June 5, 2009**
*To: The Embassy of Swaziland in South Africa *
*Attention: Mr. Tsabedze*
*From: Swaziland Solidarity Network- South Africa*
*RE: MEMORANDUM OF DEMANDS TO THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND*
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) and all its allies are once more
deeply distressed by developments in your country. In particular we express
our horror at the human rights situation in Swaziland. Your government has
declared an onslaught against any individual or organization that expresses
different views from your current system of political rule, in which the
opinions of the majority of the Swazis are highly disregarded.
We wish to strongly condemn the recent arrest of the Advocate Thulani Maseko
on ridiculous charges. We demand from your government his immediate release
from jail.
We are awaiting the official opinion of the Pan African Parliament on the
situation in your country, following our request for an urgent intervention
highlighting your government hostility to civil society and political
parties, which has led to these arrests and the resistance to acknowledge
their legitimacy and right to exist.
Your actions have a huge potential for destabilisation of the region,
following many ignored calls to embrace dialogue and negotiations with all
parties.
Our engagements through memoranda of demands have not yielded any response
from your government and were mostly ignored.
We have reported these matters to the South African government in its SADC
chairperson capacity including the Secretariat and urged for an urgent
discussion.
We will utilize every platform to stress the violent nature of your regime,
the suffering of your people who lives in structural poverty, lack of
education, employment and are ravaged by HIV/AIDS.
Millions of Swazi resources are consumed in luxury expenditure for the King
and his Royal family.
It is also common knowledge that just after a mere five years of British
hand over of political reigns on April 12, 1973 the then King Sobhuza II,
through a royal degree, banned all political parties, abrogated all
executive, judicial and legislative powers unto himself. Ever since then
Swaziland has been ruled by a royal decree in a perpetual state of emergency
to the detriment of the political system and abuse of human rights.
We follow and support the wishes of the people to break from this oppressive
system and gain their liberation.
Your King and his Prime Minister are driving the country into the precipice
of chaos. Your authoritarian legislation, which suppresses the peoples
voices, is harmful to positive relations with the whole of the region and
continent, in respect of human dignity, democracy, justice and equality.
This situation has become unacceptable to the people of Swaziland and
ourselves and we strongly condemn all measures you have put in place to
oppress and subjugate your people to the whims of a tiny clique of the king,
his family and beneficiaries of the system of Thinkundla.
*The Swaziland Solidarity Network and its partners therefore demand the
following:*
· We demand the unconditional and immediate release of PUDEMO
President comrade MARIO
· We also demand the urgent release of advocate Thulani Maseko Masuku
· We demand the release of all political prisoners including Amos
Mbedzi from jail
*· **We want a democratically elected constituent assembly charged
with the responsibility to develop a new constitution and for the
establishment of a new constitutional Multi-party democracy.***
· We demand the removal of the draconian 1973 decree which bans
political parties and all forms of legitimate political activity.
· We demand the unconditional return of all exiles
· We demand the resignation of the King and to restore power to the
people
· We demand Swazilands compliance with the AU's Charter on Human and
People's Rights,
· An end to abuse of Swazi state resources to support a luxury life of
King Mswati and his family
Signed:
.. Date
SSN Representative
Signed:
.. Date
For more information contact
Lucky Lukhele
072 502 4141
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