Swazi Media Commentary

MORE SWAZI UNION LEADERS ARRESTED

2011-04-13T16:23:00.000+03:00

SWAZILAND FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (SFTU)

Esser Street P. O. Box 1158

Mandlenkosi Building MANZINI

2^ndFloor Office #4 Tel/fax: 5059514/5

Email: sftu1@swazi.net

13^thApril, 2011

From: SFTU Secretariat

To: All Affiliates

International Friends

Dear All

SUBJECT: CONTINUATION OF ARREST OF LEGAL PROTERS BY SWAZI POLICE

Reference is made to the above matter.

The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) offices were raided yesterday at around 12:30 pm by close to 20 police officers and the staff officers of the federation were assaulted.

We report today that; the Deputy Secretary General of the Swaziland Processing and Allied workers union, Comrade Wonder Mkhonta, Comrade Ntombie Langwenya, of Swaziland National Association of Teachers, women’s wing committee and Comrade Moses Buthelezi have been arrested and they are detained in Hlathikhulu Police station.

Quinton Dlamini, the President of the National Public Sector Allied workers union is detained at the Matsapha Police station having been arrested also in Manzini at around 08:30 today. Also arrested today is the Deputy President of SFTU Comrade Simon Mvubu.

As of now the SFTU offices are surrounded by Police officers and it is now impossible for the Leadership to come out.

The harassments are continuing.

A detailed report will be made in due course.

Mduduzi C. Gina

Secretary General

SWAZILAND PROTEST DAY 1 - PICTURES

2011-04-13T16:11:00.004+03:00

These pictures are from the Swazi Observer, 13 April 2011.

STANDSTILL: Kombis and other motorists were blocked at the Manzini bus rank.

OFF THEY GO: Protesters being loaded into a truck.

END OF THE ROAD: Some of the workers, teachers and civil servants being blocked at Mbhadlane.

SOURCE

NO MEDIA FREEDOM IN SWAZILAND

2011-04-13T15:43:00.004+03:00

Nastasya Tay, the Eyewitness News reporter detained by Swaziland police during the protests yesterday (12 April 2011) and escorted out of Manzini, has been speaking about media freedom in the kingdom.

Lutfo Dlamini, the Swazi Foreign Minister, had told South African journalists that the media in Swaziland were free to report anything they liked.

Not so, says Tay, who went on to say that people in Swaziland were too scared of the authorities to speak to the media.

She was interviewed on South Africa’s Talk Radio 702 on the Mid Day Report at 12 noon (10.00 GMT)

DA SILVA BACK ON THE AIRWAVES

2011-04-13T15:29:00.002+03:00

Mary Pais Da Silva, Coordinator of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, who was arrested yesterday (12 April 2011) while in the middle of a telephone interview with a journalist at South Africa’s Talk Radio 702, was back on air today to talk about what happened next.

She also spoke about how the violence meted out against protestors by Swazi police only made them more determined.

Here is her interview today (13 April 2011) on Mid Day Report at 12 noon (10.00 GMT).

SWAZI POLICE ATTACKING TEACHERS

2011-04-13T13:28:00.001+03:00

Swaziland police are rounding up teachers and their union leaders today (13 April 2011) in Manzini.

Foreign journalists continue to harass and more protests are expected this afternoon.

This report is from Eyewitness News on South Africa’s Talk Radio 702 at noon today (10.00 GMT).

COSATU BORDER PROTEST PICTURES

2011-04-13T12:52:00.005+03:00

These picture show hundreds of COSATU and affiliated trade union members from South Africa who marched on the Swazi border to deliver a memorandum of demands to King Mswati yesterday (12 April 2011).

The memorandum, which was handed over after protestors descended on the Oshoek border post, demanded that King unban political parties, return all opposition leaders in exile and allow media freedom. If their demands were not met COSATU threatened to blockade all goods going in and out of Swaziland from South Africa.

The pictures are screen grabs from a video posted online by the Sowetan newspaper here.

See also

COSATU BORDER PROTEST VIDEO

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/cosatu-border-protest-video.html

SWAZI POLICE VIOLENCE - PICTURE

2011-04-13T12:35:00.005+03:00

Out-of-control Swazi police on the streets of Manzini yesterday (12 April 2011)

PROTESTORS BARRED FROM BUSES

2011-04-13T12:08:00.001+03:00

Times of Swaziland (The only independent daily newspaper in Swaziland)

13 April 2011

SOURCE

100 protesters barred from public transport

Over 100 civil servants and textile workers were barred from boarding public transport to Manzini to participate in the protest action.

