MARIO MASUKU RECEIVES A DEMOCRACY AWARD FROM DANISH STUDENTS

MR. MARIO MASUKU, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (PUDEMO), SWAZILAND RECEIVES A DEMOCRACY AWARD FROM DANISH STUDENTS.

The President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), the banned national liberation movement in Swaziland, Mr. Mario T. Masuku finally received an award given to him by the students of Denmark early this week. The award was given to him earlier in the year but he could not attend. The award was handed over to the President by Mr. Motern Nielsen from the Afrika Kontakt, the former anti-apartheid group that assists people and groups advocating for fundamental human rights and socio-economic empowerment of people in the developing world.

Mr. Masuku is vocal in the struggle for the democratization of his country that is currently ruled by King Mswati III, the world’s only surviving absolute monarch, ranked among the top 15 richest Monarchs the world. Mr Masuku was charged with high treason in 1990 but was acquitted after spending a year behind bars. He was again charged with sedition and subversion in 2000, kept in solitary confinement and yet again acquitted in 2002. His last arrest was in 2008 wherein he was charged under the notorious Suppression of Terrorism Act where again he was kept in solitary confinement in the maximum security prison for a year. He was subsequently acquitted by the high court. People, including students from Denmark, had tried paying Masuku a visit while in jail, but the Swaziland government refused them entry.

In between these arrests Mr Masuku had his house ransacked by the joint army and police contingents; his family harassed and party documents confiscated. While in prison the state had refused him private consultation with his physician and was not allowed sunshine or exercise outside his prison cell.

Below is what the President said on receipt of the ward:

It is good and comforting to be here today and receive this great award from these great people of Denmark. On behalf of the homeless, the foodless, the educationless, the healthless, the jobless, the landless and the voiceless of our poorest, I feel humbled and greatly honored to receive this award. Yes, it feels good to be with such honorable men and women at this function, but my soul drags me to the streets with street vendors; the hungry and street children of our lofty cities; to be in the factories with the toiling, exploited and underpaid workers; to be in the dry unproductive rainless plains and valleys in the rural areas.

That is where I belong; for my fellow citizens carry the heavy york of oppression from the authoritarian regime imposing itself on the helpless masses in the guise of loyalty. We all live a life of ‘no alternative’ in a land where culture has been politicized and commercialized and where dissent means seclusion or, as recently has been seen, DEATH!

But I extend our honor and respect to those brave comrades in Denmark, South Africa and the world over for their unshaken solidarity with the suffering people of Swaziland. We assure them that history has shown that the oppressed people eventually liberate themselves. Swaziland cannot be an island of dictatorship in a sea of democracy!

Demagogues do not start out as demented demons. Humanity has had plenty of them in the past, and even now, and when they set out on their rise to the top, nobody sees the danger that is coming. Most times, when society does eventually wake up, it is far too late and the damage is done. Often, they find their way into people’s hearts as good orators, born-again souls and inspirational ‘God created’ leaders.

When I was arrested I was prepared to suffer the consequences and would do all to protect the national movement and never to disown it during the trial. To me it was clear that this was less a trial in law than a confrontation in politics. I did not concern myself with the legalities, but the politics of the charge and my attitude to the indictment was to accept it as a generalized allegation, leaving the precise nature of the legal charge to emerge in the course of evidence, thus treating the indictment more as a statement of overall political allegation than a criminal charge formulated in terms of the law.

Asked to plead in the witness box, if I had to, I would have said “It is the Swaziland government that should be in the dock and not me… I plead not guilty.”

At numerous occasions I’m asked if I hate the police for arresting me, the government personnel and the prison warders who ill-treated me, and my answer is that “Yes, it is natural human instinct for the oppressed to feel some sense of vengeance towards the oppressor. But I have opted to hate nobody, to despise no one but the system of government that has created such monsters.

Our Core Demands are listed below:-

· Allowing for the leveling of the political playfield.

· Creating a climate for the independence of the media.

· Unconditional return of all exiles.

