shots in the air to disperse protestors.
‘Police do not distinguish
between bystanders and protestors, and the possibility of becoming a collateral
casualty should be of concern to anyone in proximity to a demonstration.’
See also
NO
AMNESTY IN ‘TERROR’ CASES
NO
LET UP IN SWAZI POVERTY
CRIME
THREAT CRITICAL: U.S. REPORT
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