Crisis in education, crisis in government:
The University of Swaziland threatened with closure
The People's United Democratic Movement of Swaziland
(PUDEMO)International Office
(Australia, Asian and the South Pacific Region)
E-mail: pudemo@yahoo.co.uk
September 13, 2006.
The People's United Democratic Movement deplores the threat to shut down the University of Swaziland if students do not return to class. This bullying approach to genuine student concerns has been the culture of this institution since the Liqoqo regime in the early 1980s. Successive leaders at the university have been socialised into this defective leadership culture in which threats and aggression rather than reason is a preferred model of administration. Consequently, the university has become a microcosm of the broader political system that is characterised by extreme levels of intolerance, incompetence and absence of public accountability.
One of the students' grievances is the late payment of scholarship allowances, which means that they are unable to purchase basic necessities such as food and stationery. This is a recurring issue that has a long history. University and government officials have shown no capacity and will to adequately address concerns by generations of university students about this matter. Instead, they resort to aggression and ridicule. On numerous occasions, the university administration has shut down the institution in an attempt to mute students' concerns. Armed police are regularly used to violently suppress students' peaceful protest.
When university students marched to the Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister's office on September 7 to deliver a petition, they were confronted by armed police. A violent skirmish ensued, leaving scores of injured students. Even the Police Commissioner, Edgar Hillary who is renowned for his violent aggression, commented that the police violence was uncalled for. Hillary must do more than this by instituting strict disciplinary actions against the senior officers who ordered the attack. It would be generally expected under a responsible system of government that an independent investigation into the violence would be conducted. However, Swaziland is a failing state with no political will and limited administrative competence to exercise the responsibilities of a responsible government.
In a functioning state with proper financial systems, it really is not difficult to ensure that students or any other group of citizens receive the payments to which they are entitled. After the state has allocated budget to tertiary scholarship, the funds must be quarantined and not used for any other purpose. This guarantees the orderly payment of tuition fees and student allowances. If errors are made in a functioning state, it is no big matter to apologise and fix the problem. Consider the situation in Swaziland, where the government is repeatedly unable to pay the allowances in a reasonably orderly fashion, presumably because it has squandered the money on new luxury cars for the king's wives. Then, when the students request that the problem be fixed, they are demonised and physically injured by the police, whose role is supposed to be to protect the public! It is like a man who drinks all the money for his family then beats up his wife and children when they ask him for food.
The Swazi government is stumbling from crisis to crisis and each time its corruption and incompetence is on display for all to see. This kind of governance is a problem for those people immediately affected by the crisis (in this case the students) but it is also a problem for all Swazis and its effects last for a long time after the crisis has been resolved. For example, this kind of incompetence has significant implications for how Swaziland is regarded by business and other countries. If we repeatedly present ourselves as a country that cannot manage basic financial transactions or peacefully resolve what is a very simple conflict, then we are continuing to build an image of Swaziland as a poor candidate for investment and economic growth. The collapse of the rule of law in 2002 was profoundly embarrassing and the many subsequent crises of poor governance can only further damage our image. If Swaziland continues to present itself as a national joke, we will find it difficult to attract quality economic growth. If we are seen as incompetent, investors will stay away. If we are perceived as oppressive as well as incompetent, we may find that some investors come to Swaziland but that we have attracted those who see the combination of incompetence and oppression as an opportunity to exploit the government and our people.
The Minister of Education's response to the scholarship matter has been pathetic. Her initial reaction was to rebuke and demonise the students as a "crowd" and "mob". This is a typical example of an incompetent politician who resorts to degradation rituals to cover up her incompetence. According to the Swazi News (09/09/06) report, the minister told the university Student Representative Council that "...as a ministry we are not here for playing...", but this is what exactly the ministry is doing - playing with the future of our education system. Constance Simelane is a national disgrace and has done so much damage to our education system.
In a functioning state, the issue of scholarship and particularly the payment of student allowances would not have come this far. However, in a failing state such as Swaziland where corruption and incompetence are the only visible features of governance, nothing gets fixed. Whilst the Minister has finally assured students that their allowances have been deposited into the bank, she does not have a long-term strategy to deal with this recurring problem. Instead, she will sit on her hands and wait for another class boycott and more injured Swazis before she again reacts to this long-standing concern with another short-term fix. This week students at the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) are also boycotting classes because of this problem.
