Writing about 40/40

In Sept of this year Swaziland will host a "40/40" celebration. It is to mark the 40th birth year of the king, as well as the 40th year of "independence" from England.

These celebrations are being condemned by the people of Swaziland but the army grows as does the brutality.

Below, please read a sample letter to the Canadian High Commissioner for Swaziland who is based in Pretoria, South Africa. If you are so inclined write a note yourself.

Send to pret@international.gc.ca, pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Notes can also be copied to the Minister of Foreign Affairs David Emerson. Emerson.D@parl.gc.ca


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Sample Letter

High Commissioner Archibald

I am a citizen of Canada and am very much concerned with deplorable state of affairs in Swaziland. I understand Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, financially assists civic organizations and and grateful for that.

I am writing today to express my grave concern that members of the banned political party, the Peoples' United Democratic Movement of Swaziland, PUDEMO, are being targeted by the government before the grand 40/40 celebrations are to begin. This is a clear violation of the Declaration of Human Rights and Commonwealth countries must not enable these acts through appeasement and silence.

As you and Consulate staff have visited Swaziland, you will know the level of poverty which grips that country. You will also be aware of the seven or eight royal palaces and the lavish style of those governing. It is unreasonable and contemptible for the citizens of Swaziland to have to live under such a corrupted system.

In my opinion, Swaziland is not independent and rather than 40 years of so-called independence, the country experiences only 5 years of independence from 1968 to 1973. When the king closed parliament, banned all political parties and imprisoned three democratically elected MPs the country began to move in a retrogressive direction. These celebrations ignore the needs of the people at an outrageous cost; meanwhile, the same government goes abroad, time and time again, to beg "donors assistance." Frankly, this is utter madness!

I am therefore kindly requesting that Canadian representatives abstain from this "celebration." If Canadians are seen as people who believe in a royal type of "unique democracy" we will surely lose much respect from the international community and we will be doing a huge disservice to the people of Swaziland.

It is tragic that the majority of Swazis have neither self-determination nor democratic choice. Most live a subsistent existence and try to cope with the HIV/Aids crisis, a dire health care system (where rats are found in the government Mbabane Hospital), a government that makes promises about OVC education fees but never fulfills them, as well as high levels of unemployment and inflation. But the nation increases its army, buys weapons, and bullets to silence any voice of opposition. PUDEMO has recently reported several examples of police harassment and threats of death if they continue to speak out for the unrepresented people of Swaziland.

If Canada attends this event of Sept 6 we will feel ashamed of our diplomats and our country's hypocrisy. If representative are in the country that day or earlier, (Sept 3-4 union strikes are scheduled), they can witness the brutality of the royal army. I and many others in Canada encourage you to meet with civic organisations, unions leaders, and banned political party members to learn how they are excluded from the exclusive style of democracy in SD.