· Unbanning of Political Parties.

· Dialogue towards a Constitutional multi-party dispensation.

· The scrapping of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008, and the Public Sector Bill.

· Implementing of ‘smart sanctions’ on the country’s leaders.

The road to any liberation takes more than just rhetoric. Always remember that there is no GAIN without PAIN, no CROWN without the CROSS and no BIRTH without TRAVAIL.

The hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievement, but moral acts – to return love for hate, to include the excluded.

On behalf of my fellow countrymen and women, comrades in the PUDEMO structures, members of the Swaziland United Democratic Front, I humbly accept this Award.

I thank you.

Issued by Head of PUDEMO Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza

+268 7607 3453 (Manzini)

PUDEMO DEPUTY PRESIDENT FINALLY RELEASED

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) would like to formally announce to our friends, allies and partners that our Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, has been released from police custody.

Phakathi was detained by sate security police on Monday afternoon and thus could not participate on the planned two days protests. In as much as we are disgusted that he was detained for two days without charge we, however, welcome his release.

We assure the world that this will not dampen our spirits as we believe that the struggle continues.

PUDEMO also takes this opportunity to announce that Phakathi will be having a press conference tomorrow at COSATU house starting at 11am.

For further details contact Philani Ndebele at

+27 76 942 3565

Statement issues by

PUDEMO Head of Publicity Zakhele Mabuza

+268 76073453

ANCYL MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY IN SWAZILAND

The African National Congress Youth League supports the Global Day of Action for Democracy in Swaziland. As the ANCYL we acknowledge the supportive role played by the people of Swaziland during the period in South Africa when the State was controlled by a few who imposed the harshest inhumane injustices on our people.

Today we witness the harsh conditions under which the people of Swaziland are subjects to an absolute monarchy. The Swazi Monarchy continues to undermine human rights and at the forefront of suppressing political dissent in that country. This includes the recent detention of Trade Union activists both from Swaziland and South Africa.

The ANCYL condemns such arrests as an effort to undermine political activities in Swaziland. The ANCYL calls for a better life for each and every Swazi citizen. There should be effective improvement in the lives of the people of Swaziland by providing prevention and care and support to its people who are living with HIV & AIDS, who are in massive numbers and to alleviate poverty and strengthen access and provision of education.

The political, social and economic emancipation of the people of Swaziland must remain the most critical focus of the South African Government, neighbouring states, the region, the continent and the world. Good governance must be an obligation to the Swazi people. It escapes our imagination how the South African Government continues to have relations with the illegitimate Monarchy and dictatorial regime when the people of Swaziland continue live in poverty, in an environment growing with HIV infection. The ANCYL will raise the illegitimacy of the Monarchy and its negative impact on the people of Swaziland in the NGC of the ANC. The people of the continent look to South Africa, in particular the ANC for guidance and support and we can never fail them.

The people of Swaziland must enjoy political freedom, we will not sit by and watch whilst our neighbours suffer. The Youth League will raise the issue of bringing political freedom to the people of Swaziland. As the people of Swaziland participate in the Global Day of Action for Democracy, we denounce the undemocratic practices of Tinkundla and reaffirm our support for political emancipation of the people of Swaziland.

Issued by the ANCYL

Contact

ANCYL Spokespersons

Floyd Shivambu

+27 82 8199 474

Magdalene Moonsamy

+27 73 2688 269

PUDEMO CONDEMNS STATE ARROGANCE AND TERROR ON INNOCENT PROTESTORS

The protest action that was in Mbabane

The protest action that was in Mbabane did not accomplish its intended objective of presenting petitions to the government. Once again the oppressive and repressive nature of the state was witnessed by the protestors.

In the first instance, the Minister of Labour did not come out to recieve the petition, a trend that has been going in the country for many years when petions had to be presented to government. The government wanted to send a junior office to recieve the petition. This shows the disgusting attitude the government of the country has towards its people.