Education is one of the most important sectors for national growth. It is irresponsible for any government to entrust responsibility of this sector to an incompetent minister. PUDEMO has earmarked education, health and the economy as our policy priorities. We strongly believe that a government that does not regard these sectors as priorities for public investment is a failed government. When we take over government, we will revolutionise these sectors by building efficient systems of service delivery and management. Our immediate goal in government is to put a stop to corrupt practices and lavish spending for the royal family. We believe that corruption and royal spending consume a significant percentage of national revenue. Putting a stop to this rot and recovering this revenue is the task to which we have committed ourselves in government.
The university class boycott must be understood within the broader political context which promotes a culture of incompetence and irresponsibility. It is a result of decades of leadership failure at state and institutional levels. Both the government and the university administration must take full responsibility for the recurring problem that led to the class boycott. It is time for the university leadership to make a significant culture shift by adopting new ways of dealing with student grievances. As it has been demonstrated from time to time, bullying tactics have not resolved the problem. The university desperately needs a new generation of leadership with fresh insights into tertiary administration. We deplore the continued dominance of the university administration by a tired old guard which has become a total liability to the future of this institution.
Signed:
Dr. Jabulane Matsebula
PUDEMO Representative
Australia, Asia and the South Pacific Region
To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
To read the South Africa Contact newsletter see
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Sept10 Sd2006
An Old Wives' Tale
Utsiteni, Make?
In former days, when royalty wanted to find a hangman in Swaziland a caring mother chose drastic action. If she wanted to protect her son from becoming a henchman, she would dip her son's right hand into very hot porridge and slightly burn her own child so that when the scouts came looking her son would be using his left-hand. These wise mothers knew the superstitious would never choose a left-handed boy for the task. Perhaps the mother of Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla never heard this tale.
Utsiteni, Make?
In former days, when royalty wanted to find a hangman in Swaziland a caring mother chose drastic action. If she wanted to protect her son from becoming a henchman, she would dip her son's right hand into very hot porridge and slightly burn her own child so that when the scouts came looking her son would be using his left-hand. These wise mothers knew the superstitious would never choose a left-handed boy for the task. Perhaps the mother of Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla never heard this tale.
Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla
This week as the king was ogling the bare-chested teenagers, PUDEMO member Sicelo Vilane won a clear victory in court. This case was once again pointing to the notorious Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla.
Sept 7 Cops ordered to stop harassing activist
On Thursday Sept 7 students from the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) went to the capital, Mbabane, to deliver a petition concerning tuition fees and scholarships. Last year, on the exact date, students had also marched to the Ministry of Education where they were greeted with water cannons and tear gas. This year they again witnessed the repression of the state.
University Students March Sept 7, 2006
Unfortunately, the Commonwealth believes Swaziland is a "unique democracy". Director of Foreign Affairs, Mr M Neuhaus, wrote a letter to a Canadian politician stating political parties are allowed in Mswati's kingdom and freedom of assembly is permitted. Please continue writing e-mail to his office pointing to the facts.
Mr Matthew Neuhaus
Director of Political Affairs
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int
Copy to:
Mr Don McKinnon
The Commonwealth Secretary-General
info@commonwealth.int
Ms Rabab Fatima
Adviser & Head of Human Rights Unit
r.fatima@commonwealth.int
Monday, September 4, 2006
Sept4 Sd2006
Culture versus Exploitation
If history is simply his/story, where shall we find her story?
Last week the king called all the flowers of the nation. In traditional Swazi culture people are divided into regiments according to age and the Imbali, the flowers, are teen aged girls. Each year king Mswati looks over his 14 to 18 year old subjects and chooses yet one more female to give birth to his off-spring, the privileged ones.
The 'Flowers' from all over the nation gather to sing and dance - orphaned daughters who take care of their siblings, girls who enter the sex trade due to poverty, educated girls, and uneducated girls who can not attend school because of compulsory fees. A family can be fined if they do not send their daughters to the Reed Dance.
The girls may catch a glimpse of a princess or two wearing designer sun glasses and one inch artificial finger nails. It's hard to imagine them eating a traditional Swazi meal of pap and lakusha (porridge and greens) using their hands! This is not Swazi culture - it is aristocratic greed.
