SSN+on+Boateng+unbanning+call+plus+lawyer+access+denial+report

=SSN statement on the call by Paul Yaw Boateng, the newly appointed British High Commissioner to the Kingdom.=

The Swaziland Solidarity Network welcome the call by the newly appointed British High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Swaziland base in South Africa when he called for the unbaning of political parties. We welcome in particular when he said "Lifting of the ban on political parties would open the way to dialogue with all the interested groups" //Times of Swaziland February 17, 2006//. This endorses the call which was made by PUDEMO in its document called The way Forward twenty years ago, The High Commissioner went father by saying ""Surely, political parties breed a healthy debate in as far as the future of a country is concerned."

However, under the leadership of Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth Secretariat has stood in the way of the pro-democracy movement in Swaziland and provided unwavering support to a regime that practices torture. Many international organizations have raised concerns about the detention of pro-democracy activists and the practice of torture in Swaziland. It is astounding that the Commonwealth Secretariat has never questioned gross violations of human rights in Swaziland including the recent torture to death of an innocent woman married to one of the detained pro-democracy activists. The Commonwealth seems unconcerned as it shockingly continues to promote the regime as a symbol of democracy. On its website, the Commonwealth Secretariat displays a caption of King Mswati III presenting the Draft Constitution in 2003 to promote the organization's ideal of democracy and good governance.

On the other hand, the Commonwealth refuses to work with the pro-democracy movement and actively frustrates efforts by the broader Swazi community to bring about meaningful democratic changes in Swaziland.

Surely to us and the people of Swaziland this call by the British government is long over due.

In South Africa's case provocateurs and false-flag operatives working covertly for the state posed as a "third force" and conducted indiscriminate terrorism for years within the country, in the 1980s and 1990s, seeking to blame their atrocities upon the liberation movement.

It appears that the Swazi regime is now using the same tactics and even possibly some of the same South African individuals to assist them. We note the employment of white South African lawyers (Dr. Len Els and Anthony Viviers) in the prosecution of the PUDEMO comrades.

The current regime will not stand in the face of gathering local and international exasperation with the regime's lack of genuine change. The so-called "constitution-making exercise" has been a smokescreen for the regime for 8 years but it no longer has this to hide behind. Its fraudulent pretence at change is becoming painfully obvious to even the most reluctant observers and the Swazi people must know that change will come.

It is scandalous that the regime continues to find comfort from international organizations such as the Commonwealth. This is one factor helping to delay the inevitable changes ahead for Swaziland. On several occasions, we have challenged the Commonwealth Secretariat to justify and explain its continued support of this evil empire. However, like the regime in Swaziland, the Commonwealth has refused to open dialogue with the pro-democracy movement.

As the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) we join PUDEMO, SFTU, and the mass democratic movement in appealing to international human rights and humanitarian organizations to write to the Commonwealth and condemn its behavior in relation to Swaziland.

Issued by Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN)


 * For more information please contact:**
 * Lucky Lukhele, Tel: 011 339 3621, Fax: 011 339 4244, Cell: 072 502 4141**
 * Email: ssnnetwork@gmail.com**
 * Web space: http://swazisolidaritysa.wikispaces.com/**

From The Times of Swaziland, February 24, 2006
=Even lawyer can't see bomb suspect=


 * BY CHRIS DLAMINI**

MBABANE - Hospi-talised petrol bomb suspect Brian Shaw's attorney Bongani Mdluli on Tuesday became the latest victim to be denied access to see his client by the police.

This happened a day after Shaw's biological mother Albertina Mavuso was denied access to her son.

Since Shaw was shot and admitted to the Mbabane Government Hospital's Ward Six (private), he has not had any visitors except nurses, doctors and armed policemen.


 * Client**

Mdluli has not seen his client since he was hospitalised. He went to the hospital on Tuesday to try and see him but he was stopped in his tracks by the police officers guarding Shaw's room in the ward.

Mdluli could not be reached for comment at the time this report was compiled, as his mobile phone was constantly not available.

However, Mario Masuku, President of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) confirmed the matter.

"I can tell you that Brian's attorney Bongani Mdluli was turned back by the police officers before he could even come any closer to the room where his client is kept in Ward Six.


 * Parents**

"I fail to understand what is happening because even Brian's biological parents have not had the privilege and right to associate with their child. What if he could die in there, where would his parents be because they are also not allowed to see him?" Masuku said.

Masuku said they have been trying to see Brian at the hospital but all their efforts have come to nothing but disappointment.


 * Wound**

He said they have been turned back several times despite that Brian has spent over a week in the hospital with a serious gunshot wound.

He said the way the police are handling the whole issue raises a lot of questions especially because no one knows who and how Brian was shot.

"We are made to believe that he was manhandled and the police are now trying to conceal the gravity of the injuries he sustained. One then wonders how government expects the country to surge forward when people are denied their fundamental rights," he said.


 * Problem**

Police Spokesman Superintendent Vusi Masuku said on Monday that they had no problem with people visiting Brian but were only waiting for a green light from medical practitioners.

On another note a letter was delivered at the Prime Minister's Offices on Monday by the Justice Peace and Reconciliation Commission (JPRC) asking the Premier to show cause with immediate effect why Brian had no visitors, especially his own biological parents.


 * via SSN**

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