Police officers in Swaziland have been captured on
video viciously attacking defenceless workers on the street in Manzini during a
legal protest over pay.
Dozens of
officers in riot gear and waving batons are seen chasing workers. At
least one officer appears to be wielding a whip. Workers are seen running
fearing for their safety. The police indiscriminately hit the fleeing workers
around their bodies.
At one point in the video that lasts only 45 seconds a
protester stumbles and falls to the ground. He is face down and defenceless
when at least two police officers beat him about the body. A third officer
appears to kick him in the head as he runs by. They leave him unattended. He is
later seen trying to get to his feet assisted by a witness. She is seen calling
for help. There are what appears to be blood stains on the pavement.
The police officers continue to chase the workers down
the road.
The attack happened on Tuesday morning (18 September
2018) close to the PEP stores opposite Manzini post
office, next to the Limpid Pharmacy.
It was on the first day of a three day national strike
organised by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). Protests took
place simultaneously in the towns and cities of Mbabane, Manzini, Siteki and Nhlangano.
The strike had earlier been declared legal under
Swaziland’s Industrial Relations Act.
In a statement the Swaziland United Democratic Front
(SUDF) reported at least six workers in Manzini sustained serious injuries and
needed hospital treatment. It said, ‘Police fiercely harassed workers.’
It added, ‘The workers had to run helter-skelter for safety after it became clear that the police were
unleashing terror.’
Reuters
news agency reported, ‘Several workers were wounded and
police fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd.’
Workers want a national
minimum wage of E3,500 (US$ 234.27) a month, and an increase in elderly grants
(pensions) to E1,500. Public sector workers also want a cost of living salary
adjustment. The Government says it is broke and has offered zero percent.
In a statement
the Communist Party of Swaziland, which is banned in the kingdom,
said workers also wanted the legalisation of solidarity strikes, an increase in
health and education funding and an end to arbitrary evictions especially on
the working class and poor.
Swaziland (recently
renamed Eswatini by its absolute monarch King Mswati III) holds
national elections on Friday (21 September 2018). Political parties are banned
from taking part. People are only allowed to elect 59 members of the House of
Assembly; another 10 are appointed by the King. None of the 30 members of the
Swazi Senate are elected by the people.
King Mswati chooses the Prime Minister and government
members. He also chooses top civil servants and judges.
See
also
Swaziland
Police Fire Gunshots During Textiles Dispute, Third Attack on Workers in a Week
Swaziland
Teacher Who Stopped Police Chief Shooting Into Unarmed Crowd Appears in Court
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/08/swaziland-teacher-who-stopped-police.html
Police in Swaziland Attack Nurses With Taser During Peaceful Protest Over Pay
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/08/police-in-swaziland-attack-nurses-with.html
Police in Swaziland Attack Nurses With Taser During Peaceful Protest Over Pay
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