Swazi Media Commentary: united states embassy

Showing posts with label united states embassy. Show all posts

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Two Swaziland pro-democracy MPs charged under terrorism law

Two Swaziland (eSwatini) members of parliament have been charged under a terrorism law after speaking out for democracy in the kingdom.

Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube appeared in court on Monday (26 July 2021) and were remanded in custody until 2 August. A bail hearing has been scheduled for Thursday.

They have been charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2011.

Swaziland is not a democracy and is ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and MPs are elected on ‘individual merit’. Individuals who advocate for democracy are routinely charged under the terrorism act.

The arrests came after weeks of protests in Swaziland. As many as 100 people might have been killed by security forces, according to an estimate by the Communist Party of Swaziland. The Swaziland Solidarity Network put the figure closer to 70.

The arrests have been condemned by prodemocracy organisations. The Peoples’ United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) called for an international boycott of Swazi goods on 6 August to deny King Mswati the revenue he needed to pay his security forces to “brutalise” the population.

The US embassy in Swaziland said in its statement, ‘The people of Eswatini have the constitutional right to be heard through, and represented by, their own freely chosen representatives in Parliament.

‘The suppression of the right of individuals — including members of Parliament — to freely express their opinions is unacceptable.’

See also

Swaziland Army in ‘full charge’ after protests, many killed, Human Rights Watch reports

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/07/swaziland-army-in-full-charge-after.html

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Swaziland Army fires at, stops, U.S. diplomatic vehicle against international rules during prodemocracy protests

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Army fired on a United States embassy diplomatic vehicle and later tried to search it at a road block.

It happened during the recent prodemocracy protests in which as many as 40 people were reported killed by security forces, it was revealed on Thursday (8 July 2021).

The US Embassy in Mbabane confirmed the incident after reports circulated on the Internet.

On Twitter it said, ‘We can confirm shots were fired at an embassy vehicle on July 1 and we informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the incident via diplomatic note—a standard form of communication btwn diplomatic missions & MFA. We are working closely with the MFA to address the incident.’

Previously the note from the US Embassy had circulated on the Internet. It read in part, ‘a soldier in the Eswatini Defence Forces shot three live rounds at a US diplomatic vehicle, with one round striking the vehicle.

‘Additionally, soldiers stopped the same vehicle at a second checkpoint, pointed weapons at the vehicle, and attempted to search the vehicle in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.’

The Swazi Government, which is not elected by the people but appointed by King Mswati III who rules as an absolute monarch, has made no public statement on the incident.

For weeks campaigners had been marching on local government offices to deliver petitions calling for democratic reform. Political parties cannot contest elections and groups advocating for democracy are outlawed under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

In a separate statement released on Thursday, the US Embassy urged the King, the Government and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to ‘listen to the concerns of all stakeholders and to facilitate genuine dialogue to open the space for reform.’

See also

Swaziland Army in ‘full charge’ after protests, many killed, Human Rights Watch reports

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/07/swaziland-army-in-full-charge-after.html

‘Swaziland military kill at least 19 people during prodemocracy protests,’ campaigners report

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/06/swaziland-military-kill-at-least-19.html

Swaziland Govt. imposes curfew as prodemocracy protests grow and reports say ‘King has fled kingdom’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/06/swaziland-govt-imposes-curfew-as.html

King Mswati reportedly flees Swaziland as prodemocracy protests intensify

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/06/king-mswati-reported-to-have-fled.html

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Swaziland U.S. Embassy closes as prodemocracy unrest spreads across kingdom

The United States Embassy in Swaziland (eSwatini) is to stay closed on Wednesday (30 June 2021) in reaction to the civil unrest sweeping the kingdom and a curfew imposed by the Swazi Government.

In a ‘security alert’ published on social media it stated, ‘Civil unrest continues in eSwatini, including the burning and looting of stores, cars and businesses.’

Prodemocracy campaigners have been marching across the kingdom, especially in rural areas, delivering petitions at local government offices.

