Swaziland
Swazi government bans two newspapers  

afrol News, 8 May - Starting on May 4, 2001, the Government of Swaziland has banned the print version of the "Guardian" newspaper from circulating in the country, in the wake of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, according to the media watchdog MISA. 

The newspaper has been blamed for not fulfilling all the requirements under the country's media laws, though the paper has indeed met all of the requirements. The Nation magazine has been banned as well. The authorities accuse the two publications of not paying a 1000 emalangeni (approx. US$ 124 or 134 euros) tax necessary for the registration of a media outlet. 

MISA reports that police were deployed throughout the country to collect copies of the newspaper and magazine from selling. Other officers were stationed at Oshoek Border Post to intercept the newspaper before it was brought into the country from Middelburg, South Africa, where it is printed.

The police said that they received an order to confiscate the newspaper on the basis that the "Guardian" newspaper was operating illegally. The Cabinet decided to ban the "Guardian" at a special meeting on Thursday, May 3, 2001, and the Minister for Information, Mntonzima Dlamini, was instructed to convey the decision to the newspaper. 

The newspaper's management was called to the Minister's Office, where they were told that the newspaper was operating illegally. The minister claimed that the newspaper never complied with all registration requirements. The newspaper management was instructed to cease publishing the newspaper until they complied with the law. 

Lawyers for the newspaper denied the claim by the minister and certified that the "Guardian" newspaper complied with everything in the law and it was in possession of all the necessary papers.

The "Guardian" newspaper recently became a target immediately after having printed stories about the King, his Queens and the Prime Minister. Among other stories, one article covered the King's illness and the rumour that one of his wives had poisoned him. That queen, whose father is the High Commissioner for Swaziland, has since gone to London, England, where she remains with her family.

In a letter to Minister of Information Mntonzima Dlamini, the media organisation Reporters sans frontières (RSF) protested the suspension of the two papers. "We ask that you reconsider this decision," said Robert Ménard, the secretary-general of RSF. "It is surprising that these two publications, known for their critical tone toward the authorities, are the only ones to be punished under the 1963 Press Law," he added.

Sources: Based on MISA and RSF

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