Two executive members of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and a member of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Nhlangano branches, were detained and later released by the police.

Rudolf Saulos, Makepeace Ma- buza and Elvis Mkhaliphi were bundled into a police van and driven to the Nhlangano Police Station where they were questioned about their involvement in the protest march.

Executive

Saulos is SNAT chairperson for the Nhlangano branch while Mabuza is an executive member and Mkhaliphi is NAPSAWU executive member (Nhlangano).

They were taken from the Nhlangano Bus Rank, where close to 100 civil servants had gathered to board buses to join other protesters in Manzini.

As a result, the protesters were left with no-one to give direction as the police took over and dictated terms.

There was also drama at the Nhlangano Bus Rank when police confiscated placards and objects from the protesters and further ordered them to alight from the buses and kombis they had boarded to Manzini.

This was after the Shiselweni Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Boy Ngwenya, told the protesters aboard a bus that no public transport was allo- wed to transport protesters to the march.

Comprised

The protesters comprised mostly teachers, textile employees and other civil servants.

A roadblock was mounted at Salem along the Nhlangano-Manzini public road and present were armed police, including those from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) and no bus or kombi was allowed to proceed to Manzini.

Due to the confusion, there was congestion with about 15 Quantum kombis and a bus at the roadblock and members of the public and the vehicles were thoroughly searched.

The drivers were left with no option but to transport the members of the public back to Nhlangano as the police insisted no kombi or bus was allowed to travel to Manzini.

Armed

At the roadblock, a lady who, however, refused to reveal her identity was escorted out of the Emakhonkhosi Bus Service by about five armed police officers and told she was not allowed to travel to Manzini.

At Nediso, before Salem, there was another roadblock.

A Nyamane High School teacher, identified as Bulunga, was also driven in a police van to the Hlatikhulu Police Station where he was questioned and later released.

A truck and a Quantum kombi fully loaded with riot police frequently patrolled the Nhlangano Bus Rank and other areas around Nhlangano.

Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wendy Hleta confirmed the detainment of the three executive members and said they were later released after being questioned.

She said they were prevented from participating in an illegal protest march.

ARMED SWAZI POLICE BLOCK MANZINI

2011-04-13T11:41:00.001+03:00

Armed police block town

Times of Swaziland (The only independent daily newspaper in Swaziland)

13 April 2011; Reporting yesterday's protest

SOURCE

People who were interested in joining the protest action from around town were forced to abandon their plans.

Over 20 marchers, mainly teachers, were seen gathering at the bus rank and immediately police officers arrived in a vehicle and some on foot to break up the meeting.

waiting

An officer asked the marchers what they were doing but they said that they were waiting for someone to bring them lunch.

The police started to gather as well and eventually seemed to outnumber the marchers.

Marchers when interviewed randomly complained that it was difficult for them to proceed to join the march as they had been scattered.

"They stopped us from proceeding to Manzini and we are not sure where most of our leaders are," said a marcher who identified himself as Matsenjwa.

advised

A police officer, advised the marchers to give up the ‘act’.

"Wotani la! Yekelani lentfo,"a police officer ordered.

Meanwhile others who were turned back when trying to leave the town were separated and their attempts to gather at Siteki were thwarted by police.

Police blocked the main entrance to town and buses were directed to the new bus rank were they had to offload.

Upon arrival at the market, the would be marchers were met by officers either armed with guns or batons.

option

"It seems they don’t want us to use buses so we have to find another option for tomorrow," said a teacher who was one of the marchers.

He regretted that he was unable to travel together with others who left the previous day to spend the night in Manzini.

US EMBASSY SLAMS SWAZILAND GVT

2011-04-13T11:25:00.002+03:00

The US Embassy in Swaziland has slammed the Swazi Government and asked it to respect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

This report from Eyewitness News on South Africa’s Talk Radio 702 at 10am (08.00 GMT) today (13 April 2011) says Manzini is still quiet, although there are police on every corner.

Protestors say they will demonstrate again today.

COSATU BORDER PROTEST VIDEO

2011-04-13T11:02:00.001+03:00

COSATU to block Swazi border if demands not met

Sowetan, South Africa

13 April 2011

SOURCE

As the ruling monarch grappled with pro-democracy demonstrations in Swaziland yesterday, hundreds of COSATU and affiliated trade union members marched on the Swazi border to deliver a memorandum of demands to King Mswati. The memorandum, which was handed over after protestors descended on the Oshoek border post, demanded that King unban political parties, return all opposition leaders in exile and allow media freedom. If their demands were not met COSATU threatened to blockade all goods going in and out of Swaziland from South Africa.

