Friday, 16 September 2011
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
A year ago today.....
It's gone quickly for me, the last year. Lots of things have happened but at the same time, not much at all.
I'm still promoting ACTSA, because I believe in the support they offer to real people. They have been working on many campaigns over the last 12 months, look here.
For all of you who donated, I made my £100 target, but didn't get even a penny over..... for the rest of you, you can still donate here.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Most of you will know that I went to Swaziland last year as a representative of Prospect, on a UK delegation with ACTSA (Action for Southern Africa). If I haven’t rambled about it to you, I can only let you know that the expereince was heartbreaking and amazing at the same time. I met some truly inspirational people who spend every day fighting for justice; in Swaziland, the right to vote and to own land is only the start. The people I met with are in trouble and it’s kicking off in a big way. I want to let you know once again of Prospect’s involvement and also, of ways you can support the struggle.
1) Sign a petition here
2) You can still donate on my Just Giving page, go on, £2 will make a difference.
3) You can join ACTSA, either annually, or for £3 a month.
Even if all you do is sign the petition, you are helping real people, including those in the pictures above. 2 minutes, that’s all it’ll take.
1) Sign a petition here
2) You can still donate on my Just Giving page, go on, £2 will make a difference.
3) You can join ACTSA, either annually, or for £3 a month.
Even if all you do is sign the petition, you are helping real people, including those in the pictures above. 2 minutes, that’s all it’ll take.
Swaziland troubles. Prospect Report.
Outrage in Swaziland
On Tuesday 12 April, trade unionists in Swaziland were at the forefront of a pro-democracy call to action that was met with brutal force as the day progressed. Many trade unionists and
pro-democracy supporters have been arrested and brutalised by the regime – this includes Quinton Dlamini who Prospect cosponsored at Ruskin College in 2007/08. Quinton is the
President of the NAPSAWU (public sector union) and SFTU (Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions) CEC member. Quinton is a Parasitologist (malaria specialist) by profession.
Whilst in the UK, Quinton addressed Conference in Torquay, the World Day for Decent work event and the World Malaria event at the TUC.
Over the course of two days we have received communiqués from various sources as the situation unfolded – this briefing is made up of some of these. Sources include press alerts, COSATU, Swazi Federation of trade unions (SFTU), Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA)
Monday 11 April 2011
ACTSA: Following the Prime Minister of Swaziland’s statement seeking to ban protests planned there for 12 April, police have already begun to clamp down on pro-democracy supporters in the country. This weekend, police raided the home of Barnes Dlamini, President of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and four leaders of prodemocracy organisations were arrested
as they returned from a meeting in South Africa. It is anticipated there will be numerous other arrests on Monday, ahead of the planned action on 12 April.
Tuesday 12 April 2011
09:36
Yesterday (11th April 2011), A group returning to Swaziland from the Swaziland Democracy Campaign’s one-year anniversary commemoration were intensely searched and questioned at the Oshoek border post (border entry point between South Africa and Swaziland). Some of them had their belongings including t-shirts confiscated with no information as to when they would be returned to them. There are a series of roadblocks along the route from Oshoek to Manzini - four colleagues travelling together in the same motor vehicle went missing10:00
Samkeliso telephoned Mary Pais Da Silva (SDC SD Convener) and informed her that they had been stopped and the attitude of the security forces was very hostile. He further stated that they were unsure of their safety because of the conduct of the security forces towards them. A legal team has been making attempts at tracing the group since word of their disappearance, but so far there is no lead as to where they are. It is generally agreed that the security forces had a hand in their disappearance.
10:11
The oppressive King Mswati regime has arrested almost all the leaders of Swaziland’s Labour Unions and many other ordinary members and students who were wearing T-shirts from their respective organisations. The riot police are all over the country’s cities and still conducting their
roadblocks. Anybody seen wearing SNAT, SNUS, SFTU, SUDF, PUDEMO, SWAYOCO T-Shirts is immediately arrested.
10:59
They raided the homes of top unionists and jailed key leaders in the days ahead of the protest against Africa's last absolute monarch, accused of bankrupting state coffers with his penchant for luxury while moving to slash civil service pay.
