Swaziland
"No way Swazi King cannot be subject to criticism" 

afrol News, 26 June - "The King in Swaziland has failed to rise above the political system and serve as a father of the nation, so as to unite the Swazi nation," says South African trade union COSATU after the totalitarian Swazi regime has prohibited two newspapers and in a recent decree banned any critics against the King. The Swazi regime "should be isolated."

- Isolate the Swazi regime, is the appeal by the government-close Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The Swazi regime on 22 June issued Decree no 2 of 2001, effectively declaring a state of emergency in Swaziland. The decree, published in an extraordinary government gazette on Saturday evening, reinforces the 1973 Act that banned political parties and activities. Among other things, it proclaims as non-bailable offices any statement that could amount to ridicule or insult of King Mswati; and any conduct that the authority may deem to be against the monarch.

- These two 'offences' imply that the king is always right and is not subject to criticism, say COSATU spokespersons Patrick Craven and Moloto Mothapo. "In addition, the royal decree has abolished The Nation magazine and The Guardian newspaper. All matters which are before the king are therefore unchallengeable."

- The closure of the two national papers for freely expressing views is the worst form of repression and a manifestation of military-style dictatorship under the skin of the monarchy. It constitutes a gross violation of the universal principle of the freedom of the press. 

Also the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) expressed "concern about the recent developments." A statement by the National Director of the MISA chapter in Swaziland (MISWA), Comfort Mubuza, reads, "Our fears are that Government is aware of the fact that it has no leg to stand on in terms of the banning of the 'Guardian', and now hopes to use this piece of oppressive legislation to further repress freedom of expression and press freedom."

The decree also implies that all judges will be removed at the age of 65. The appointment of judges has been removed from the Judicial Services Commission, to become the competence of King and Minister of Justice.

- COSATU wishes to put the record straight on this unbecoming behaviour by the regime, say Craven and Mothapo. "There is no way the King, or anyone under the sun, can be not subject to criticism. The King in Swaziland has failed to rise above the political system and serve as a father of the nation, so as to unite the Swazi nation."

- The fact that judges are now going to be appointed by the king and his minister is beyond comprehension. It clearly demonstrates that the regime is using everything to keep itself in power. COSATU does not see any reason for this measure that undermines the separation of powers. 

The influential South African syndicalists conclude that, "The King and his lackeys have stooped so low that they should be stopped in their tracks now. While the regime is using dirty tactics and repression to undermine efforts for democratisation and trade union rights, our experience is that these tactics are bound to backfire very soon."

- If the regime assumes that repression is a tool for sustainable power, they should consult apartheid forces, the COSATU spokemen say. "They will tell them that tactics of repression only serve to mobilise resistance from the working and oppressed people."

All these recent developments in Swaziland "fly in the face of the International Labour Conference which has recently condemned the government’s barbaric conduct." Swaziland has for years been internationally criticised for not permitting basic standards of worker's rights, provoking violent protests and strikes last year.

COSATU condemns "this arbitrary, irregular and illegal manner of governance and therefore calls on all our people in Swaziland, South Africa and the world to isolate the Swazi regime." 

MISA, calling the decree "effectively declaring a state of emergency in Swaziland," also strongly condemns it, highlighting the following sections, "which clearly deny citizens the freedom of opinion and expression": 

Section 7: Protection of the name and actions of His Majesties. This section enforces a reign of terror as no one, especially journalists, will be allowed to write freely about the Monarchy.
Section 8: Matters pending before the Ingwenyama or King cannot be taken to any court of Law.
Section 9: Positions of Chiefs cannot be challenged in any court of the Land.

Sources: Based on COSATU, MISA and afrol archives

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