Mar12 Sd2006

Mar 5 -The Director of Public Prosecution, Mumcy Dlamini, has been accused of gross misconduct in gathering statements from the 15 political prisoners charged with high treason.

Mar 7 - Day 1 of bail hearing for 15 PUDEMO & SWAYOCO members.

Two South African advocates who were supposed to represent the state in the bail hearing case withdrew from the matter. The majority of these detainees have been held since late December 2005.

Mar 8 - Day 2 of bail hearing - The Defense says 9 of the 16 alleged bombers were severely tortured by police officers led by Senior Superintendent Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla.

Mar 9 - King Mswati III stated that he was hopeful that with support from Norway the country would be able to conquer some of its problems. He then implored the ambassador to lure investors into the country.

Mar 10 - Day 4 of bail hearing - Acting Chief Justice, Jacobus Annandale, granted each of the 15 detainees E5 000 (Can$1000) bail.

For more details go to http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com

Please take a minute to send a couple of e-mail.

You could mention:

*thanks to the Canadian representative who met with Mario Masuku, the president of PUDEMO, in Johannesburg on March 3rd

*continue dialogue with pro-democracy organizations

*encourage Canada to publicly call for the unbanning of political parties in Swaziland

*request that a Canadian representative attend the "treason trial"

*not to let the gross violations of human rights go unnoticed. There have been 3 deaths in the past two and a half months - 2 after police interrogation and 1 while in police custody.

Prime Minister:
Mr Stephen Harper
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca

Cabinet:
Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca

Ms Josee Verner
Minister of International Cooperation
Verner.J@parl.gc.ca

Saint John MP:

Paul Zed

Zed.P@parl.gc.ca

Canadian High Commission in Pretoria
Ms Sandelle Scrimshaw
High Commissioner to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho
pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Mr Vincent Charron
High Commission Swaziland Desk
Vincent.Charron@international.gc.ca