11:39
The police in Swaziland are dispersion crowds by detaining them and leaving them in far
out places. 30 Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) teachers were
yesterday detained. At the moment more than 500 teachers at the SNAT centre,
the Union’s headquarters have been blocked by police in order to stop teachers from participating in the protests. All other teachers have been barred from leaving their schools, even those who had not planned to participate in the protests.
12:39
The situation in Manzini has descended to chaos and police are failing to handle it. This has prompted the state to send in the Red Barrettes, a special branch of the Swazi Army. In the centre of the city, a police officer made the mistake of intimidating bus conductors who were going about
their normal business. The bus conductors did not take kindly to this and beat up the police officer.
The latest information coming out of the tiny kingdom is that the police have now run out of teargas.
12:48
"Police are now beating the teachers. They are are throwing teargas and beating teachers. People are running helter skelter. Police are beating us with batons," said Smangele Mmema, member of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, one of the main groups behind the protest movement.”
13:44
The uprising is now led by ordinary masses. This is a good thing. 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. Police are beating them up with clubs but they are refusing to lie down and immediately regroup and continue with the protest. Police have now started using rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. This, also, is failing.
13:47
Swazi Security forces are violently cracking down on a legal protest organized by all workers in and Civic in Society organization in the City of Manzini. Today the 12th April 2011, Police and the army arrested the following people on their way to the demonstration area:
Barnes Dlamini, President of the Swaziland Federation of Trade
Unions.
Vincent Ncongwane, Secretary General of the Swaziland Federation
of Labour.
Muzi Mhlanga, Secretary General of the Swaziland National
Association of Teachers.
Sibongile Mazibuko, President of the Swaziland National Association
of Teachers.
Nomkhosi Dlamini-Gumedze, Secretary of the SFTU Women’s
Committee
Quinton Dlamini, President of the NAPSAWU and SFTU CEC
member.
Bheki Mamba, President of Swaziland National Nurses Association.
Phumelele Zulu, Executive member of SFL.
Close to 200 other activists are reported to have been arrested in their various regions. Around 100 buses have been detained around the country; the city of Manzini resembles a war zone with the Police and the army marching in the streets.
Wednesday 13 April 2011
COSATU: “The brutal and violent response of the police and army showed the world just why the struggle for democracy and human rights is so necessary. The lid has been lifted on a regime that survives only though brute force and the suppression of all basic rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Police are continuing today (13th) to arrest trade union leaders and other crucial role players organising and leading a three-day action.”
Perhaps the most poignant email today, from Ms. Mary Pais Da Silva of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) captures the bravery of colleagues, she ends an email describing how their office was invaded by police where she was physically assaulted, by saying, “I will not be intimidated by these bullish antics of the government. Bashing me only strengthens my resolve in the role that I play in the democratic movement in Swaziland. The march continues!”
On Tuesday 12 April, trade unionists in Swaziland were at the forefront of a pro-democracy call to action that was met with brutal force as the day progressed. Many trade unionists and
pro-democracy supporters have been arrested and brutalised by the regime – this includes Quinton Dlamini who Prospect cosponsored at Ruskin College in 2007/08. Quinton is the
President of the NAPSAWU (public sector union) and SFTU (Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions) CEC member. Quinton is a Parasitologist (malaria specialist) by profession.
Whilst in the UK, Quinton addressed Conference in Torquay, the World Day for Decent work event and the World Malaria event at the TUC.
Over the course of two days we have received communiqués from various sources as the situation unfolded – this briefing is made up of some of these. Sources include press alerts, COSATU, Swazi Federation of trade unions (SFTU), Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA)
Monday 11 April 2011
ACTSA: Following the Prime Minister of Swaziland’s statement seeking to ban protests planned there for 12 April, police have already begun to clamp down on pro-democracy supporters in the country. This weekend, police raided the home of Barnes Dlamini, President of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and four leaders of prodemocracy organisations were arrested
as they returned from a meeting in South Africa. It is anticipated there will be numerous other arrests on Monday, ahead of the planned action on 12 April.
