Swazi+News+Clips,+Feb+14

From The Swazi Observer date 14-02-2006

//By Timothy Simelane//
 * 1.Two youths wanted for bombings**

POLICE have launched a search for two youths said to be involved in the sporadic petrol bombings targetted at government structures.

One of the two, Kenneth Kunene (31), was said to be a student of the University of Swaziland, though such could not be confirmed by yesterday, while the other, Muzi Phakathi, hails from Lubulini.

Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Vusi Masuku said Kunene hails from Gobholo in the Msunduza location, south of Mbabane.

Several other suspects originate from Gobholo location, where police found a petrol bomb-manufacturing factory last year.

If found, Masuku said the two would be charged with attempted murder, high treason and malicious damage to property.

"Anyone who sees them or has information that would lead to their arrest should call 999 or the nearest police station," Supt Masuku said.

The two will join 17 others who were arrested for the bombings in different places in the country. Among them are members of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). Of the 17, only one, Mduduzi Dlamini, has pleaded guilty and released after the court sentenced him to two years imprisonment or E10 000 fine. However, the sentence was slashed by half and the judgment deferred to March 31.

Among the structures destroyed by the arsonists were The Swazi National Court, police flats, Government schools, tinkhundla centres, Siphofaneni MP Gundwane Gamedze's residence and Government Spokesperson Percy Simelane's house.

However, no one was seriously injured in the attacks - neither was life lost. Some of the 16 remaining suspects have applied for bail at the High Court after arguing that they were never involved in the attacks.

Among them are PUDEMO Secretary General Ignitius Bonginkosi Dlamini, while the other is well-known activist Mphandlana Shongwe.

Former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda pleaded with the arsonists to desist from petrol bombing but talk to Prime Minister Themba Dlamini if they had grievances.


 * 2. BOMBERS' CLAIM TORTURE**

//By Sabelo Mamba//

A man suspected of involvement in the spate of bombings has claimed that police threatened to kill him if he did not sign a statement implicating members of the national executive committee of two political parties in petrol bombings of government structures.

Eric Sabelo Dlamini of Maphiveni told the High Court that the police wanted him to implicate the leadership of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) including Mario Masuku and Kislon Shongwe.

This was contained in an affidavit in support of a bail application filed by the Secretary General of the political movement Ignatius Bonginkosi Dlamini, known as 'IB'.

Dlamini (Eric) alleges that on the 20th January around midnight at Maphiveni some police officers came to his house and took him to Tshaneni police station.

Dlamini says there were about 20 police officers who tortured him and coerced him into confessing that 'IB' had been involved in the petrol bombing of government structures.

He further alleges that the officers coerced him into confessing that 'IB' had facilitated the training of people to destabilise government.

"The police officers tortured me by suffocating me with a plastic," he claims.

"They also threatened to kill me if I did not sign a statement prepared by them implicating members of the national executive committee of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO in the petrol bombings of government structures," he states.

"As a result of the severe torture and death threats by the police, I signed the statement prepared by the police implicating 'IB' and the others," he said.

He said they told him he would have to swear to the statement before a magistrate on Monday the 23rd January 2006.

Dlamini said he was also offered employment if he co-operated.

Also attached is an affidavit of one Sicelo Vilane (21) of Mafucula, who also claimed to have suffered a similar fate to Dlamini.

The suspects are being defended by lawyers Thabang Mofokeng, Bongani Mdluli, Leo Gama, Ben Mofokeng and Advocate Lucas Maziya.

The DPP's office is represented by two South African senior advocates Dr. Len Els and Anthony Viviers. The State is expected to file replying papers shortly.

From The Times of Swaziland date 14-02-2006


 * Bomb suspect claims cops threatened to kill him**

BY SONNYBOY FAKUDZE

MBABANE – In a startling revelation, a man of Maphiveni area has claimed he was tortured by the police who threatened to kill him if he did not implicate the executive committee members of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO in the petrol bombings of government structures.

The man, Eric Sabelo Dlamini said in his affidavit filed in the High Court that the police tortured him by suffocating him with a plastic bag and ordered him to sign a statement they had prepared implicating PUDEMO Secretary General, Ignatius Bongani Dlamini (IB), President Mario Masuku, Deputy Secretary General Kislon Shongwe, Panuel Malinga, Alex Langwenya, Kenny and Sicelo Motsa.

Dlamini said this happened on January 20, 2006. IB was eventually arrested by the police in connection with the spate of petrol bombings of the government structures.

"On the 20th of January 2006 at Maphiveni at around 12 midnight, certain members of the Royal Swaziland Police Force led by Senior Superintendent Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla came to my house and took me to Tshaneni Police Station.


 * Destabilise**

At Tshaneni Police Station the said police officers who were about 20 in number tortured me and coerced me into confessing that Bonginkhosi Ignatius Dlamini popularly known as "IB", had been involved in the petrol bombing of government structures and that he had facilitated the training of people to destabilise the Government of Swaziland.

The police tortured me by using suffocation with a plastic bag and also threatened to kill me if I did not sign a statement prepared by them implicating members of the national executive committee of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO in the petrol bomb of government structures," he said.

Dlamini explained in his affidavit that as a result of the severe torture and death threats by the police, he signed the statement prepared by the police implicating "IB" and the others.

He submitted that while the police were torturing him they were telling him that they knew that "IB" and the others kept bombs and guns at his homestead. He said when the police searched his homestead, no such guns and bombs were found.

"After I had signed the statement, Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla gave me his cellphone number and said that I was now working with him and that he would secure employment for me if I co-operated with him.

All that was written in the statement prepared by the police that I signed implicating "IB" and the others, was not the truth, but I signed because of the torture and threat to my life," he said.