2005-01-27,+SSN+27+january+2005,+Behaviour+of+Police

=Swaziland Solidarity Network=
 * Tel: 011 339 3621/33 3rd Floor – SSN Office**

Fax: 011 339 4244 COSATU House

 * E-mail: ssn@union.org.za Braamfontein**

27 January 2005


 * __SSN STRONGLY CONDEMS THE BARBARIC BEHAVIOR OF THE SWAZI POLICE__**

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) condemns the government of Swaziland for the recent harassment against PUDEMO president Mario Masuku on 26 January by King Mswati through the police.


 * In summary, these measures include**:

"Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), President Mario Masuku was yesterday cut short from making a public speech. When the president was in the middle of his speech, senior police officers, who had all along been listening to what he was saying, approached him and argued that the march had nothing to do with him.

One Mbhamali, who told him to stop his speech with immediate effect, led the police. The police officer also scolded the union leaders for allowing Masuku to make his remarks." (Swazi observer 27 January, 2005).

This behavior is against international law and part of the Swaziland agenda to dominate every corner of Swazi society. The people of Swaziland must not be threatened by any power. The people of Swaziland must be allowed to democratically choose their destiny and they must be allowed to continue doing so.

We call on South Africans and people of the world to mobilise and express condemnation of this intensification of Swaziland state aggression against the people of Swaziland led by PUDEMO. We call on churches, other religious organisations, civil society, political parties, NGOs and all South Africans to work together with the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) in mobilising the South African public to express their solidarity with the people of Swaziland.

These latest measures clearly show the intention of the Swaziland gorvenment to escalate its aggression and hostily towards the masses of Swaziland. The Mswati Administration has learnt nothing from the steadfast resistance of the Swazi people to more than three decades of attempts to undermine their democratic rights by imposing tinkhundla system.

We the Swaziland Solidarity Network would like to support what the President of PUDEMO said when he thanked the two labour unions for uniting and speaking in one voice. He also called for the unity of all workers in the country, and further warned them to be ready for anything if they are to achieve their goal.

CONTACT Lucky Lukhele Swaziland Solidarity Network, Media & Liaison Tel - + 27 11 339 3621, Fax - +27 11 339 4244/6880 Cell -072 502 4141 Email - ssn@union.org.za