This video report is by Roderick Macleod, of the Sowetan newspaper, South Africa. Here

PROTEST REPORTING ‘ONE-SIDED’

2011-04-13T10:25:00.002+03:00

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) monitored the coverage of the Swazi protests in the Times of Swaziland, the only independent newspaper group in the kingdom, yesterday (12 April 2011) – the first day of the protests.

In this report, MISA concludes, ‘the protesters were not once given an opportunity to respond to the many accusations from the government / traditionalists saying the protesters are law-breakers, power hungry, lazy, wanting to bring down the economy, terrorists and mercenaries. There was not one story that allowed the protesters to explain their cause and, in turn, criticise the government’.

This is its report.

Times disappoints with protest coverage

The only national newspaper that can claim to be independent, Times of Swaziland, disappoints with its unbalanced coverage of the pro-democracy protests.

12 April 2011 – On a day when pro-democracy protesters are taking to the streets in unprecedented numbers to call for democratic governance, the only independent newspaper in the country, the Times of Swaziland, has managed to give government almost free reign to spread their propaganda and discredit the protesters.

Here is a breakdown of what the Times reported about the protest in that day’s edition. First, we list what was said from the government/traditionalist camp and second, what was said from the protester/progressive side.

From the government/traditionalists:

1. ‘Bus owners shun protest march’, page 1

This headline suggests bus owners do not sympathise with the protesters and do not support their cause. But in fact, the story explains that transport operators were “given an order not to let trade unions hire their buses”. The headline has the effect of isolating the protesters and making them appear without support, when in fact the transport operator’s decision to suspend operations was clearly taken after serious government pressure. ‘Buses shut down’ would be a more accurate headline.

2. ‘Plans to overthrow govt uncovered – police chief’, page 2.

The Police Commissioner claims there are “people hiding in the forest…waiting with revolutionary-like behaviour”. He says they plan to “hijack today’s protest in their quest for power.” The Times fails to verify his claims. It is a single-sourced story; no one is invited to challenge the Commissioner. The Commissioner brands the protest “illegal”, thereby portraying the protesters as law-breakers. The Times gives no explanation of why the protest is illegal and does not question how the government can deny citizens their right to freedom of assembly.

3. ‘Power hungry individuals behind the uprising’, page 4

A Facebook group calling themselves “traditionalists” say the protesters are “lazy individuals who look down on the monarchy”. Protesters are not given a chance to respond to the accusations.

4. ‘TV’s warning to protesters’, page 4

The acting Ludzinzini Governor claims the unions are “encouraging a lawless society” and says Swaziland needs people “who are focused on helping to improve the economy”, thereby insinuating that the protesters want to bring down the economy. There are no other voices to challenge the Governor’s inflammatory comments.

5. ‘These people are terrorists – DPM’, page 5

The Deputy Prime Minister refers to the protesters as “those who want to cause fighting.” He says they are “terrorists and mercenaries.” No one from the progressive camp is given an opportunity to challenge his remarks.

6. ‘Protect His Majesty from being insulted in the SA media’, page 5

Three senators complain that foreign media reports on the protest are abusive and insulting towards the king. One journalist “even called the king by his name instead of his respectful title”. There is no explanation of what the foreign media reports said.

From the protesters/progressives:

1. ‘Bus owners shun protest march’, page 1

The Secretary-General of SNAT, the teachers union, says the police are trying to “sabotage” the protest by ordering public transport operators not to ferry protesters.

2. ‘Unions claim their leaders have gone missing’, page 3

A union lawyer confirms that four union leaders have been detained by police. The headline uses the word ‘claim’ which gives the impression what the unions are saying may not be true. And yet the story itself says the four leaders have not been heard from since calling their lawyer to report that they were in police detention.

3. ‘3,000 COSATU members for blockade’, page 3

The Congress of South African Trade Unions says they are marching to the Swaziland border in solidarity with the protesters.

4. ‘Wandile Dludlu under ‘tight security’’, page 4

A union leader complains about being followed by the police. The Times says he may have been arrested later that day, but they are unable to verify this.

Conclusion

In all the protest coverage for the edition (12 April 2011), the protesters were not once given an opportunity to respond to the many accusations from the government/traditionalists saying the protesters are law-breakers, power hungry, lazy, wanting to bring down the economy, terrorists and mercenaries. There was not one story that allowed the protesters to explain their cause and, in turn, criticise the government.

