---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lucky Lukhele <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM Subject: [SSN Forum] SA keeps mum on Swazi suppression To: [email protected]
SA keeps mum on Swazi suppression Human rights abuses in the kingdom are not condemned, writes Loyiso Langeni Loyiso Langeni Published: 2010/09/13 06:14:26 AM THE Department of International Relations and Co-operation, the body entrusted with communicating and executing SA’s foreign policy, was surprisingly quiet last week in condemning Swaziland’s autocratic monarchy. This is in stark contrast to the swiftness with which SA would react in condemning human rights abuses in regions such as the Middle East, w estern Sahara and Rwanda. SA recently recalled its highest ranking diplomatic representatives to Israel and Rwanda in protest against human rights abuses there. This is the strongest action a government can take short of cutting all ties with another country. In a clear reference to Rwanda, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane last month expressed her reservations about the state of democracy in that nation. “In Africa there is a place where my other friends live. Where leaders are able to lock up anybody who say anything against them. And then others run away to other countries and then the leader gets 90% of the vote. “President Paul Kagame (of Rwanda) then comes out to people and says ‘see how progressive I am. Look at the progress and economic development we have achieved. The people of this country love me so much I can actually attain 90% of the vote’,” she was quoted as saying in City Press . Yet several attempts by Business Day last week to get a comment from the ministry on the suppression of political parties and human rights abuses in Swaziland were met with silence. This raises the question of whether SA considers the aspirations of the Swazi s for a free and democratic dispensation as not deserving the same attention as those in Palestine and the Morocco-invaded w estern Sahara region. Is this another form of double-standards by SA in failing to consistently execute its foreign policy objectives where human rights violation occur? It’s ironic that during the liberation struggle, the ruling African National Congress was the first to criticise western nations of applying “double- standards” by befriending the repressive apartheid regime. Yet when it is needed , the Swazi s cannot seem to find solace and comradeship from an organisation that one would have thought would understand the predicament of their liberation struggles. A pro-democracy march in Mbabane to demand the reconfiguration of the monarchy was suppressed last week with the arrest and detention of about 60 people, according to activist Zakhele Mabuza. The arrests included the detention of Mario Masuku, the leader of the underground People’s United Democratic Movement. Sibusiso Dlamini, the monarchy appointed prime minister of Swaziland, last week warned that “foreigners and a noisy minority” would not be allowed to impose their preferences on the monarchy. The prime minister’s warning was in part directed to members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, who have been the most vocal in condemning the excesses of King Mswati. Prof Shadrack Gutto, chairman of the African Renaissance Studies at the University of SA , conceded last week that SA has the “responsibility” to influence democratic reforms in the neighbouring kingdom. However, h e advised that civil society movements in Swaziland should approach regional institutions to make a strong statement about their plight. SA is vocal about its enviable track record of a being a progressive, human-rights centred nation. Is it not time that SA, as the most powerful and influential country in the region, extends this culture to neighbouring Swaziland? [email protected] http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=120765 -- *Lucky Lukhele- SSN spokesperson* *Tell:011 339 3621* *Fax: 0866135762* *Mobile: 072 502 4141* *Email: [email protected] * -- NEW!!!! SSN FORUM IS ON FACEBOOK!!!! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Swaziland Solidarity Network Forum Google Group. Visit the group home page 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] -- Gugu Ndima +27 76 783 1516 -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