The second factor causing the protestors not to present the petition was the arrogant, provocative and repressive behaviour of the state police. The police wanted to forcefully remove Wandile Dludlu from the protestors because he was deemed not to be part of those who should protest against the state. And police were acting on an instruction by the state which has given itself the right to dictate who should protest against it! In the process, the police assaulted and manhandled several protestors in the skirmish that ensured resulting to two workers getting forcefully and brutally thrown and held inside a police caspir that was on standby.

Earlier in the day the President of PUDEMO Mario Masuku was visited by state police acting on government instruction to take and keep him at the Police Headquarters in Mbabane on the pretext that he was not supposed to attend the protest aaction. Later on he was escorted home where he was placed under house arrest for the duration of the protest action.

This is the hallmark of the Tinkhundla regime. It sustains it power over the people through force, intimidation, harassment, fear and repression while it tells the world the direct opposite of existing concrete conditions.

This dictatorial and arrogant behaviour and tendencies of the state in Swaziland deserves the strongest and unreserved condemnation by the civilized and democratic world. PUDEMO condemns this undemocratic and disrespectful behaviour by the state. We have always expressed clearly over the years the arrogance of the state and all we got for telling the truth was to be labelled unSwazi, disrespectful and most of all terrorists.

However, this arrogance and terror ochestrated by the state will not deter us and the struggling masses of our country until the constitutional multiparty democracy is achieved.

Contact

Head of Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza +268 7607453

Manzini

COSATU condemns the arrest of 14 SAMWU members and PUDEMO President Mario Masuku in Swaziland

COSATU salutes all its affiliates, the international trade union
movement and civil society organisations from all over the world for
their outstanding show of practical solidarity with the oppressed and
suffering people of Swaziland.

This unprecedented show of solidarity has contributed to the historic
numbers in the march taking place today in Manzini that has literally
brought Swaziland to a standstill. We also send fraternal greetings to
all workers and activists who have organised activities in line with the
global day of action in their own countries.

However, we take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest terms, the
extreme arrogance and desperation of the Swazi monarchy which has and
continue to arrest our members, the latest being the 14 members of
SAMWU, our affiliate. We also condemn the arrest of PUDEMO President
Mario Masuku around 11h00 at Bhunu Mall in Manzini.

Every arrest brings closer the liberation of the people of Swaziland and
we urge the people to stand firm in their demand for democracy, it is a
painful, but worthy struggle. We are also told that an anti-South
African phobia is being instilled by the Swazi regime as we are told the
government has banned every car from South Africa unless it's a guest of
the monarchy. This will not solve the crisis and problems facing the
country, but throw it into further degeneration.

We call on the world leaders to break their silence and act now. The
future of our region is at stake and we are all called upon to be
counted in calling for sanity to prevail in Swaziland, meanwhile, the
struggle continues.

We call on all our members to join the protest at the Swazi consulate
tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12h30 at the Braamfontein Centre.

PROTEST ACTION A HUGE SUCCESS

PROTEST ACTION A HUGE SUCCESS

The Global Day of Action for Democracy in Swaziland protest action as organized by the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) and the workers was a huge success. Inspite of the very hostile environment created by the heavy presence of the state police, a huge number of protesters bravely participated in the action.

At the core of the demands, is the call for multiparty democracy whose absence has resulted in the blatant miscarriage of social justice.

However, true to its arrogance, the state through the police occasionally disrupted the protesters. In one instance, the police forcefully removed the President of PUDEMO Mario Masuku on arrival resulting in a physical skirmish between the protesters and the police. Subsequently, another worker was detained.

There were other casualties though:

- 8 workers from SAMWU in South Africa were forcefully removed from the premises of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and later deported.

- 3 representatives from Afrika Kontak led by Morten Nielsen were also forcefully sent to the airport for deportation.

- 2 workers at the Forum for Socio Economic Justice Dumezweni Dlamini and Thami Tsabedze were also detained for unknown reasons.

- 1 foreign observer named Sox was also detained.

Tomorrow the protest action continues tomorrow in Mbabane where petitions will be handed over to the government.