Granted the protesters may have been given opportunities in the past to put their case in the Times and no doubt will be given more such opportunities in the future. But to have, on the very day of the protests, such an overwhelming number of government sources freely slamming the protesters and putting forward uncorroborated claims, while at the same time failing to present even one challenge from the protesters is a disservice to journalism. The headlines were particularly misleading and one-sided. MISA remains hopeful that the Times can do better.

ARMED TROOPS IN RURAL AREAS

2011-04-13T10:11:00.003+03:00

Armed troops are said to be patrolling rural areas in Swaziland, but Manzini is quiet this morning (13 April 2011), Eyewitness News on South Africa’s Talk Radio 702 reported at 9am (07.00 hrs GMT).

It also reported that troops attacked students at the University of Swaziland yesterday.

BBC ON-THE-SPOT IN MANZINI

2011-04-13T09:52:00.004+03:00

This BBC radio news report on-the-spot in Manzini talks of the brutal force being used by Swaziland state forces against ‘unarmed workers’ to stop the anti-government demonstrations.

It talks of dissatisfaction with King Mswati III, in particular with his luxurious lifestyle.

It was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 (a station in the UK). It probably appeared on a number of bulletins during the day, but I got this one from the Midnight News 12 / 13 April 2011.

SWAZI PROTESTS GO INTO DAY 2

2011-04-13T09:10:00.005+03:00

Protests in Swaziland will continue into a second day, the Swaziland Solidarity Network says.

Spokesperson, Lucky Lukehele told Eyewitness News on South Africa’s Talk Radio 702 this morning (13 April 2011) the campaign against the government is not over.

Nastasya Tay, the Eyewitness News reporter arrested by state police yesterday and escorted out of Manzini and banned from the area, is on her way back to the city.

She reports live from the scene in this bulletin that was broadcast at 8am local time today.

BBC REPORTS FROM MANZINI

2011-04-13T06:01:00.003+03:00

This report from BBC World Service Focus on Africa (12 April 2011, 17.00 hrs GMT) rounds up the day’s events in Manzini and talks to a trade union leader about what happens next. The reporter says police said they fired water cannon on protestors because they threw stones at them.

ON THE RUN: PICTURES OF MANZINI

2011-04-13T05:13:00.002+03:00

ON THE RUN: Residents flee as a strong police contingent moves through the streets of the Swazi commercial capital, Manzini. Pics Times Live

SOURCE

SWAZI FORCES TARGET JOURNALISTS

2011-04-13T05:03:00.001+03:00

Swaziland security forces target journalists covering protests

Committee to Protect Journalists

SOURCE

New York, April 12, 2011—Authorities in the kingdom of Swaziland should allow the news media to report freely on anti-government protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today after security forces harassed at least 10 local and international journalists covering a mass demonstration demanding political and economic reform after more than two decades of rule by King Mswati III.

Police stopped reporter Niren Tolsi and photographer Lisa Skinner of the South African daily Mail & Guardian, confiscated their notebooks and Swazi contact books, and threatened to deport them if the journalists reported anything negative about the country or the king, Africa’s last absolute monarch, Nic Dawes, the paper’s editor-in-chief, told CPJ. Tolsi and Skinner were released but detained a second time when officers seized their photographs and footage, Dawes said.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Swazi police spokeswoman Wendy Hleta as saying that journalists were being detained only to check their accreditation. “Journalists were taken in to check for their accreditation,” she said. “If they have the right papers they are released, if not they are helped to apply for one.” However, Dawes told CPJ that at no point during the detention did police mention or request accreditation.

Jinty Jackson, a stringer with AFP, told CPJ she had gotten official accreditation from the Swazi government. But she said that did not stop plainclothes security agents from arresting her and her photographer, Stephane de Sakutin, as they witnessed riot police chasing protesters outside the offices of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers. The two journalists were taken to a police station where Jackson reported being slapped on the chest, AFP reported.

Several other international journalists, mostly from South Africa-based media outlets, were also detained.

Police detained André le Roux, Africa editor of media publishing group Media24, and ordered him not to take any photos of the protests, reported South African daily City Press. Also detained was assistant editor Reggy Moalusi of the private Daily Sun, according to the same source.

Police also arrested reporters Nastasya Tay and Tshepo Lesole of Radio 702 as they were reporting on the lead up to the demonstration, both journalists later told CPJ. Tay and Lesole were interrogated for two hours and forced to return to the capital Mbabane, Katy Katopodis, the network’s editor-in-chief, told CPJ. The station also reported that a live phone interview between Radio 702 presenter Chris Gibbons and one of the demonstration’s leaders, activist Mary da Silva, was abruptly interrupted when da Silva was taken away by security.