Umhlanga 2006 - Reed Dance
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Umhlanga+2006
After the dance and festivities, the girls all go home and continue to be the most vulnerable in their society. Children and youth are often abused in Swaziland and reading through daily papers indicates how girls are perceived. Rape is reported on a regular basis, unbearable stories of fathers raping daughters, uncles raping nieces, men raping children and step-brothers raping their step-sisters. There are organizations which seek to help these victims of abuse yet the government will not provide a safe society for young girls and women.
When basic rights are neglected how can a culture of exploitation be praised?
To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
If history is simply his/story, where shall we find her story?
Last week the king called all the flowers of the nation. In traditional Swazi culture people are divided into regiments according to age and the Imbali, the flowers, are teen aged girls. Each year king Mswati looks over his 14 to 18 year old subjects and chooses yet one more female to give birth to his off-spring, the privileged ones.
The 'Flowers' from all over the nation gather to sing and dance - orphaned daughters who take care of their siblings, girls who enter the sex trade due to poverty, educated girls, and uneducated girls who can not attend school because of compulsory fees. A family can be fined if they do not send their daughters to the Reed Dance.
The girls may catch a glimpse of a princess or two wearing designer sun glasses and one inch artificial finger nails. It's hard to imagine them eating a traditional Swazi meal of pap and lakusha (porridge and greens) using their hands! This is not Swazi culture - it is aristocratic greed.
Umhlanga 2006 - Reed Dance
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Umhlanga+2006
After the dance and festivities, the girls all go home and continue to be the most vulnerable in their society. Children and youth are often abused in Swaziland and reading through daily papers indicates how girls are perceived. Rape is reported on a regular basis, unbearable stories of fathers raping daughters, uncles raping nieces, men raping children and step-brothers raping their step-sisters. There are organizations which seek to help these victims of abuse yet the government will not provide a safe society for young girls and women.
When basic rights are neglected how can a culture of exploitation be praised?
To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Aug27 Sd2006
From a Northern Angle: A perspective on Swaziland
Most Canadians would have a hard time locating Swaziland on a globe; generally, they say "Switzerland?". It's such a tiny kingdom in southern Africa that until its recent notoriety concerning HIV/Aids it rarely concerned the international media. Occasionally King Mswati's name has made the headlines due to his luxurious taste and "cultural habit" of taking a new teen aged wife each August.
The Kingdom is a tiny country about a quarter the size of New Brunswick and has a population of 1.1 million. It was a British protectorate ("protected" not "colonized") from 1877 til 1968 when independence was granted and the parliamentary system of a Constitutional Monarchy was adopted. Within 5 years that constitution was gone as king Sobhuza II declared all political parties and political gatherings illegal. The 1973 Decree was quite convenient for the neighbouring Afrikaners in South Africa; in effect, it chased the African National Congress (ANC) out of Swaziland in addition to giving Sobhuza absolute control.
Shortly after Sobhuza died in 1982 a group of young politically minded students at the University of Swaziland and William Pitcher College secretly formed the Peoples United Democratic Movement, PUDEMO. In 1983 this was a huge risk but they felt compelled to resist the oppressive royal family. They felt a sincere obligation to their community - the aristrocracy did not deserve their respect but the community, their nation of people, most certainly did.
In 1986, four years after Sobhuza's death, one of his many sons was selected to rule. (Sobhuza is said to have fathered over 200 children with more than 100 wives!) Mswati III was crowned and many Swazis believed their lives would improve under this young 18 year old boy. The king proved otherwise.
Mswati quickly became know for his selfishness and used "culture" to justify the status quo. Simply put, the royal Dlamini clan still enjoyed the wealth of Swaziland while the majority watched. The king obeyed "cultural dictates" such as umhlanga - the Reed Dance where the king chooses a new teen aged girl as his fiance each year (only if she becomes pregnant will they marry) - yet ignored the plight of the people and the concerns of the nation. In 1986, the division of classes was extreme and plain to see, it was only to become more extreme.
Mswati has been king for 20 years and during that time Pudemo has never ceased moving forward. They have remained loyal to the people and watch Mswati's treachery. Pudemo has criticized the king who squanders millions of dollars on cars for himself - Maybach and Cadillac, cars for his wives (14 BMWs were bought in 2005) , palaces for his 12 or 14 wives, and tuition at foreign schools for his children. Pudemo has also criticized the Commonwealth for keeping a blind eye on the situation.
