SWAZIS IN UK TO PICKET KING MSWATI

Zimeye.org

30 April 2011

SOURCE

Swazis in UK to picket King’s Reception

The Swaziland Vigil will picket the Four Seasons Hotel in London today (30 April 2011) when King Mswati III holds a reception at the end of his visit to attend the Royal Wedding.

The King’s attendance drew much critical comment in the British media because of his human rights abuses. He was grouped in Westminster Abbey along with guests such as the

Zimbabwean ambassador Gabriel Machinga in what the Times newspaper called ‘the pew of evil’. The British government cited protocol for not cancelling their invitations as demanded by the Swaziland Vigil and the Zimbabwe Vigil, which stage regular human rights demonstrations in London.

After the Saturday Vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy (30 April), Zimbabweans will join the Swazi protest outside the Four Seasons Hotel from 6.30 – 8.30 pm.

Swaziland Vigil co-ordinator Thobile Gwebu said ‘we want to show the British people and the world that Mswati does not represent the people of Swaziland’.

Date: Saturday, 30th April 2011 from 6.30 – 8.30 pm.

Venue: Four Seasons Hotel, Hamilton Place, Park Lane W1J 7DR. The protest will be located outside the Royal Aeronautical Society, 4 Hamilton Place W1J 7BQ across the road from the hotel. (The police ask that we do not obstruct the public footway or enter on to property owned by the Four Seasons Hotel.)

Tube: Hyde Park Corner.

Contact: Thobile Gwebu / Fungayi Mabhunu 07746 552 597

Zimbabwe Vigil Co-ordinators

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk

SWAZI KING: NEW PROTEST DATE

King Mswati III of Swaziland can run, but he cannot hide.

The king, in London for the Royal Wedding, has moved into the Four Seasons Hotel, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, after protestors picketed the Dorchester hotel where he had originally been booked to stay.

About 80 demonstrators attracted global attention on Tuesday (26 April 2011) with their picket at the Dorchester. They are drawing the world’s attention to the human rights abuses in Swaziland, where King Mswati reigns as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

King Mswati is widely reported to be in London with an entourage of 50 people.

A new protest is planned for Saturday (30 April 2011) at 6.30pm at the Four Seasons, where King Mswati is booked to hold a reception.

The Zimbabwe Vigil, one of the supporters of Tuesday’s demonstration, reported on its website, ‘About 80 demonstrators had gathered outside the [Dorchester] hotel to support the Swaziland Vigil which had arranged a picket of protest against Mswati’s oppressive rule – only to find that the Swazi freeloaders had gone to the nearby Four Seasons Hotel.

‘Mswati had obviously got the message as members of his entourage at the Four Seasons were overheard talking about our demonstration which had attracted much media attention with protesters carrying posters such as “Swazi King parties while country starves” and “Royal Wedding guests are human rights abusers”.

‘The demonstration obviously embarrassed the Dorchester who made desperate efforts to contact the police to have us moved on to the Four Seasons’.

For pictures of the Dorchester demonstration click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/.