Contact

Head of Publicity

+268 6073453

Manzini

Police raid SFTU offices ( CAMPAIGN HQ) in Swaziland

From Stiffkitten’s blog

At 8.45 today, Swazi police raided the offices of the Swazi Federation of Trade Unions. This happened only five minutes before the planned march of the Global Day of Action was to commence. The reason for targetting the SFTU offices was that the march activity was being organised and coordinated from here, and that the police with in doing so are trying to shut down the legal march entirely.

Sources amongst the organisers of the march have said that the march will continue as planned, however, regardless of the immense presence of police officers and vehicles on every corner of the city. Sources from within the Swaziland Democracy Campaign in South Africa have told Africa Contact that the Swazi military have also been deployed in an attempt to intimidate the marchers.

The police have also arrested the Deputy President of PUDEMO, Sukhumbuzo Phakathi, and it has not been possible for the laywers of PUDEMO to contact him yet.

SDC condemns the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi

07/09/2010 Press Statement

SDC condemns the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi

The crisis in Swaziland is deepening, so has the resolve of the fighting masses. No amount of arrests and brutal suppression of political and trade union activities will break the profound resistance building up in the country. This was the observation of the SDC South Africa team that was deported after interrogation by Swazi police and intelligence yesterday.

It is in that context that the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi must be understood. He was arrested around 20h30 yesterday night at the Phongola border post as the Swazi police and army were deporting the South African delegation comprised of COSATU and Swaziland Democracy Campaign activists.

It is known that the treatment of detained activists in Swaziland is a harsh experience none would dare wish to go through. This is worsened by the fact that recently; Sikhumbuzo’s rural home at Hluti was invaded and raided by the Swazi army and police in search of weapons, which in all probability was to build a case for his long planned arrest.

We demand the release of Comrade Sikhumbuzo as we also demand the right of all workers and the people of Swaziland to march and demand a government of their own choice. We further call for the intensification of activities all over the world aimed at mobilising global support for the struggle for democracy in that country.

In this regard, SDC reaffirms that it will be holding a protest action tomorrow at the Johannesburg offices of the Swazi Consulate. The details are:

Venue: Swazi consulate, Braampak behind Civic theatre, Braamfontein

Time: 12h30

Date: 08 September, 2010

For more information please contact:

Ntokozo Mbhele at
+27 72 370 0974
Ntokozo@publicservices.co.za
or
Philani Ndebele at
+27 76 942 3565
philani@asc.org.za

YCLSA CONDEMNS BRUTAL AND UNLAWFUL DETAINING OF WORKER LEADERS IN SWAZILAND

YCLSA CONDEMNS BRUTAL AND UNLAWFUL DETAINING OF WORKER LEADERS IN SWAZILAND

7 SEPTEMBER 2010

The Young Communist League of South Africa (uFasimba) condemns the unruly behaviour of Swaziland Royal Police who unlawfully detained worker leaders, who were convening a meeting in preparation for today’s protest action. This comes as no shock as the Swaziland Monarchy has proven to be intolerant of democracy and popular views of the people of Swaziland. This unfortunately proves that every word uttered by the King has merely been hypocritical propaganda to paint a facade to the rest of the world.

We re-affirm our support to the people of Swaziland in their struggle for democracy. We urge the South African government to play a more decisive role in addressing political problems of Swaziland. We cannot turn a blind eye to the continuous brutality faced by activists in Swaziland.

We call upon the immediate release of all detainees and for the protest action to continue as it was within legal confines without any interruption from the dictatorship. We support the Swaziland Democracy Campaign in their initiative in spreading awareness about the continued oppression of the people of Swaziland by a Monarchy.