As Pudemo questions the Commonwealth's commitment to the Harare Declaration of 1991, the hypocrisy becomes apparent. Both Canada and Swaziland are signatories to this document which speaks of promoting democracy yet political parties and gatherings are still banned in Swaziland. Three weeks ago, Saturday August 5, 2006 a rally turned violent as police shot rubber bullets and teargas at a peaceful gathering celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco). Three men were injured and two women were taken by the "Royal Police" and severly beaten. Political repression is openly visible yet Canada and the Commonwealth are oblivious to these events. Will our commonwealth also become our common brutality?
Statistics from Swaziland are shocking:
Most Canadians would have a hard time locating Swaziland on a globe; generally, they say "Switzerland?". It's such a tiny kingdom in southern Africa that until its recent notoriety concerning HIV/Aids it rarely concerned the international media. Occasionally King Mswati's name has made the headlines due to his luxurious taste and "cultural habit" of taking a new teen aged wife each August.
The Kingdom is a tiny country about a quarter the size of New Brunswick and has a population of 1.1 million. It was a British protectorate ("protected" not "colonized") from 1877 til 1968 when independence was granted and the parliamentary system of a Constitutional Monarchy was adopted. Within 5 years that constitution was gone as king Sobhuza II declared all political parties and political gatherings illegal. The 1973 Decree was quite convenient for the neighbouring Afrikaners in South Africa; in effect, it chased the African National Congress (ANC) out of Swaziland in addition to giving Sobhuza absolute control.
Shortly after Sobhuza died in 1982 a group of young politically minded students at the University of Swaziland and William Pitcher College secretly formed the Peoples United Democratic Movement, PUDEMO. In 1983 this was a huge risk but they felt compelled to resist the oppressive royal family. They felt a sincere obligation to their community - the aristrocracy did not deserve their respect but the community, their nation of people, most certainly did.
In 1986, four years after Sobhuza's death, one of his many sons was selected to rule. (Sobhuza is said to have fathered over 200 children with more than 100 wives!) Mswati III was crowned and many Swazis believed their lives would improve under this young 18 year old boy. The king proved otherwise.
Mswati quickly became know for his selfishness and used "culture" to justify the status quo. Simply put, the royal Dlamini clan still enjoyed the wealth of Swaziland while the majority watched. The king obeyed "cultural dictates" such as umhlanga - the Reed Dance where the king chooses a new teen aged girl as his fiance each year (only if she becomes pregnant will they marry) - yet ignored the plight of the people and the concerns of the nation. In 1986, the division of classes was extreme and plain to see, it was only to become more extreme.
Mswati has been king for 20 years and during that time Pudemo has never ceased moving forward. They have remained loyal to the people and watch Mswati's treachery. Pudemo has criticized the king who squanders millions of dollars on cars for himself - Maybach and Cadillac, cars for his wives (14 BMWs were bought in 2005) , palaces for his 12 or 14 wives, and tuition at foreign schools for his children. Pudemo has also criticized the Commonwealth for keeping a blind eye on the situation.
As Pudemo questions the Commonwealth's commitment to the Harare Declaration of 1991, the hypocrisy becomes apparent. Both Canada and Swaziland are signatories to this document which speaks of promoting democracy yet political parties and gatherings are still banned in Swaziland. Three weeks ago, Saturday August 5, 2006 a rally turned violent as police shot rubber bullets and teargas at a peaceful gathering celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco). Three men were injured and two women were taken by the "Royal Police" and severly beaten. Political repression is openly visible yet Canada and the Commonwealth are oblivious to these events. Will our commonwealth also become our common brutality?
Statistics from Swaziland are shocking:
- 69% of the population lives below the poverty line of E128 ($21 Can) per month.
- 48% of the population live under abject poverty
- 40% of households have never had enough to eat
- More than 300 000 people depend on food aid to survive
- Unemployment is more than 40%.
- HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is estimated at 42% making the country the highest in infection rate in the world.
- 56.4% of the wealth is held by the richest 20% whilst the poorest 20% hold only 4.3%
- Total population of disadvantaged people is estimated at
756 000 and is ever escalating. This represents more than 70% of the population.
756 000 and is ever escalating. This represents more than 70% of the population.
- The health facilities are worse than in colonial times. You cannot find a simple pain killer in any government hospital today. Rats were seen in the capital hospital in December 2005.
