SWAZI POLICE TARGET LABOR, CIVIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS

UNCLAS MBABANE 000397


DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS); DRL (NWILETT, TDANG)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PHUM KDEM WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZI POLICE TARGET LABOR, CIVIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS


1. SUMMARY: In the two months following King Mwsati III's
appointment of Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini and the government's
ban on four political organizations, Swazi police have detained,
beaten or threatened numerous members of political organizations,
trade unions, and civil society. On November 19, six Swaziland
Police Union (SWAPU) members attempted to attend a meeting between
police staff associations and Prime Minister. They were detained by
police officers and beaten. Civic and political activists have been
detained and questioned about their political beliefs and their
views on the monarchy. END SUMMARY.
POLICE RECRUITS BEAT UNION MEMBERS


2. On November 19, six SWAPU members attempted to attend a meeting
with police staff associations, a group that negotiates on behalf of
junior officers and secure collective agreements, and the PM. On
November 26, EmbOff spoke with Bhule Dlamini, SWAPU Secretary
General, who confirmed they were detained by police recruits. One
was severely beaten on the leg and had to seek medical attention at
a local hospital in Manzini. Another victim states that each
police union member was surrounded by about eight police recruits,
then assaulted. No police recruits were charged for the beating.
One police union member was charged with unauthorized leave of
absence from work to attend the meeting. Union members are seeking
legal advice. In May, the Supreme Court ruled that police and
correctional officers do not have the right to form a union. In its
ruling, the bench urged the government to enact legislation to allow
for the two sectors to unionize.

POLICE QUESTION POLITICAL ACTIVISTS


3. Since the Prime Minister's November 14 banning of four political
organizations, the police have regularly detained or interviewed
political and civic society activists. Police have detained and/or
questioned Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) president Wandile
Dludu, People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) secretary
general Sphasha Dlamini, Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic
Organizations (SCCCO) coordinator Musa Hlophe, and have attempted to
question two members of Luvatsi, a youth civic organization. A
typical police interview consists of a couple of officers, including
special operations officers, questioning the activist on their
political views and their feelings about the monarchy. Sometimes
the interview is a recruiting mechanism for police to encourage the
person to join a political organization, then report the
organizations activities to the police.

POLICE RAID MEDIA TRAINING WORKSHOP


4. On December 3, plainclothes police officers threatened to
disrupt a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) training
workshop for senior media personnel if they were not allowed to
monitor the discussions. After a discussion with a MISA officer,
the police officers left, saying they would return if ordered to do
so by senior officers. They did not return. MISA's director is a
well-known government critic.


5. COMMENT: Swazi activists, although accustomed to police
interviews and surveillance, are concerned that the police seem
emboldened to increase these activities with the Suppression of
Terrorism Act at their disposal. The police, who fall under the
Prime Minister's office, are believed to be acting on direct orders
from the Prime Minister, who would be following the instruction of
the King and the traditional council. Embassy does not believe the
police will go beyond harassment and brief detentions to make their
point, but is concerned by the flagrancy with which the police are
attempting to disrupt or stop government critics from operating.


PARKER