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Detained worker leaders in Swaziland deported
Public Services International (PSI) learned that one of its sub-regional staff and the International Officer of PSI South African affiliate SAMWU (South Africa Municipal Workers’ Union) were among those detained by the Swazi police on 6th September.
According to information received by PSI, on the eve of the Global Day of Action for Swaziland planned for 7th September, police broke up a peaceful meeting of pro-democracy activists at the Tum’s George Hotel in Manzini before loading scores of them into police vans and taking them away to the Manzini Regional Police headquarters. Reports indicate that up to 50 people have been detained, including locals and representatives from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), who were in the country to lend their voices to the call for democracy and the protection of human rights.
All the detained workers were later released from police detention. However, all the detained visiting worker leaders from South Africa have been deported at night after hours of being held and interrogated at the Police Headquarters in Manzini. They were all driven in police cars to the border. Their mission of providing solidarity with the struggling masses of Swaziland has been derailed.
Another South African delegation of about 20 people from SAMWU was not allowed entry into Swaziland and they returned home.
PSI vigorously protests against this heavy-handed and unwarranted action, as well as the intolerable deportation and interdiction to enter the country. The Swazi authorities have once again violated the most basic democratic standards and shown Swaziland as a dictatorship.
PSI will pursue this matter with the relevant national and international bodies.
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Tags: Africa, PSI, SAMWU, South, Swaziland, human, rights, trade, union
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Permalink Reply by SIGTUR on -
07/09/2010 Press Statement
SDC Condemns the arrest of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku and 14 SAMWU comrades
The Swaziland Democracy Campaign condemns the arrest of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku and 14 SAMWU comrades. According to the Swaziland Democracy Campaign Swaziland Chapter cde Mario Masuku was arrested around 11h00 next to Bhunu Mall in Manzini at the height of the massively attended Global day of action taking place in Swaziland and complemented by progressive organisations the world over. He is still in custody while the march is proceeding. It follows the arrest this morning of SDC Organiser Mphandlana Shongwe by the police and about 14 members of the South African Municipal workers Union (SAMWU), A COSATU affiliate. The march is characterised by heavy police presents in civilian clothes and barring of journalists from covering the event.
SDC calls for the immediate release of Mario Masuku and Mphandlana Shongwe together with all the detained SAMWU and other comrades. Mario Masuku is well known behind the Swazi bars and his frequency has prompted the word he is a frequent guest to the king’s royal jails.
We salute the outstanding internationalism displayed by the COSATU affiliated unions and other organisations, particularly from Zimbabwe who have stood by the Swazi people during these trying times.
We call on everyone to join our Protest at the Johannesburg Consular of Swaziland in Braamfontein, starting at 12h30 tomorrow.
For more information please contact:
Philani Ndebele on 076 942 3565 philani@asc.org.za
Sikelela Dlamini +268 7617 1151 sikamd@gmail.com
Mary Pais DA Silva +268 7602 4007 mpsdasilva@gmail.com -
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Permalink Reply by SIGTUR on
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07/09/2010 Press Statement
SDC condemns the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi
The crisis in Swaziland is deepening, so has the resolve of the fighting masses. No amount of arrests and brutal suppression of political and trade union activities will break the profound resistance building up in the country. This was the observation of the SDC South Africa team that was deported after interrogation by Swazi police and intelligence yesterday.
It is in that context that the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi must be understood. He was arrested around 20h30 yesterday night at the Phongola border post as the Swazi police and army were deporting the South African delegation comprised of COSATU and Swaziland Democracy Campaign activists.
It is known that the treatment of detained activists in Swaziland is a harsh experience none would dare wish to go through. This is worsened by the fact that recently; Sikhumbuzo’s rural home at Hluti was invaded and raided by the Swazi army and police in search of weapons, which in all probability was to build a case for his long planned arrest.
We demand the release of Comrade Sikhumbuzo as we also demand the right of all workers and the people of Swaziland to march and demand a government of their own choice. We further call for the intensification of activities all over the world aimed at mobilising global support for the struggle for democracy in that country.
In this regard, SDC will be holding a protest action tomorrow at the Johannesburg offices of the Swazi Consulate. The details are:
Venue: Swazi consulate, Braampak behind Civic theatre, Braamfontein
Time: 12h30
Date: 08 September, 2010
For more information please contact:
Ntokozo Mbhele on 072 370 0974 Ntoko@publicservices.co.za or
Philani Ndebele on 076 942 3565 philani@asc.org.za -
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Permalink Reply by SIGTUR on
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07/09/2010
SDC South Africa calls for action at Swazi consulate on Wednesday
An injury to one is an injury to all! Indeed, the Global week of action is in full swing and the Swazi people, supported by their genuine allies all over the world, are determined to wage a relentless battle for democracy.
The face of Swaziland is no longer the same after yesterday’s arrests and deportation of members and leaders of the Swazi trade union movement and civil society together with their international counterparts, particularly from COSATU and Zimbabwe.
The South African Chapter of the SDC calls for the intensification of the struggle. We must allow the Mswati regime no space to regain some or any composure. They must feel the heat till they give in to the demands of the people. This is the time for more action and solidarity.
Join the protest against the arrests of comrades in Swaziland and support the call for democracy now!
Venue: Swazi consulate, Braampak behind Civic theatre, Braamfontein
Time: 12h30
Date: 08 September, 2010
For more information please contact:
Ntokozo Mbhele on 072 370 0974 Ntoko@publicservices.co.za
or Philani Ndebele on 076 942 3565 philani@asc.org.za -
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Permalink Reply by Public Services International on -
thanks for sharing this information, would you please to share two press statement to us? please send to communications@world-psi.org and cc to me: indah.budiarti@world-psi.org
thanks and in solidarity
Indah -
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Permalink Reply by Brian Ross Ashley on -
Lenin or even Nehru would have known how to solve this problem.
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Permalink Reply by SIGTUR on
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No problems
Indah Budiarti said:thanks for sharing this information, would you please to share two press statement to us? please send to communications@world-psi.org and cc to me: indah.budiarti@world-psi.org
thanks and in solidarity
Indah -
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Permalink Reply by SIGTUR on
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Send a message of solidarity: Swaziland Arrest of Trade Unions And Civic Socity Leaders
http://t.co/tP0nZnM -
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