- The education system has crumbled under Royal administration. Children no longer have access to government scholarships when those of the Royal family attend pre-schools in England and America.
Pudemo, Swayoco and the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) are actively engaged in creating a more equitable and just system in their country. They know this can not be accomplished without international support and are establishing stronger ties overseas. Pudemo has a representative in Australia, SSN works diligantly in South Africa and South Africa Contact of Denmark provides support and produces a bi-monthly Swazi-newsletter.
Swazi-Solidarity Canada has been working closely with SSN in South Africa and wishes to engage in political, as well as, humanitarian action. As the history of the Republic of South Africa has taught us - internal pressure can not work in isolation, international solidarity is essential.
To follow events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
To read the South Africa Contact newsletter see
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/SAK-Swazinewsletter
For more information, please write to:
PUDEMO International Office - pudemo@yahoo.co.uk
SSN South Africa - swaziland@union.org.za
Swazi-Solidarity Canada - swazisolidarityca@yahoo.ca
To follow events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
To read the South Africa Contact newsletter see
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/SAK-Swazinewsletter
For more information, please write to:
PUDEMO International Office - pudemo@yahoo.co.uk
SSN South Africa - swaziland@union.org.za
Swazi-Solidarity Canada - swazisolidarityca@yahoo.ca
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Aug20 Sd2006
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
w.b.yeats
This week in Toronto more than 20,000 people gathered for the
XVI International Aids Conference. The registration fees were
posted in US dollars ranging from $550 to $995 for regular
delegates and $150 to $240 for youths/students. (American
dollars in Canada eh?) Added to that the cost of travel,
accommodation and meals, it's easy to see how these events
become big business.
While participants discussed microbicides, ARVs, vaccines,
malnutrition, poverty, women's rights, 3 by 5, traditional
medicines and so on, the newspapers in Swaziland choose
a different angle for the HIV /Aids crisis. You see, if God has
all the cures then the Swazi government can not be held
responsible.
Aug 14 Accept Jesus to overcome HIV/AIDS, says activist
Last month the Commonwealth Secretariat replied to a letter by a
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of New Brunswick.
Matthew Neuhaus, Director of Political Affairs, wrote "Under
the new Constitution, Article 25 guarantees the freedom of
assembly and association, which includes the establishment
of political parties...The Commonwealth is in close dialogue
with His Majesty the King and key political leaders on this,
to ensure that this constitutional right is upheld and protected."
It seems Mr Neuhaus didn't read the news article "NNLC
Rejected" from March 11th of this year.
Mar 11 NNLC rejected
The Peoples United Democratic Movement of Swaziland has
criticized the Commonwealth's position for more than a decade.
Dr Jabulane Matsebula, of PUDEMO's International Office in
Australia, once again responds to this ongoing hypocrisy. He
brilliantly points out what the Commonwealth refuses to look at
in his paper entitled Violent Political Repression in Swaziland.
If you've an opinion for the Commonwealth Secretariat, let them hear it!
Director of Political Affairs - Mr Matthew Neuhaus
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int
Secretary General - Mr Don McKinnon
info@commonwealth.int
Ask you MLA to write a similar letter to the Commonwealth.
MLA addresses can be found at http://www.gnb.ca/legis/index-e.asp
If that page is not working, try first name.last name@gnb.ca
FOR MORE INFORMATION see http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
w.b.yeats
This week in Toronto more than 20,000 people gathered for the
XVI International Aids Conference. The registration fees were
posted in US dollars ranging from $550 to $995 for regular
delegates and $150 to $240 for youths/students. (American
dollars in Canada eh?) Added to that the cost of travel,
accommodation and meals, it's easy to see how these events
become big business.
While participants discussed microbicides, ARVs, vaccines,
malnutrition, poverty, women's rights, 3 by 5, traditional
medicines and so on, the newspapers in Swaziland choose
a different angle for the HIV /Aids crisis. You see, if God has
all the cures then the Swazi government can not be held
responsible.
Aug 14 Accept Jesus to overcome HIV/AIDS, says activist
Last month the Commonwealth Secretariat replied to a letter by a
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of New Brunswick.
Matthew Neuhaus, Director of Political Affairs, wrote "Under
the new Constitution, Article 25 guarantees the freedom of
assembly and association, which includes the establishment
of political parties...The Commonwealth is in close dialogue
with His Majesty the King and key political leaders on this,
to ensure that this constitutional right is upheld and protected."
