From December 20th ~ 24th PUDEMO's 6th General Congress will take place in the Republic of South Africa. Discussions will focus on building a Roadmap to Democracy for 2008. Topics include the strategic role and historic tasks of the People's United Democratic Movement, building a national democratic front and creating conditions, and activism as a tool for liberation.
This democratic congress must occur in a foreign land as political parties can not exist in Swaziland - a fact we keep trying to point out to our Canadian politicians and the Commonwealth. Surely, this will be the last Congress in exile!
Some stories from last week:
Dec 17 14-year fraud probed at National Courts
Dec 17 SD stifling Africa’s plan
Dec 14 PM robbed
Dec 14 MISA completes study on what makes news
Dec 13 PUDEMO chief Mario Masuku is sick
Dec 11 Nationwide power blackout
Dec 11 Govt policies blamed for loss of foreign aid
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Dec2 Sd2006
On Nov 30th, the Swazi Times published an article entitled PUDEMO to hold rally on Saturday which stated:
The People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) will on Saturday morning hold a political rally here.[Manzini]
The rally will be held in commemoration of all fallen comrades of PUDEMO and also mark 24 years of the political party's struggle.
As political parties are banned in the kingdom such events are risky - everyone is aware of the potential brutality of the Swazi Police and Royal Army.
At about 6pm Swazi time, I talked to Mphandlana Shongwe, a well known political activist in Swaziland. While Canadians were busy watching the Liberals choosing a new party leader in Montreal, the police were physically beating those who believe in democracy within Swaziland. Mphandlana said many were beaten, three were arrested and an elderly lady was in critical condition. He had just come from the hospital after receiving stitches to his head.
This is the "unique democracy" of Sd as the Commonwealth calls it!
The Commonwealth remains silent, we shall not.
Write to the following addresses:
Mr Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
min.dfaitmaeci@international.gc.ca
MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca
Mr Vincent Charron
High Commission Swaziland Desk
Vincent.Charron@international.gc.ca
1) condemn these brutal acts
2) request sanctions be placed on the Swazi regime
3) call for Canada to publicly support the unbanning of political parties in Sd
Copy these notes to:
Mr Themba Dlamini
Prime Minister of Swaziland
sec-tocab@realnet.co.sz
Edgar Hilary
Commissioner of Police
compol@realnet.co.sz
rsppro@realnet.co.sz
Mr Don McKinnon
The Commonwealth Secretary-General
info@commonwealth.int
Mr Matthew Neuhaus
Director of Political Affairs
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int
Ms Rabab Fatima
Adviser & Head of Human Rights Unit
r.fatima@commonwealth.int
Postal addresses can be found at Write Letters
To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
The People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) will on Saturday morning hold a political rally here.[Manzini]
The rally will be held in commemoration of all fallen comrades of PUDEMO and also mark 24 years of the political party's struggle.
As political parties are banned in the kingdom such events are risky - everyone is aware of the potential brutality of the Swazi Police and Royal Army.
At about 6pm Swazi time, I talked to Mphandlana Shongwe, a well known political activist in Swaziland. While Canadians were busy watching the Liberals choosing a new party leader in Montreal, the police were physically beating those who believe in democracy within Swaziland. Mphandlana said many were beaten, three were arrested and an elderly lady was in critical condition. He had just come from the hospital after receiving stitches to his head.
This is the "unique democracy" of Sd as the Commonwealth calls it!
The Commonwealth remains silent, we shall not.
Write to the following addresses:
Mr Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
min.dfaitmaeci@international.gc.ca
MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca
Mr Vincent Charron
High Commission Swaziland Desk
Vincent.Charron@international.gc.ca
1) condemn these brutal acts
2) request sanctions be placed on the Swazi regime
3) call for Canada to publicly support the unbanning of political parties in Sd
Copy these notes to:
Mr Themba Dlamini
Prime Minister of Swaziland
sec-tocab@realnet.co.sz
Edgar Hilary
Commissioner of Police
compol@realnet.co.sz
rsppro@realnet.co.sz
Mr Don McKinnon
The Commonwealth Secretary-General
info@commonwealth.int
Mr Matthew Neuhaus
Director of Political Affairs
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int
Ms Rabab Fatima
Adviser & Head of Human Rights Unit
r.fatima@commonwealth.int
Postal addresses can be found at Write Letters
To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
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