20 March, 2009 *“Swaziland Solidarity Network demonstration gains a 75% momentum” – SSN organizers say*
Organisers of the Swaziland protest said “today’s demonstration registered a 75% increase in numbers” since the inaugural protest early this year. This should make it by far the biggest protest since the launch. This increase is attributed to growing grassroots attention to the Swaziland case, mainly from ANC linked structures. Earlier in the week, the ANCYL structures sent a representative to meet organizers on Tuesday, to facilitate their participation at today’s demonstration. They brought in huge numbers as a result. “People are tired, they want to radicalize the protests”, said Mosala, a YCL member. “The main issue is supporting SSN in taking the Swazi struggle and issues forward”, he said. Many of them came from the local ANCYL structures around Johannesburg and have pledged to double those numbers next week. One of the ANCYL protesters, Joseph from Yeoville said, “The detention of Mario Masuku concerns us, we will support all oppressed people of Swaziland. Our own comrades must take this protest serious, we are being too soft on Mswati”. The Swaziland Consular obliged to a request to meet the protesters, but failed to give and concrete feedback on all the memorandums sent to the King. Numerous passersby joined the protest. A group of people in a bus came to join the protest for several minutes. They claimed to understand the plight of Masuku and have been following news of his incarceration. They later left for their meeting. Meanwhile in a statement on the SADC Troika meeting held in Swaziland, it is stated that “The mood at the Troika summit was characterized by a deep sense of intolerance to the illegal outage of democratically elected leaders and the subversion of democracy. Swaziland Solidarity Network has dismissed as hypocritical the participation of King Mswati in the Troika over the Madagascar issue and pledged its support with the people fighting against dictatorship in Madagascar. The Free Masuku demonstrations will continue until his release. Organisers confirmed that a big demonstration at the Pretoria Embassy is being planned including talks of a blockade of the border in April to prevent goods from entering and going out of Swaziland. For more information contact: *Lucky Lukhele:* *072 502 4141* --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
