CPJ ATTACKS ‘DEATH THREAT’ PRINCE

World opinion continues to turn against King Mswati III’s regime.

The latest organisation to condemn the lack of press freedom in Swaziland is the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) which yesterday (26 July 2010) attacked Prince Mahlaba, the brother of King Mswati, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, for threatening with death journalists who reported critically about Swaziland’s ruling elite.

CPJ has rallied behind the media in Swaziland, most of which is either state-controlled or in effect owned by King Mswati.

CPJ reported Mbongeni Mbingo, managing editor of the Times of Swaziland, the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper, saying the threats were ‘dangerous’ and could not be taken lightly since the prince was a member of a highly influential royal advisory council, Liqoqo (also known as the Swaziland National Council – SNC).

Comfort Mabuza, the National Director of the Swaziland chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa condemned the threats and feared they could incite the public against the journalists. ‘We are in big trouble because his view may be representing that of SNC, which advises the king,’ Mabuza told CPJ. ‘The council is yet to call him to order and we are really concerned about their continued silence.’

CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita said, ‘The government of Swaziland must immediately reject the death threats against journalists by a leading member of the ruling family,” said. “We call on the government to issue a clear and unequivocal statement condemning this murderous outburst and ensuring the international community that Swaziland is committed to the protection of all journalists.’

Prince Mahlaba had told a meeting of the Smart Partnership, ‘I want to warn the media to bury things that have the potential of undermining the country rather than publish all and everything even when such reports are harmful to the country's international image. Journalists who continue to write bad things about the country will die.’

· CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world.

POLICE TORTURE CASE GOES TO COURT

Another report of police torture of suspects has come out of Swaziland.

This time a man has filed a lawsuit in the High Court against the Swazi Government after being assaulted by nine police officers.

Only yesterday (26 July 2010) I reported how 10 police officers were caught torturing a suspect held at the Mbabane police station.

In the latest case Thulani Nhlabatsi says he was detained at Manzini police station on suspicion of stealing a cellphone

In his legal claim, Nhlabatsi says police tortured him with his hands cuffed on his back and feet tied with a rope.

‘During the assault period, I was beaten by the police officers with fists and open hands. Two plastic bags and a rubber like slab was used to suffocate me,’ his legal claim states.

TEN SWAZI POLICE TORTURE SUSPECT

At least 10 police officers were caught torturing a suspect at Mbabane police station in the capital city of Swaziland.

A visitor to the police station heard a man crying and screaming for help.

Hunter Shongwe told the Swazi News, an independent newspaper in Swaziland, that he made an audio recording of the torture and he thought the police were ‘killing the suspect’.

The Swazi News reports Shongwe saying, ‘My heart bled when I heard a male crying and screaming for help. You would have thought someone was slaughtering a goat. I could not understand how an individual could be tortured in such a way inside a police station where people visit to report criminal cases.’

He went on, ‘Upon hearing the sound my immediate reaction was to rush to the room where the sound came from. My intention was to rescue that particular individual. I kicked the door open and tried to force my way inside the room but was overpowered by the officers.

‘However I was able to see that there were over 10 officers inside the room but I could not identify the suspect.’

The newspaper reported that the audio recording included sounds of someone screaming which got worse.

Part of the transcript of the recording went as follows:

Shongwe: There is a sound of someone crying of torture inside there.

Officers: Sit down Shongwe.

Shongwe: I cannot sit down when I can hear that someone is being killed inside your offices.

Officers: Shongwe, you are not allowed to come in here.

Shongwe: I am going to rescue that individual. Didn’t you hear the screams?

Officers: We are attending to the matter, Shongwe, go back. (Huge bang on the door is heard)

Shongwe: I need to speak to the station commander. Please call him for me.

Officers: Come this side Shongwe and let’s talk.

Shongwe: I do not want to talk to anyone of you except the station commander. I am also recording everything that is being said in this building. Call the station commander, I cannot allow this to happen to another human being, especially as it is being done by police officers.

Officers: Calm down Shongwe.

Shongwe: Call the station commander, please, because I want to ask him whether he is aware of what is happening at the station.

Officer: The station commander is not around.

Shongwe: Let’s call him from his cell phone. I need to speak to him. I am not happy about what is happening in that room. Police have been accused of assault before and as we speak there are a number of cases that paint a bad image of the police. We have a case involving Jele and with such torture what would one believe happened to Jele?

SWAZI DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN HOTS UP

The Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) is set to officially launch this Friday (30 July 2010).

This follows a series of meetings and activities to highlight the need for democratic reform in Swaziland, which is ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, and where political parties are banned and branded ‘terrorist entities’.

The SDC has announced it will, in collaboration with its South African counterparts (SDC-SA), labour and civil society partners, be rolling out mass protest activities and intensify civil disobedience that will culminate in the global week of protest slated around Independence Day on 6 September 2010.

The SDC reports that 53 participants representing at least 16 different civil society organizations met two weeks ago and agreed to work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on human rights issues surrounding the Swaziland Constitution, the Suppression of Terrorism Act, the Public Service Act and the Media Commission Bill.

The SDC also called on the European Union (EU), the United States of America, Denmark, Australia, and ‘all our international labour solidarity network partners’ to either impose or campaign for the immediate imposition of economic sanctions on the present undemocratic regime in Swaziland until it accepts multiparty democracy.