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/
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