YCL+and+SWAYOCO+condemn+arrest+of+Swazi+15




 * 11 January 2006**

=**JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY THE YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE AND THE SWAZILAND YOUTH CONGRESS**=


 * CONDEMNATION OF THE ARREST OF THE SWAZILAND 15 AND FURTHER ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST KING MSWATI.**

The Young Communist League of South Africa, together with organisations in the Swaziland Youth Solidarity Action, including the ANCYL, COSAS, SASCO, COSATU, SASPU and the YCS, are angered by the action taken by the Swaziland monarchy to arrest 15 people associated with the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco) and the Peoples United Democratic Movement (Pudemo).

The 15 includes senior leaders of PUDEMO, including its Secretary General Bonginkhosi 'IB' Dlamini, who together with the other 14 appeared in the various courts on Monday and Tuesday this week in Swaziland on charges of High Treason or alternatively 'attempted murder'.

Given the manner in which the 'IB' Dlhamini and 14 others were treated during their court appearance, and the desperation on the part of the Swaziland regime, there is no possibility of them getting a fair trial. The law in Swaziland does not guarantee rights for such detainees.

The other unfortunate factor is that the judges are not appointed by an independent judicial council or authority, but by King Mswati. The whole judicial system is centralised and under the control of King Mswati, with relatives occupying positions of Directorate of Public Prosecutions and Attorney General's Office.

The state allege that the charges arise from a string of bombings that started in October last year and were mainly in the capital city and other areas in Swaziland that were seen as representing the regime's oppressive nature.

Both Pudemo, in the person of 'IB' Dlhamini, and Swayoco, joined the nation in condemning the bombings and called for constructive and peaceful engagement and resistance with and against the regime.

We have been in contact with both Pudemo and Swayoco, and have learned that 'IB' Dlhamini and 14 others have been tortured upon arrest and are currently jailed in the Swaziland prisons.

The arbitrary arrests and torture represents for us a sense of desperation on the part of King Mswati, who has continuously run the country as his own private community, with a private army, private police and courts without due consideration of the peoples will.

We also see the arrest as a tool to silence dissent and direct opposition towards the dictatorship of Mswati, and this may not come to an end as long as Pudemo and Swayoco remain consistent in highlighting the oppressive and barbaric nature that the King has conducted himself.

We note that since the submission of our memorandum of demands, there has not, expectedly, been a response from the Swaziland monarchy and thus the lack of commitment on the part of the regime to transform.


 * We will, together with Swayoco and various youth organisations increase actions both inside Swaziland and in here to highlight the human rights abuse, poverty, socio-economic and political exclusions and lack of transformation for the Swazi people.


 * We will blockade all border posts into Swaziland as a means to impact on the economic situation in that country. We will be requesting a meeting with the Secretary General of the African National Congress and that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lobby them on the role that South Africa should play in halting Mswati's dictatorship.


 * We will be openly lobbying youth organisations in the region and internationally, the South African government and the SADC countries for smart sanctions against Mswati.


 * We are concerned of the silence by the international community on the struggle of the people of Swaziland, and call for collective international action against the heinous crimes against the Swazi people perpetrated by King Mswati.


 * We will in the month of February hold pickets and marches to the Swaziland high Commissions, Consulates and Embassy to demand for the unconditional release of 'IB' Dlhamini and 12 others.


 * We also reiterate our initial demands for the release of other political prisoners, the unbanning of Pudemo and Swayoco, the unbanning of certain South Africans who are prohibited from visiting Swaziland and the unbanning of many Swazi's who have been exiled to South Africa, Sweden and other countries.

We are aware that the Swaziland regime has banned some senior YCL members, including the National Organiser of the YCL, from that country, this we believe, is also meant to silence us. We will never succumb!

The names of the other 12 comrades arrested are standing trial:

1. Mduduzi Mamba of Siphofaneni 2. Themba Mabuza of Mbelebeleni 3. Vusi Shongwe of Sidzakeni 4. Goodwill Du-Pont of Matsetsa 5. Sicelo Mkhonta of Matsetsa 6. Kenneth Mkhonta of Nkwalini 7. Mfanawenkhosi Mntshali of Gobholo 8. Sipho Jele of Mshikishikini 9. Mfanufikile Nkambule of Nkwalini 10. Robert Nzima of Makholokholo 11. Mduduzi Dlamini of Mhlosheni 12. Sipho Hlophe of Gobholo. 13. Mpandlana Shongwe

Issued by the Young Communist League of South Africa.

3rd Floor COSATU House 1-5 Leyds Street, Braamfontein Johannesburg 2000

CONTACT: **Buti Manamela** Email: leslie@ycl.org.za Tel: (011) 339 3621 Cell: 082 567 3557