It seems Mr Neuhaus didn't read the news article "NNLC
Rejected" from March 11th of this year.
Mar 11 NNLC rejected
The Peoples United Democratic Movement of Swaziland has
criticized the Commonwealth's position for more than a decade.
Dr Jabulane Matsebula, of PUDEMO's International Office in
Australia, once again responds to this ongoing hypocrisy. He
brilliantly points out what the Commonwealth refuses to look at
in his paper entitled Violent Political Repression in Swaziland.
If you've an opinion for the Commonwealth Secretariat, let them hear it!
Director of Political Affairs - Mr Matthew Neuhaus
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int
Secretary General - Mr Don McKinnon
info@commonwealth.int
Ask you MLA to write a similar letter to the Commonwealth.
MLA addresses can be found at http://www.gnb.ca/legis/index-e.asp
If that page is not working, try first name.last name@gnb.ca
FOR MORE INFORMATION see http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Aug13 Sd2006
When you are going through hell, keep going.
Winston Churchill
Last Saturday, Aug 6, the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco) planned a 15th anniversary gathering which the police were certain to attend. What we take for granted in Canada, the freedom to gather, is not a privilege in Swaziland. The "Royal Police" used teargas, rubber bullets and live ammunition on the youth. Three men were hit by the bullets and two women were taken to the police station to be severely beaten while being questioned.
Aug 6 Forward ever - SWAYOCO
Aug 6 Comrade shot by police
Aug 6 Another rally gone chaotic
Political parties and political gatherings have been illegal in Swaziland since the 1973 Decree of king Sobhuza II. Canada and Swaziland have both ratified the Commonwealth Harare Declaration of 1991 but that seems irrelevant. Chapter 9 which speaks of "promoting democracy" is of no significance. It seems some countries in the Commonwealth "are more equal than others"!
Aug 7 Swaziland Youth Congress’s 15th Anniversary: police Victims profiles
Aug 9 Politics makes a tentative comeback
Police brutality in Swaziland is an ugly but constant theme as Amnesty International reports indicate. From Nov 1990 - "Black Wednesday", Winston Churchill
Last Saturday, Aug 6, the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco) planned a 15th anniversary gathering which the police were certain to attend. What we take for granted in Canada, the freedom to gather, is not a privilege in Swaziland. The "Royal Police" used teargas, rubber bullets and live ammunition on the youth. Three men were hit by the bullets and two women were taken to the police station to be severely beaten while being questioned.
Aug 6 Forward ever - SWAYOCO
Aug 6 Comrade shot by police
Aug 6 Another rally gone chaotic
Political parties and political gatherings have been illegal in Swaziland since the 1973 Decree of king Sobhuza II. Canada and Swaziland have both ratified the Commonwealth Harare Declaration of 1991 but that seems irrelevant. Chapter 9 which speaks of "promoting democracy" is of no significance. It seems some countries in the Commonwealth "are more equal than others"!
Aug 7 Swaziland Youth Congress’s 15th Anniversary: police Victims profiles
Aug 9 Politics makes a tentative comeback
when police and army units beat students at the University of Swaziland campus - until the present, there has been only one response by the authorities as students and youths have formed protests. The authorities physically smash their opposition!
Amnesty International: Swaziland
In Sept 2005, university students marched to the capital to meet with the Minister of Education about their promised scholarships - they were greeted with water cannons and tear gas. In Mswati's kingdom all must appear peaceful and if anyone is so bold as to criticize, then she or he must be prepared to be tortured when the police take them to be "interviewed".
Please write a letter or send an e-mail calling for
1) an end to police brutality and close monitoring of events in Swaziland
2) the respect of human rights
3) an immediate unbanning of political parties
4) the Commonwealth and Canada to end their complacency
Write to
Mr Don McKinnon
The Commonwealth Secretary-General
info@commonwealth.int
Ms Rabab Fatima
Adviser & Head of Human Rights Unit
r.fatima@commonwealth.int
Ms Sandelle Scrimshaw
Canadian High Commissioner to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho
pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca
Other addressed can be found at http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/GET+INVOLVED
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Aug2 Sd2006
Stop rubbing sand in our eyes!
