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