We will fight on - PUDEMO Nov 15,2008 00:00 by webmaster stories BY SIHLE MAVUSO
* MBABANE-The People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) will fight on despite the new stance by government on the banned political movements. * PUDEMO President Mario Masuku said they saw it coming and it actually confirms their fears about the new Prime Minister, Sibusiso Dlamini. He said the new stance by the government will not silence them for their quest to a democratic Swaziland. "This intimidation, persecution and elimination of our members will not stop us from calling for democracy in the country," he said. He said people must be aware that PUDEMO was not formed in an office or hotel, but on the river bank of Mbuluzi and that was in 1983," he said. He said they were expecting government to come up for a dialogue and what they have done is nothing but putting forward their ego and looking down upon the real issues which are affecting the country," he said. * Punishment * He said listing the organisation and its bodies as terrorists' formation and the punishment that goes with being an associate to the organisation is meant to discourage the members of the movement. "I am not a terrorist and the members of PUDEMO and the other branches are not terrorists. We are responsible citizens of this country who are not asking for anything but our fundamental right which is enriched in their royal constitution," he said. *... you do not scare us - SSN* MBABANE-The Swaziland Solidarity Network has brushed aside the declaration by government to have them listed as a terrorist movement in the country. The network has laughed out at the government stance, stating that it is really impossible to have it banned because it is not based in Swaziland but in South Africa. SSN Spokesperson, Lucky Lukhele said government had no jurisdiction on their network because it is for the South Africans who are in solidarity with the Swazis. "To us this sounds like they are chucking out the South Africans from their country and if that is the case we will not hesitate to move out and actually start by closing out the border and see how that country will survive," he said. He said SSN was mainly formed by all the labour and political movements in South Africa and they were fully aware of the political problem in Swaziland. " We will not stop supporting the organisations that are calling for democracy in Swaziland and may we say that whatever programme that we had is going to be put aside and we just want to concentrate on Swaziland and see what will happen," he said. Link: http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=3124 Political parties are terrorists - PM Nov 15,2008 00:00 by BRIAN MOHAMMED *MBABANE- Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini has listed four banned political movements as terrorist formations.* The listed movements are the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) and Swaziland Liberation Army (Umbane). The PM made this declaration yesterday in his Cabinet offices. It was exactly 1609 hrs when he warned anyone who might be associated with these institutions about the new stance that the country has taken. PUDEMO is led by Mario Masuku, a man who has spent all his life in and out of police custody because of his political beliefs. At one point in time he was charged with high treason, which he won. SWAYOCO is led by Wandile Dlmaini, a former university of Swaziland student who was also arrested and charged for allegedly planting some petrol bombs in government structures in 2005. SSN is led by Solly Mapaila a member of the South African Communist Party. He was banned from coming to Swaziland in 1996 and since then he has not been allowed into the country. The Swaziland Liberation Army (Umbane) is faceless. No one has come out to claim to be a member of the organisation, save for pamphlets, which were found at a railway bridge at Mpaka after a failed bombing. * Activities * In view of all the activities that have been allegedly conducted by the four organisations in the country, the PM has taken the stance to ban them in the country, despite the fact that they were legally banned in 1973. "In exercise of the powers vested in me under and in virtue of Section 28 of the suppression of Terrorism Act, 2008 and being satisfied that there is material to support a recommendation under this section , I have today declared that each of the following entities namely PUDEMO, SWAYOCO, SSN and Umbane, have been banned in the country not now but forever" he said. * "Tingaphindzi tilubha-dze lakaNgwane," he said in Siswati, stressing that they should not set their foot into the kingdom. * The Terrorism Act of 2008 gives the PM powers to advise the head of state accordingly on issues related to the state security. It also gives him powers to make pronouncements whenever necessary. In the past few months the state of security in the country has been compromised for lowing a series of bombings that have taken place in the country. In some cases the bombs or rather explosives were discovered before they could detonate while in others they caused minimal damage. *Resign from parties - AG* * MBABANE- Attorney General, Majahenkhaba Dlamini has advised Swazis who are affiliated with the banned political formations to resign with immediate effect. * Dlamini said they must do that before they find themselves on the wrong side of the law. He said people must read the Suppression of Terrorism Act which has all the details and characteristics of those who are involved in this ill movements which their intention is nothing but to overthrow the government. * Weapons * "This also includes associating with such banned formations or aiding materialistic through provision of commodities such as food and weapons," he said. He said the law would help in making informed decisions. "Even the legal formations which have in the past had links with these formations should also re-consider it as they might find themselves in danger," he said. Link: --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SA Swaziland Solidarity EOM Forum" group. Visit the group site at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/sa-swaziland-solidarity-eom-forum for more options, pages and files. To post to the group, send email to [email protected] or reply to this message. To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