Tuesday 12 April 2011
09:36
Yesterday (11th April 2011), A group returning to Swaziland from the Swaziland Democracy Campaign’s one-year anniversary commemoration were intensely searched and questioned at the Oshoek border post (border entry point between South Africa and Swaziland). Some of them had their belongings including t-shirts confiscated with no information as to when they would be returned to them. There are a series of roadblocks along the route from Oshoek to Manzini - four colleagues travelling together in the same motor vehicle went missing10:00
Samkeliso telephoned Mary Pais Da Silva (SDC SD Convener) and informed her that they had been stopped and the attitude of the security forces was very hostile. He further stated that they were unsure of their safety because of the conduct of the security forces towards them. A legal team has been making attempts at tracing the group since word of their disappearance, but so far there is no lead as to where they are. It is generally agreed that the security forces had a hand in their disappearance.
10:11
The oppressive King Mswati regime has arrested almost all the leaders of Swaziland’s Labour Unions and many other ordinary members and students who were wearing T-shirts from their respective organisations. The riot police are all over the country’s cities and still conducting their
roadblocks. Anybody seen wearing SNAT, SNUS, SFTU, SUDF, PUDEMO, SWAYOCO T-Shirts is immediately arrested.
10:59
They raided the homes of top unionists and jailed key leaders in the days ahead of the protest against Africa's last absolute monarch, accused of bankrupting state coffers with his penchant for luxury while moving to slash civil service pay.
11:39
The police in Swaziland are dispersion crowds by detaining them and leaving them in far
out places. 30 Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) teachers were
yesterday detained. At the moment more than 500 teachers at the SNAT centre,
the Union’s headquarters have been blocked by police in order to stop teachers from participating in the protests. All other teachers have been barred from leaving their schools, even those who had not planned to participate in the protests.
12:39
The situation in Manzini has descended to chaos and police are failing to handle it. This has prompted the state to send in the Red Barrettes, a special branch of the Swazi Army. In the centre of the city, a police officer made the mistake of intimidating bus conductors who were going about
their normal business. The bus conductors did not take kindly to this and beat up the police officer.
The latest information coming out of the tiny kingdom is that the police have now run out of teargas.
12:48
"Police are now beating the teachers. They are are throwing teargas and beating teachers. People are running helter skelter. Police are beating us with batons," said Smangele Mmema, member of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, one of the main groups behind the protest movement.”
13:44
The uprising is now led by ordinary masses. This is a good thing. 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. Police are beating them up with clubs but they are refusing to lie down and immediately regroup and continue with the protest. Police have now started using rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. This, also, is failing.
13:47
Swazi Security forces are violently cracking down on a legal protest organized by all workers in and Civic in Society organization in the City of Manzini. Today the 12th April 2011, Police and the army arrested the following people on their way to the demonstration area:
Barnes Dlamini, President of the Swaziland Federation of Trade
Unions.
Vincent Ncongwane, Secretary General of the Swaziland Federation
of Labour.
Muzi Mhlanga, Secretary General of the Swaziland National
Association of Teachers.
Sibongile Mazibuko, President of the Swaziland National Association
of Teachers.
Nomkhosi Dlamini-Gumedze, Secretary of the SFTU Women’s
Committee
Quinton Dlamini, President of the NAPSAWU and SFTU CEC
member.
Bheki Mamba, President of Swaziland National Nurses Association.
Phumelele Zulu, Executive member of SFL.
Close to 200 other activists are reported to have been arrested in their various regions. Around 100 buses have been detained around the country; the city of Manzini resembles a war zone with the Police and the army marching in the streets.
Wednesday 13 April 2011
COSATU: “The brutal and violent response of the police and army showed the world just why the struggle for democracy and human rights is so necessary. The lid has been lifted on a regime that survives only though brute force and the suppression of all basic rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Police are continuing today (13th) to arrest trade union leaders and other crucial role players organising and leading a three-day action.”
Perhaps the most poignant email today, from Ms. Mary Pais Da Silva of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) captures the bravery of colleagues, she ends an email describing how their office was invaded by police where she was physically assaulted, by saying, “I will not be intimidated by these bullish antics of the government. Bashing me only strengthens my resolve in the role that I play in the democratic movement in Swaziland. The march continues!”
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