Issued by the YCLSA Head office

Contact

Gugu Ndima

National Spokesperson

+27 76 783 1516

NEWS ALERT: PUDEMO DEPUTY PRESIDENT SIKHUMBUZO PHAKATHI ARRESTED

NEWS ALERT: PUDEMO DEPUTY PRESIDENT SIKHUMBUZO PHAKATHI ARRESTED

All the visiting worker leaders have been deported save only for Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, the Deputy President of PUDEMO and also International Secretary for CCEPPWU. Information we are gathering is to the effect that upon reaching the border, Phakathi was not allowed to cross over into South Africa but was held up by the police under intense interrogation. We also gathered that the other worker leaders from COSATU were deported through the Lavumisa/Golel border post (northern KZN) but their whereabouts cannot be confirmed, at least for now.

In the meantime, our Deputy President's exact whereabouts are unknown and his safety with the local police cannot be guaranteed as witnessed.

Contact:

Head of Publicity

+268 76073453

Manzini

DETAINED WORKER LEADERS DEPORTED

DETAINED WORKER LEADERS DEPORTED

As previously reported,all the detained workers have been released from police detention in Manzini Swaziland.

However, all the detained visiting worker leaders from South Africa have been deported. They were all driven in police cars to the border. Their mission of providing solidarity with the struggling masses of Swaziland has been derailed. However, the protest action planned for Tuesday and Wednesday is still on.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

+268 76073453

Manzini

COSATU condemns Swazi arrests

COSATU condemns Swazi arrests

The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest today, 6 September 2010, of members of the Swaziland trade union movement (SFTU), Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL) and Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), together with COSATU members who are in Swaziland preparing for tomorrow's pro-democracy demonstrations.

We demand their immediate and unconditional release by the Swazi regime, which is once again displaying is brutal opposition to any democratic opposition.

Tomorrow is the Global day of Action on Swaziland and several build-up activities had been scheduled by Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), the Coordinators of the Global action which were highly successful and massively attended to by workers, communities and international patriots.

Amongst those detained are:

Ø Fundizwi Sifundza, SFTU National Organiser,

Ø Steve Faulkner, SDC South Africa Convenor and SAMWU International Officer,

Ø Mary Da Silva, SDC Swaziland Co-ordinator,

Ø Zanele Matebula, and COSATU Deputy International Secretary,

Ø Sikelela Dlamini, SDC Swaziland Secretary and SDC South Africa member

Ø George Mahlangu, COSATU National Campaigns Coordinator,

Ø Christine Olivier, NUMSA Deputy President,

Ø Ntokozo Mbhele, SDC South Africa Secretary,

Ø Muzi Masuku, OSISA Swaziland Programme Manager,

Ø Frank Mncina, SATU General Secretary (Swaziland)

Ø and several others whose whereabouts are not yet accounted for.

For more details contact:

§ Nomthandazo Sikiti, SDC South Africa, +27 82 455 2303

§ Dumezweni Dlamini on +268 7604 6200

§ Zakhele Mabuza on +268 7607 3453

§ Philani Ndebele on + 27 76 942 3565 phil...@asc.org.za

POLICE DETAIN WORKER LEADERS IN MANZINI SWAZILAND

POLICE DETAIN WORKER LEADERS IN MANZINI SWAZILAND

As expected, members of the Swaziland Royal Police have swooped on an innocent meeting of workers in Manzini and ordered the meeting to stop. It was a preparatory meeting for tomorrow’s protest action. After much reasoning from leaders of workers, the police instructed everyone present must go to the Regional Police Headquarters for questioning. It was a huge battalion that was heavily armed.

Participants in meeting were then forcefully marshaled and some manhandled as they were loaded into the police van and a huge truck. Participants included workers leaders locally, civic society and internationalguests. Some of those detained are:

