Protesterne mod det enevældige kongedømme i Swaziland ventes at fortsætte onsdag efter en bevæget tirsdag, hvor mange demokrati-forkæmpere blev arresteret i den lille sydafrikanske nation.
Af Peter Kenworthy
Afrika Kontakts Swaziland gruppe
The Swazi uprising is continuing, despite the fact that the entire leadership of the organising movements and organisations have been detained, according to a statement by the Swaziland Solidarity Network.
”After the entire leadership of the Labour Coordinating Council was arrested, the labour unions simply continued with their protest as planned. When they entered the centre of Manzini city, ordinary people from all walks of life joined them to voice out their support for the uprising” it states.
Despite the heavy-handed approach of the Swazi police and security forces, in detaining, beating up, teargassing, and shooting at peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators in Swaziland Tuesday, and the unconfirmed rumours of the killing of several demonstrators circulating on Twitter and Facebook, the organizers say they will not be intimidated.
– I will not be intimidated by these bullish antics of the government. Bashing (slå/tæve) me only strengthens my resolve in the role that I play in the democratic movement in Swaziland, said Mary Pais Da Silva, Swaziland Democracy Campaign spokesperson.
She had been punched and slapped in the face by police officers, who barged (stormede) into the room where she was in the middle of a live interview with a South African radio station and taken for questioning, where she was insulted and threatened.
Union leaders, most of whom had been detained for hours during the morning and afternoon, also declared their intent to carry on the protests, according to Free African Media reporter Manqoba Nxumalo.
Swazi security forces tried to shut down the mass-protest Tuesday with water cannons, tear gas and random beatings and arrests, but have so far only managed to shut down Manzini’s shops and businesses.
– Freedom Square [in Manzini, Swaziland] is under siege by the state security forces. In fact there is no business in the city today, said Thamsanca Tsabedze from the Foundation for Socio-Economic Justice.
Police are also busy arresting members of the organisations who planned the demonstrations.
Sikelela Dlamini, Project Coordinator of the umbrella organisation the Swaziland United Democratic Front, and many others with him were picked up in this latest spate of arrests.
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