Police in Swaziland fired rubber bullets, water cannon and teargas, beat people with batons and arrested activists yesterday to prevent pro-democracy protests.
In recent weeks, an online campaign has tried to rally support for the protests, which come exactly 38 years after the current Swazi king’s father, King Sobhuza II, banned political parties and abandoned the country’s constitution.
Simantele Mmema, spokeswoman for the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, said yesterday police fired water cannon and teargas and beat people with batons to disperse more than 1 000 workers who were singing and chanting peacefully in a teacher’s training centre in Manzini, the country’s economic hub.
Police spokeswoman Wendy Hleta said she could not confirm police fired on protesters at the training centre, but said police fired teargas elsewhere in Manzini after people threw stones that injured two officers.
“The situation almost got out of control,” Hleta said. “They were compelled to shoot teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.”
More than 150 Swazi police guarded a square where pro-democracy protesters had planned to demonstrate in Manzini. Outside the square, uniformed and plain-clothes police kept watch on the streets in the tiny and usually peaceful kingdom.
Swazi activists said police arrested nine labour and pro-democracy leaders yesterday. With political parties banned, the labour movement has become a key platform for pro-democracy activists.
The US Embassy said Swaziland’s response raised concerns, and urged the government and protesters to exercise restraint.
“The US calls on the government of Swaziland to respect the rights of all its citizens to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, which are guaranteed by the Swazi constitution and by international human rights instruments,” the embassy said.
Protest organiser Mary da Silva, who was released after being held in custody yesterday, said police used “unnecessary amounts of force” to detain her.
The Swaziland Democracy Campaign said Da Silva is undergoing a medical check-up to determine the extent of her injuries.
Hleta, the police spokeswoman, said the union leaders were being questioned over threats to overthrow the government allegedly made to foreign media.
Thuli Makama, director of the Swaziland Legal Assistance Centre, said police are blocking people and buses from travelling between towns.
“They are in every corner of the country,” she said.
Activists said police were also barring students at the University of Swaziland from leaving the campus.
Several reporters were detained then released yesterday and prevented from reporting on the protests.
Hleta said foreign journalists were prevented from working because they did not have accreditation.
Activists said Swaziland’s pro-democracy protests were inspired by demonstrations in North Africa, where protesters in places like Egypt and Libya have demanded their long-time leaders step down.
An anti-monarchy movement has gained momentum since the government declared a budget crisis and proposed freezing civil service wages.
However, many Swazis revere the monarchy, even if they differ with the current king, portrayed by activists as autocratic and uncaring in a country suffering high rates of poverty and Aids. - Sapa