As the Israeli assault on Arab civilians continues, Canadians are becoming
more and more disgusted with the arrogance of Prime Minister Stephen
Harper and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter MacKay. Many feel that Canada
has sunken to an all time low (some would say we're living in the dark ages)
while the Conservative minority in Ottawa aligns itself too closely with Bush.
When Canada and the USA talk of "Fortress North America" we shudder! Is
there no end to this madness?
Pudemo as a peoples' movement in Swaziland has long understood the
struggles of oppressed peoples. Simply, they choose people before profit,
courage before complacency and struggle before surrender! Concerning
the crisis in the Levant Pudemo's secretary-general, I.B. Dlamini, has
released a statement last week.
Aug 3 PUDEMO statement: The Middle East Crisis is the greatest threat to world peace
Bongani Masuku of Swaziland Solidarity Network has also issued a release concerning local and international events.
Aug 3 SSN Statement on the appointment of former apartheid President Frederick De Klerk as king Mswati�s adviser and the challenges of a world at war
While the world reacts to the horrendous events in Lebanon, Mswati keeps
himself busy lusting over teenaged girls, hand-picking members for the Chiefs
Council and whinning to American CNN reporters that it's tough being king!
To hear this boy/man called king, who's lived a priviledge life in luxury and
wealth, whimper to an American audience is pathetic. Perhaps it is only in
that country that he could find a sympathetic ear.
July 31 IT'S TOUGH BEING KING
Aug 4 His Majesty forms Chiefs Council
Aug 4 What human rights? - Chiefs
Since 1983 Pudemo has continually challenged the corrupted governing
system in Sd. The peoples' movement has shown the intellectual bankruptcy
of the royalist and the ethical vacuum from which they operate. The people
will continue to push the country forward until a more equitable system is in
place.
A recent manifestation of the peoples' dedication is evident in the creation
of the International Research Academy for Labour and Education - SIFUNDZA SIZABALAZA.
IRALE or the Swazi Labour Academy has made its documents available at :
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Swazi+Labour+Academy
********************************************************************************
At 12 o'clock, Aug 9th at the Saint John public library Steve Baird will be speaking about his recent volunteer work in Nkomazi, Swaziland.
As the Israeli assault on Arab civilians continues, Canadians are becoming
more and more disgusted with the arrogance of Prime Minister Stephen
Harper and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter MacKay. Many feel that Canada
has sunken to an all time low (some would say we're living in the dark ages)
while the Conservative minority in Ottawa aligns itself too closely with Bush.
When Canada and the USA talk of "Fortress North America" we shudder! Is
there no end to this madness?
Pudemo as a peoples' movement in Swaziland has long understood the
struggles of oppressed peoples. Simply, they choose people before profit,
courage before complacency and struggle before surrender! Concerning
the crisis in the Levant Pudemo's secretary-general, I.B. Dlamini, has
released a statement last week.
Aug 3 PUDEMO statement: The Middle East Crisis is the greatest threat to world peace
Bongani Masuku of Swaziland Solidarity Network has also issued a release concerning local and international events.
Aug 3 SSN Statement on the appointment of former apartheid President Frederick De Klerk as king Mswati�s adviser and the challenges of a world at war
While the world reacts to the horrendous events in Lebanon, Mswati keeps
himself busy lusting over teenaged girls, hand-picking members for the Chiefs
Council and whinning to American CNN reporters that it's tough being king!
To hear this boy/man called king, who's lived a priviledge life in luxury and
wealth, whimper to an American audience is pathetic. Perhaps it is only in
that country that he could find a sympathetic ear.
July 31 IT'S TOUGH BEING KING
Aug 4 His Majesty forms Chiefs Council
Aug 4 What human rights? - Chiefs
Since 1983 Pudemo has continually challenged the corrupted governing
system in Sd. The peoples' movement has shown the intellectual bankruptcy
of the royalist and the ethical vacuum from which they operate. The people
will continue to push the country forward until a more equitable system is in
place.
A recent manifestation of the peoples' dedication is evident in the creation
of the International Research Academy for Labour and Education - SIFUNDZA SIZABALAZA.
IRALE or the Swazi Labour Academy has made its documents available at :
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Swazi+Labour+Academy
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At 12 o'clock, Aug 9th at the Saint John public library Steve Baird will be speaking about his recent volunteer work in Nkomazi, Swaziland.
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