'BOYCOTT SWAZI BUSHFIRE FESTIVAL'

Swazi democracy activists are calling for artists and fans to boycott Swaziland’s world-renowned Bushfire Festival later this month - they say that performing in the crisis-stricken country would send out the wrong message, the Mail and Guardian, South Africa reports today (6 May 2011).

The annual music, poetry, dance and art event, planned for 27 – 29 May, attracts people from around the world and is seen as a highlight of Swaziland’s social calendar, second only to the Reed Dance.

Top acts this year include South Africa’s Goldfish and Black Coffee, Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe, Habib Koité from Mali, the Yale Concert Band from the United States and France's Mime Decol.

Mary Pais da Silva, co-ordinator of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, said, ‘The point is to raise as much awareness as possible. We can’t just continue going on as if Swaziland is a normal place. We want to send a strong message to the government and the rest of the country. There are some people who appear to not be bothered by what is happening in our country, but we hope this will make them sit up and listen.’

Last month trade unions, students and pro-democracy campaigners tried to hold a mass protest to call for change, but they were dispersed by the police, who fired teargas and water cannons and detained more than 100 people. Two youth leaders still in custody have been charged with possession of explosives. Last week police staged a dawn raid on the home of high-profile union member Simon Mvubu and questioned him about his connections to a Facebook group promoting an uprising.

Last week a delegation of advocates from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Lawyers’ Association went to the country on a fact-finding mission to prepare a report for the next regional bloc meeting.

Last month, pro-democracy activists successfully campaigned for a boycott of a festival organised for Prince Lindani, the eldest son of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. South Africa’s ANC Youth League (ANCYL) called on artists and others to boycott the event.

ANGER AT KING’S ROYAL WEDDING TRIP

Mail and Guardian, South Africa

23 April 2011

SOURCE

Anger over Mswati's plans for royal wedding

King Mswati III is clearly not one to miss a wedding: the autocratic ruler of Swaziland has 13 wives and holds an annual dance where he can choose a new bride from tens of thousands of bare-breasted virgins.

Next week, Mswati will be among VIP spectators at Westminster Abbey for a slightly more austere version hosted by the British royal family.

But his invitation has angered his countrymen, who accuse the UK of "legitimising" their autocratic monarch who rules over one of the poorest countries in the world.

When the king, who has a fortune of about $100-million, flies out he will leave behind a country in turmoil. Last week, his security forces launched a brutal crackdown against marchers seeking democratic reforms, and a possible Egyptian-style uprising.

Mary Pais Da Silva, coordinator of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, condemned Mswati for making expensive travel plans while nearly 70% of his people live in absolute poverty. "If we had it our way, he wouldn't go anywhere," she said. "Right now, Swaziland is in an economic crisis. The government talks about belt-tightening but it doesn't seem to apply to the king. It must apply across the board. "

Swaziland has less political freedom than Zimbabwe, say campaigners. Political parties are banned and activists are regularly arrested, imprisoned and tortured.

'Legitimising his rule'
Da Silva said: "If any government is noting what's happening in Swaziland, it's wrong to invite him. They're just legitimising his rule. There's so much going on in Swaziland at the moment that it would be ridiculous for international leaders to pretend they don't know."

Swazi activists in London are planning a picket on Tuesday night at the five-star Dorchester hotel in Mayfair, London, where Mswati is expected to stay with his entourage of 50.

Fungayi Mabhunu, coordinator of the Swaziland Vigil, asked where the money for the visit was coming from "because Swaziland is one of the poorest countries in the world. There is 80% unemployment and this is caused by Mswati. It is an absolute dictatorship. We want democracy in Swaziland; we don't want monarchy any more."

Mabhunu was disappointed that the UK was hosting Mswati. "We know there's a certain protocol but do they want us to spoil the young couple's wedding by protesting? They are being hypocritical. They know what is going on in Swaziland."

The campaign group Action for Southern Africa, the successor organisation to the Anti-Apartheid Movement, joined the criticism. Its director, Tony Dykes, said: "It is astonishing that the Palace, presumably with advice from the British government, have invited the king of Swaziland to the royal wedding.

"They may claim they have done so due to some kind of protocol; if so, they are putting protocol before human rights. Whilst the king and his entourage party in luxury in London, the people of Swaziland are being pushed deeper into poverty and those who speak out face arrest and even torture."

A spokesperson for Clarence House said: "The heads of state invited are members of royal families, in accordance with protocol for this kind of event."

