Two police officers in
Swaziland fired nine live bullets at a bar that was open after hours.
It is one of many incidents
of police firing around civilians who have committed no crime.
It happened at Pholani Bar
in Pigg’s Peak. The Swazi Observer newspaper reported on Monday (5 March 2018) that the police officers
fired ‘warning shots’ in the air.
The newspaper reported
‘well-placed sources’ saying, the police officers had gone to the bar to try
and close it as its official operating time had elapsed. The bar was supposed
to close at midnight but because it was the end of the month and customers had
money to spend it stayed open.
The Observer reported, ‘While trying to close the bar, one of the
police officers then decided to try and arrest an unruly individual who was
disturbing the peace.
‘This did not go down well
with the patrons because the individual then called his friends who surrounded
the police officer. The mob then told the police to retreat and drive off and
the policeman heeded the warning and drove away in haste while some started
throwing beer bottles at the retreating police van.’
The newspaper added, ‘[A]s
some charged towards the police officers, they had to fire warning shots in the
air to ward off the angry mob.’
This is one of number of incidents in which police have
fired live bullets. In January 2018 police reportedly they fired live
ammunition during a protest by students from Swaziland Christian University
about delays in receiving allowances and problems over graduation.
In February 2017 they fired warning
gunshots at civilians when kombi drivers and conductors brought traffic to
a standstill at Mvutshini by blocking the highway and stopping public
transport. They were protesting about an alleged corrupt traffic police
officer.
Also in February 2017 police
fired warning gunshots as University
of Swaziland students marched with a petition to the Ministry of Labour
and Social Security to protest
about late payment of their allowances.
Again in February 2017 they fired live gunshots and teargas at workers at Juris Manufacturing in Nhlangano
when workers were locked out in a dispute over allegations that management
planned to purge the staff of ‘troublesome elements’.
In October 2016 police fired gunshots at
protesting students at the Limkokwing university in Mbabane.
At least four students received ‘serious injuries’ during disturbances,
according to the Times of Swaziland,
the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper.
In August 2016 riot police fired shots over the heads of
striking workers outside
the Plantation Forestry Company who were protesting for an increase in pay of
the equivalent of 35 US cents per hour.
In October 2015 police
fired shots and teargas at protesting textile workers at the Zheng Yong Garment factory in Nhlangano. They were protesting against the
behaviour of security guards.
In June 2013 police fired live bullets and teargas as children protested against alleged corruption at Mhubhe High School in Ngculwini.
In June 2013 police fired live bullets and teargas as children protested against alleged corruption at Mhubhe High School in Ngculwini.
See also
SWAZI
POLICE FIRE AT STUDENTS
TEXTILE
PROTEST: POLICE FIRE GUNS
SWAZI
POLICE SHOOT-TO-KILL
POLICE
SHOOT TWO STUDENTS IN HEAD
POLICE
SHOOT INNOCENT BYSTANDER
SWAZI
GUN COPS ENDANGER CHILDREN
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