The note below is a sample of a letter you can send to Canadian politicians who are part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting this weekend in Swaziland. The note is addressed to three Canadians who are attending but it can be copied to all other members as well; addresses are below.
************************************************
Ms Casey, Mr Hickes and Mr Preston
As a Canadian who has today learned that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is currently meeting in Swaziland, I am shocked that Canada and the Commonwealth overlook the lack of democracy and human rights abuses in that country. I am appalled that Canada and the Commonwealth continue to be complacent in dealing with an absolute monarch and its "unique democracy".
On recent example of the "unique democracy" in Swaziland occurred this week; it is in new reports that a political activist was murdered in prison and then a scenario was made to look as if he killed himself. Sipho Jele was a political activist who was beat and tortured by police while in jail in early 2006 and became partially deaf because he had damage to one of his ears. Now he was been tortured to death for having worn a People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) t-shirt to the workers' May 1st celebration - in Swaziland political parties are banned. This is what democracy looks like in Swaziland - it looks like blood!
Friday's May 6th Times of Swaziland has reported the the PM requested an inquest into the death of Sipho Jele but this is simply window dressing and hoping to cover up an "embarrassing" situation while foreign diplomats are present. There is a long list of "royal police" killings and the inquests never lead to a perpetrator. Inquests are as fake as the democracy in that country!
Why does Canada continually overlook the lack of democracy in Swaziland? In this case, our "Commonwealth" ignores our "Commonpoverty"
It seems Commonwealth documents, such as the 1991 Harare Declaration, are not worth the paper they are written on because governments are not held accountable. I often wonder why Zimbabwe it pointed out as a rogue nation while the Kingdom of Swaziland is ignored. Can you please explain this?
Can you explain these double standard and why the basic principles of democracy are not upheld?
Can you explain the hypocrisy of Commonwealth Parliamentarians who decide to meet in such an undemocratic country?
As a Canadian I as requesting that you research the recent murder of Sipho Jele and make the Swazi regime accountable. Everything I have mentioned in this note is public information which can be found through the Swazi newspapers online (www.times.co.sz).
Additionally, the PUDEMO website (www.pudemo.org) can provide more that two decades of material on the lack of democracy in Swaziland.
Name
City & country
*********************************************
To: kmcasey@gov.pe.ca, speaker@leg.gov.mb.ca, prestj@parl.gc.ca
Cc: sna@parliament.go.ke, cpa@parliament.uk, shafieapdal@heritage.gov.my, root@bidhan.wn.nic.in, kashmalatariq@hotmail.com, ljiyane@parliament.gov.za, jobndugai@hotmail.com, daysnweeks@realnet.co.sz, sada@yahoo.com, ancm@cm.refer.org, speakernwfp@yahoo.com, sangshod@citechco.net, john.pandazopoulos@parliament.vic.gov.au, michael.polley@parliament.tas.gov.au, pro@aph.gov.au, alun.cairns@wales.gov.uk, met@gibraltar.gov.gi, keith_flax@hotmail.com, h.ramkarran@cameronandshepherd.com, unchoudhary@gmail.com, assamlegislative@sify.com, celsus.talifilu@parliament.gov.sb, tetauat@gmail.com, legislative.premier@mail.gov.nu, chee.chongyu@sabah.gov.my, maliki_osman@mnd.gov.sg, rkiandee@parlimen.gov.my