See also

DETAILS OF SWAZI ANTI-KING PICKET

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/details-of-anti-swazi-king-picket.html

DA SILVA BACK ON THE AIRWAVES

Mary Pais Da Silva, Coordinator of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, who was arrested yesterday (12 April 2011) while in the middle of a telephone interview with a journalist at South Africa’s Talk Radio 702, was back on air today to talk about what happened next.

She also spoke about how the violence meted out against protestors by Swazi police only made them more determined.

Here is her interview today (13 April 2011) on Mid Day Report at 12 noon (10.00 GMT).

See also

DA SILVA DEFIANT AFTER ARREST

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/da-silva-defiant-after-arrest.html

DA SILVA DEFIANT AFTER ARREST

The following is a statement issued this evening (12 April 2011) by Mary Pais Da Silva, of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, who was arrested this today while in the middle of a telephone call to a journalist at South Africa’s Eyewitness News on Talk Radio 702

SOURCE

12^th April 2011

BEATEN, ARRESTED AND DETAINED, BUT NOT OUT!!

This below is a personal account of the treatment I received at the hands of police officers today:

1. Two male comrades and I were at the SFTU offices where we were sending out information to our international friends on the happenings of the protest action billed for today.

2. At roughly around 1230hrs, an army of male police barged into the offices and whilst I was in the middle of a telephonic, live interview with talk Radio 702 and headed directly to me and began punching and slapping me on my face.

3. There was SUDF material in the office and I was questioned about it, to which I pleaded ignorance. This did not go down well with them and the same police officer (the most heavyset of them all), then came and continued assaulting me.

4. This time around, he decided to punch me on the stomach because he then became aware of the damage he was doing to my face. Another officer then decided to assist him in my assault.

5. I was then bundled into a van with the other two comrades and taken to the Manzini Regional headquarters where we were detained for about two and a half hours. We were questioned individually.

6. During the whole process, I was being insulted with every vulgar word imaginable in the SiSwati language.

7. After the interrogation, I was strictly warned to desist from my activism and the Station Commander stated that they would do everything possible to find some incriminating evidence so that I can be arrested and imprisoned because I was proving to be a very painful thorn in their behinds.

8. I was also given a “friendly” warning that my safety cannot be guaranteed.

9. I was then released.

This is what I have to say:

I will not be intimidated by these bullish antics of the government. Bashing me only strengthens my resolve in the role that I play in the democratic movement in Swaziland.

THE GOVERNMENT OF SWAZILAND MUST GO TO HELL AND ON THE WAY THERE, THEY MUST KISS MY BEAUTIFUL BEHIND!!!!

See also

TALK RADIO 720 BULLETIN 1pm

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/talk-radio-720-bulletin.html

MORE PROTEST LEADERS ARRESTED

PRESS UPDATE

12 April 2011

Swaziland Democracy Campaign

Leading trade unionists and activists including leaders of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign have been roughly manhandled and now arrested at the offices of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions. Comrades Mary Pais Da Silva, and Sikelela Dlamini, the Coordinators of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign and the Swaziland United Democratic Front respectively are amongst those who have just been detained with Union leaders at 12.30pm.

Contingency plans have been developed for such an eventuality and despite the clampdown by the authorities the SDC and SUDF still has the means to receive messages and updates from inside the country and will continue to issue statements etc.

It has been confirmed by independent observers that this is the largest security mobilisation that has taken place in Swaziland for decades. It has also been reported that soldiers and police are bearing brand new weaponry, and the source of these instruments of oppression is being investigated.

The regime is determined to arrest all leaders, restrict the movement of all travellers including pedestrians, and do all they can to disrupt the protest actions that are unfolding on the streets of Swaziland.

Students have been confined to campuses, and anyone wearing union or political tee-shirts or caps is being told to change, or risk arrest. Many are detained however, but when arrested are continuing to sing songs, and be defiant. This too indicates the growth in confidence of democracy activists. In several smaller towns protest gatherings have taken place for the first time in decades. Prominent leaders of faith based organisations have joined in the protests.

International solidarity messages are pouring in, and world trade unions, rights agencies and political organisations are more determined than ever to use the ILO and many other avenues to isolate the regime and expose further its barbarous character. The abuses of the regime have hardened resolve to action a comprehensive sanctions campaign, and to deprive the Royal Regime and its entourage from squandering the wealth they have accumulated at the expense of the poor. Measures are also underway to pressurise the IMF and other financial institutions to resist from investing in Swaziland to bail out the royal regime. Most importantly, what the regime is doing today is adding fuel to the fire of democratic change from below. Nothing will be quite the same ever again in Swaziland, and the days of the regime are numbered.

The Swaziland Democracy Campaign salutes all those who refuse to be intimidated and are celebrating their eventual freedom by refusing to be bowed at this time. We are with you comrades!