1. Musa Hlophe – Swaziland Coalition of the Concerned Civic Society.

2. Muzi Masuku – OSISA Country Manager

3. Vincent Ncongwane _ Secretary General of Swaziland Federation of Labour

4. Sikelela Dlamini - Swaziland Democracy Campeign

5. Phumelela Dlamini – Swaziland Democracy Campaign

6. Mary da Silva – Swazxiland Democracy Campaign

7. Mpandlana Shongwe – Swaziland Democracy Campaign

8. Wandile Dludlu – SWAYOCO President.

9. Zanele - Deputy Secretary International Affairs COSATU

10. George Mahlangu – COSATU

11. NUMSA National President

12. Ntokozo Mbele – SDC South Africa Chapter

13. Steve - SDC South Africa and International Relations Officer Municipal Workers Union.

14. Sikhumbuzo Phakathi – CCEPPWU/Deputy President of PUDEMO

15. Muzi Mhlanga – General Secretary Swaziland National Association of Teachers.

16. Sibusiso Lushaba – General Secretary Swaziland National Association of Nurses

Apart from these, many other members of the trade union movement in Swaziland were detained including two journalists from the local media who were covering the even.

This act has clearly shown to everyone and those who have been doubting the state of human rights abuse in Swaziland. This must be strongly condemned by all democracy loving people of the world and demand the quick and unconditional democratization of the country. This comes at the backdrop of many repressive actions from the state against the poor masseswho on a daily basis are demanding multiparty democracy in SWaziland.

Currently, the detainees are still in police custody at the Manzini Regional Headqurters. They are estimated to be in excess of 30 in number.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

+268 76073453

Manzini

PUDEMO PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE DEMOCRACY AWARD

PUDEMO PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE DEMOCRACY AWARD

Following that the President (Mario Masuku) of The Peoples United Democratic Movement was awarded a democracy award earlier this year in Denmark for his contribution to the general struggle for democracy in Swaziland, the award will be handed over to him in person. A representative of the friends of the poor and struggling masses of Swaziland coming from Denmark shall perform the honorable task of handing over this award. This is not an award for the PUDEMO President, but for all the struggling masses of Swaziland.

Everyone is therefore, invited to attend this historic event. Such include:

· Trade unions

· The church and civic society

· Community based organizations

· The informal sector

· Political organizations

· The media

The activity shall take place on Monday 6^th September 2010 in Manzini at 1800 hours.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza +268 76073453

Manzini

Raid of Mario Masuku's house and Arrest of Thokozani Dlamini

PUDEMO STATEMENT ON THE RECENT RAID OF OUR PRESIDENT AND THE ARREST OF OUR YOUTH LEAGUE MEMBER

Friends and compatriots we report today that our President, Mario Masuku, was this morning raided by police officers and most of his documents confiscated. This comes in the wake of reports that the police have been on a clampdown on our members, engaging in wanton arrests and harassment of our youth league members in particular. This subsequently led to the arrest of Thokozani Dlamini of Ekwendzeni.

Dlamini was detained for the entire week and secretly hauled at the High court where he was officially charged with Terrorism and remanded into custody. Efforts by our youth league to have him see a lawyer was thwarted by the police. Nothing new there.

Our President, on the other hand, was woken up by armed to the teeth police officers who turned everything up and down at his homestead in Mbabane. He was subjected to the most harrowing experience of his life; intimidation, harassment and being ridiculed in front of his family. We note with great concern that this happens to a country that is fast degenerating to a state of emergency and police state. This happens while the head of state was wining and dinning with democratically elected heads of state during the official opening of the World Cup in South Africa.

Our President is a known enemy of the state having been arrested and charged with everything from High Treason to Sedition and now Terrorism. In all these instances he has come out victorious, something that seemingly has not gone down well with Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini who is toying around with the idea of reviving the non bailable offences Law.

Against all evidence of a country in crisis, SADC has remained quiet while stroking the ego of the monarchy by turning a blind eye to these atrocities.

We are again alarmed that the pseudo political party and state collaborationist Sibahle Sinje, is now on the media, calling for everyone to condemn violence while parachuted themselves as standing on the moral high ground. We can’t believe it is Sibahle Sinje saying this. We can’t help but ask ourselves; where was Sibahle Sinje when we were unfairly proscribed as a terrorist entity? What did they say? What did they say when unionist and patriot Sipho Jele died? We heard nothing from them when Workers day was disturbed by police officers. Their silence is too loud when Swaziland Democracy Campaign leaders are harassed and abused by police for merely being democracy activists. It therefore came as a surprise to us when they woke up from their slumber to demand that the whole world must run like headless chickens simply because the ‘master’ has spoken. Sibahle Sinje would best be advised to continue collaborating in the plundering of the economy and their soft reprimand of the regime while we, together with the democracy loving masses, continue our peaceful struggle for democracy in our life time.