Swaziland is not a democracy and is controlled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and the King appoints the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers. Groups advocating for democracy are outlawed under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Last week Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku, speaking for the King, banned all protest demonstrations. This was largely ignored and protests continued. They want widespread political reforms and the right to elect their own Prime Minister.

On Tuesday (29 June 2021), Masuku announced a curfew from 6pm to 5am to take place with immediate effect.

Following this the US statement said, ‘All fights out of KM111 international airport have been suspended until further notice.’

It added, ‘Internet service is expected to degrade as Internet Service Providers have been told to shit down. Cell phone service is still available but data services (WhatsApp) will be spotty if existent at all.’

It added the US Embassy would remain closed through Wednesday 30 June 2021. Embassy staff have been directed to stay at home.

See also

Swaziland Govt. imposes curfew as prodemocracy protests grow and reports say ‘King has fled kingdom’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/06/swaziland-govt-imposes-curfew-as.html

King Mswati reportedly flees Swaziland as prodemocracy protests intensify

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/06/king-mswati-reported-to-have-fled.html

Swaziland democracy protests continue despite ban and police violence

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/06/swaziland-democracy-protests-continue.html

Swaziland absolute monarch bans pro-democracy marches as protests against him mount

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/06/swaziland-absolute-monarch-bans-pro.html

Friday, 28 September 2018

Swaziland Teachers Want U.S. to Tell Absolute Monarch to Stop Wasting Public Money on Himself

Schoolteachers in Swaziland want the United States to tell the kingdom’s absolute monarch King Mswati III to ‘stop wasting public resources’ on expensive overseas’ trips and use the money to pay salary increases to civil servants.

The request was made in a petition delivered to the US Embassy in Swaziland on Thursday (27 September 2018).

Teachers marched through Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland, (the kingdom recently renamed Eswatini by King Mswati) to deliver the petition. They had been blocked from taking part in a three-day strike this week by the Industrial Court.

Teachers and other civil servants want pay increases of 6.55 percent to meet changes in the cost of living. The Swazi Government says it is broke and has offered zero percent.

In what is believed to be an unprecedented move, members of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) asked a foreign government to intervene in a pay dispute. In a two-page letter addressed to the US Ambassador in Swaziland Lisa Peterson it said SNAT saw the United States as ‘defender number one of human rights and fundamental freedoms’.

Protestors were attacked by police and security forces with guns, teargas and stun grenades during recent protests over pay and one teacher was shot and wounded at a SNAT mass meeting on 24 August 2018.

In its letter SNAT said, ‘The Right to Freedom of Association and Assembly has been infringed upon by the state security organs.’

The letter asked the US Embassy to press the Swazi Government to pay the cost of living adjustment.

It also asked it to, ‘Engage members of the Royal Family, particularly the King, to stop wasting public resources with the huge and unnecessary delegations that normally accompany him abroad. [The King is presently at the United Nations General Assembly in New York]. The money that caters for their allowances can be used to pay civil servants, including teachers. The King may as well sell his private jet to fund teachers’ salaries.’

Teachers had their planned strike postponed until 23 November 2018 by the Industrial Court. SNAT said teachers would attend school but planned a series of events that would disrupt teaching.

King Mswati III who rules Swaziland as one of the world’s last absolute monarchs wore a watch worth US$1.6 million and a suit beaded with diamonds weighing 6 kg, at his 50^th birthday party in April. Days earlier he took delivery of his second private jet, a A340 Airbus, that after VIP upgrades reportedly cost US$30 million. He received E15 million (US$1.2 million) in cheques, a gold dining room suite and a gold lounge suite among his birthday gifts.

Seven in ten of Swaziland’s 1.1 million population live in abject poverty with incomes less than the equivalent of US$2 per day. The King has 13 palaces. He also owns fleets of top-of-the range Mercedes and BMW cars. His family regularly travel the world on shopping trips spending millions of dollars each time.

The SNAT letter to the US Ambassador