Swazis demand democracy at Global Week
of Action
Kenworthy News Media, 9
September 2017
Thousands of people marched
through the streets of Swaziland’s capital Mbabane on Friday (8 September 2017)
to deliver a petition which calls for democracy and socioeconomic justice to
the country’s Cabinet, writes Kenworthy News Media.
The march was part of the
annual Global Week of Action (GWoA) which, according to the organisers, is the
biggest campaign for democracy in Swaziland. It is held during the week of
Swaziland’s Independence Day, the 6th of September, and includes
marches, seminars and workshops.
Between four and five
thousand helped the organiser of the GWoA, the Swaziland United Democratic
Front (SUDF), deliver a petition to Swaziland’s cabinet, according to SUDF
Coordinator Wandile Dludlu.
The petition had seven core
demands for Swaziland’s government. These included a people’s government and
economy, affordable health and education, equal participation for women, and land
reforms and rural development.
Police presence
As in previous years, the GWoA-marchers were followed closely by the police, who often clamp down upon demonstrations and political rallies.
As in previous years, the GWoA-marchers were followed closely by the police, who often clamp down upon demonstrations and political rallies.
In 2010 and 2011, thousands
of peaceful marchers during the GWoA were assaulted by riot police firing tear
gas and rubber bullets. Several foreign participants were detained, roughed up
and deported. Amnesty International called for those responsible for the human
rights violations during the 2010 GWoA to be brought to justice in an Urgent
Action.
In 2013, political and
union leaders from PUDEMO and TUCOSWA were put under house arrest, offices of
the democratic movement were ransacked, and many students were detained in
their universities.
Freedom House wrote in
2015, that they “hope that this week’s [Global Week of Action] events [in
Swaziland] serve as the spark that ignites democratic change.
Important event
According to President of the Swaziland Youth Congress, Bheki Dlamini, events such as the GWoA are important in a country where political parties are banned and the media is censored.
According to President of the Swaziland Youth Congress, Bheki Dlamini, events such as the GWoA are important in a country where political parties are banned and the media is censored.
“The [Swazi] Tinkhundla
system is supposed to be a product of the people. Yet we all know that it
is not. It is a system meant to serve the interests of the royal family and it
is sustained though repression, police brutality and perpetual impoverishment
of our people. The world must know and acknowledge that we, the people of
Swaziland, want to enjoy civil and political liberties as citizens of the
world,” Dlamini says.
See also
GLOBAL
WEEK OF ACTION
UN
PROBES SWAZILAND ON HUMAN RIGHTS
SADC URGED TO ACT ON SWAZI RIGHTS
SWAZI HUMAN RIGHTS WORSEN: AMNESTY
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ON SWAZILAND
SWAZI HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD KILLS AGOA
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/05/swazi-human-rights-record-kills-agoa.html
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