As PUDEMO we are unequivocal in condemning violence and have openly challenged the regime to the round table for negotiations. For this we have been labelled terrorists, beaten, maimed, dehumanised, forced into exile and sanctioned economically in our own country. Our genuine commitment to peaceful struggle and none violence has been met by brutal force and harassment. When ordinary people of Swaziland decide to give the regime a taste of their own medicine (violence) organisations like Sibahle, who have a history of standing on the side of the oppressor, scream blue murder. We view this as hypocrisy of the worse order. Right now the regime plants its agents to bomb people’s homes so that they can marshal public sympathy in their escapades to harass, torture and induce fear to the masses. This is done so that they can set the right environment for a final onslaught on our members. It is hoped that this would justify the state labelling us terrorists. But the regime had not prepared enough for what was to happen after the bombing of comrade Alex LaNgwenya’s house at Bhunya­—public opinion turned and people began to see a dangerous regime on a rampage. We are encouraged that the people see these latest bombings for what they are; a state creation to induce fear, a pivotal weapon in their quest to throttle us all into submission. But the Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini should know by now that PUDEMO will never die because the people are PUDEMO and PUDEMO is the people. Our ideology lives and our membership is swelling. We will continue to call for dialogue while encouraging the international community, particularly the South African government to do more to foster dialogue in the country. We have demonstrated in the past our willingness to engage this regime and create a real democratic society but our willingness to create a stable, peaceful and democratic Swaziland has been shown the middle finger by the regime. We advise the Prime Minister that no amount of draconian legislation and reviving of the non bailable offenses law will stop the people of Swaziland from attaining their long desired freedom. We also would like to say that our youth league member who has been arrested and charged with Terrorism is innocent until proven guilty. He is a victim of the police’s fertile imagination and we know the general public does not at all believe that PUDEMO or its youth wing has anything to do with these bombings.

Contact

Zakhele Mabuza

+268 7607 3453

PUDEMO Members Harrassed:

A Five Day Record

Members of PUDEMO continue to receive harassment from the Swaziland Tinkhundla regime. In the space of five days atrocities have been visited on our members including:

• the mysterious bombing of Alex Langwenya's house.
• the raiding of Mphandlana Shongwe's house.
• the raiding of several homes of PUDEMO Youth League members in Manzini.
• the raiding of PUDEMO National Organizing Secretary Jabulani Dlamini's house on Friday morning.
• the detention of three members of PUDEMO Youth League in Hlatikulu on Friday morning. Two of them have been released while one, namely Zonke Dlamini remains in detention. Reports are that the comrades were severely tortured by the police. Zonke remains in the cells enduring the torture being visited on him by the police and we fear a repeat of what befell the late Sipho Jele might be witnessed for no one is allowed access to him and he is neither afforded medical attention.
• the raid on the home of the former PUDEMO National Organizing Secretary, Armstrong Robinson in his absence.

We suspect there might be more of such unreported atrocities and abuse of human rights on the members of PUDEMO meted out by the state's security agents countrywide. And more are still to come! After all the campaign was declared in 2008 and this week, the Prime Minister reiterated the state's commitment to carryout this deadly campaign on democracy activists in Swaziland and instill fear on anyone who dares think of publicly criticizing the status quo.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza +268 7607 3453

Manzini

Update on PUDEMO President

Update on PUDEMO President Comrade Mario Masuku’s

Like the past week, at about 5am this morning a battalion of hundreds of royal hit squads came to Sipho Jele's funeral.

This time around not raiding, but taking notes of what speakers had to say with the aim of targeting those who would say "viva PUDEMO".

Of note, this time they were carrying a digital video camera and recorded the morning sermon.

The environment was tense; last week's events were still fresh on the minds of the people who had attended.

Just when all was done, on our way back there was a road block, our car was following that of PUDEMO President and his son.

About 50 cops ordered Mario to get into the police van which took him to a police station near Luyengo.

In fear that he might be tortured as well, we decided to drive with them to the police station.

Many other comrades came, we waited out side the station. The media was already there to cover the story.

After waiting since morning we were told that he allegedly committed a crime under on terrorism act by shouting VIVA PUDEMO at the funeral.

After waiting for hours he was released, claiming that they will serve him with relevant papers so that he appear in court.

But I can proudly say that it was our support that changed their minds.

Mario rearrested

Breaking News!!!!!!!!

PUDEMO PRESIDENT COMRADE MARIO MASUKU ARRESTED BY THE SWAZILAND ROYAL POLICE ON HIS WAY BACK FROM THE FUNERAL OF COMRADE SIPHO JELE.
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.

Listen to PUDEMO President on METRO FM tonight

Tune into PUDEMO President Mario Masuku live on air tonight at 8:10 PM local time.

Masuku will be speaking about the murder of our Comrade Sipho Jele on METRO FM - a Jo'burg based radio station.

For those in SD, and those of the international community, you can go online and listen through the METRO FM podcast.


Go to
http://www.metrofm.co.za/player.html

The burial of Comrade Sipho Jele

Preparations for the burial of Comrade Sipho Jele continue.

The urgent court application could not go to court after the dramatic and mysterious disappearance of the file on Sipho's file.


This was deliberately done by the state to buy time in an effort to do serious and urgent damage control.

It ensured the case did not go to court, but be settled out of court.

(See " Dead PUDEMO man’s file goes missing at High Court" -

http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=16582)

The postmortem proceeded well and a report is expected soon.

• Today at 1330 hrs, there will be a memorial service to be held at the Fellowship Church next to Palm Beach in Manzini.
• a night vigil shall follow in the evening at Ncabaneni.
• burial will be in the morning at Ncabaneni.

We envisage no problems, but we never knows with the governance structures in the country.

Killed for wearing his PUDEMO T-shirt

PUDEMO Media Release, 5 May 2010

Killed for wearing his PUDEMO T-shirt

The royal security agents in Swaziland have done it again


We report with great grief to all our comrades both at home and internationally that Comrade Sipho Jele has died, as usual in the hands of the police. Cde Sipho was detained on Workers Day for wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt in Manzini. Subsequently, the police took him to his home in Ncabaneni looking for his membership card and returned with him to custody. On the following day, Tuesday morning the police officers returned to report to his grandmother that he has died by coomiting suicide while in custody. We know this is incorrect. A lot of people in Swaziland have died in the hands of the police and fictitious stories fabricated. And the police were ordering the old woman to bury the comrade on the same day, Tuesday.

Next they will bribe the poor family to fabricate a story on Sipho's death which shall be in favour of the regime and its killer security agents. If they fail, they shall threaten the old lady with a lot of fearful things including being evicted from her home area.

The Swaziland royal regime has always been giving the international community the wrong information that political dissenters are not imprisoned, harrassed and killed. And that Swaziland is a peaceful country. But here is a political activist getting killed for attending Workers Day and wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt. These are the same tactics that were used during apartheid South Africa to silence political activists. It is high time the international community, especially SADC genuinely take up the issue of Swaziland. How many innocent people must die before the regional leadership comes out openly to condemn the Swaziland regime and demand for democratization? Do we need to experience massive deaths like it is happening in other countries to get the international community to act?

Cde Sipho is a former worker at Usuthu Pulp. He was currently among the 2006 awaiting treason trialists. He was also in the process of furthering himself academically. PUDEMO and its Youth League have lost a hard working and committed comrade in Sipho. May his soul rest in peace! He has not died in vain, but for the freedom and liberation of our oppressed masses under the arrogant tinkhundla royal regime.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

+268 607 3453
Manzini