A freelance Dutch journalist, Rob Hartgers, reported on his Twitter account that he was detained twice today by police.

Security forces targeted local journalists as well.

Police detained Manqoba Nxumalo, a reporter with the leading independent Times of Swaziland and a columnist with the South African news site The Daily Maverick, for half an hour while interrogating him about his identity and place of residence, he later told CPJ. Another Times of Swaziland reporter, Linda Jele, was also briefly detained, Mbongeni Mbingo, the paper’s managing editor told CPJ.

“We condemn these attempts to prevent coverage of political protests in Swaziland,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “The government should live up to its claim of respecting democracy by ceasing this crude censorship.”

In a press conference on Monday, Police Commissioner Isaac Magagula warned the public, including journalists, not to attend the demonstration, which he called illegal, the leading independent paper Times of Swaziland reported. “In a scenario or circumstance where the security interests of the country are at stake, it does not benefit the wider citizenry to engage in a philosophical war of words and exhibit defiant dispositions,” the paper quoted him as saying.

In response to today’s demonstration, riot police, plainclothes security and paramilitary troops deployed in the commercial capital Manzini used tear gas and water cannons to disperse more than a thousand workers and detained scores of people, including trade union leaders, activists and journalists, according to news reports.

TESTIMONY OF POLICE BRUTALITY

2011-04-13T04:43:00.001+03:00

Times Live, South Africa

12 April 2011

With reports of the arrest of dozens of political activists, union leaders and reporters in Swaziland, the Border Blockade protests, which began around 10 years ago, has taken a serious turn. Ntokozo Mbhele of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign said as the struggle for freedom continues, the people of Swaziland are more than ever determined to challenge the government.

SOURCE

POLICE SQUASH RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY

2011-04-13T04:27:00.000+03:00

New York Times

12 April 2011

SOURCE

Police Officers In Swaziland Squash Rally For Democracy

JOHANNESBURG — The police in Swaziland, the last absolute monarchy in Africa, squelched a long-planned pro-democracy rally on Tuesday, firing water cannons and tear gas into crowds in Manzini, the nation’s largest city.

Organizers had dubbed the protest “the April 12 Uprising,” recalling the day, 38 years ago, when King Sobhuza II had abandoned the country’s British-style Constitution and rid himself of the inconvenience of political parties.

His son, Mswati III, is now king. Some things have changed, some not. The old king had more than 70 wives, the new one 14. Mswati III is one of the world’s richest monarchs, and he provides most of his spouses with their own retinue, a palace and a new BMW; two-thirds of his 1.2 million subjects live on less than $1 a day. They have the world’s highest H.I.V. infection rate.

There is again a Constitution, instituted in 2006, though not one assuring political freedom. A pro-democracy movement has existed for decades, but it has had more fits than starts. Many of its leaders are routinely jailed, and on Tuesday, this was done peremptorily with the morning arrests of the trade unionists at the vanguard of the rally.

What followed then were blunt tactics of crowd dispersal. People standing in groups of more than two or three were clubbed by police officers, witnesses said. Buses full of protesters were stopped at roadblocks and turned back.

“Some people were taken away in big trucks, and they were dumped way out in the bush where there is no transportation,” said Mary da Silva, a lawyer and coordinator of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign.

Ms. da Silva herself was briefly arrested, seized while giving an interview to a journalist. “Basically, what they are doing is kidnapping activists,” she said in a telephone interview. “There are roadblocks all over the place. No one can get into Manzini. And those of us here, we are under constant threat. They punched me in the stomach.”

The Rev. Pius Magagula, project manager for the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, said, “The police tried to block people behind a gate, and then when the people fought their way out and went to the bus terminal, the police pounced on them like nobody’s business.”

The bare-knuckle tactics were successful against a crowd of about 2,000, according to Father Magagula, who was also contacted by phone.

“The police used water cannons and then the swinging batons,” he said. “It was bad, very bad.”

A police spokeswoman, Wendy Hleta, told The Associated Press that officials had been concerned about threats to overthrow the government. Force was used only after provocation, she said.

“The situation almost got out of control,” Ms. Hleta said about a gathering of hundreds of teachers at a training site. The police “were compelled to shoot tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.”

The government is sure to draw international criticism. The United States Embassy in Mbabane, the capital, issued a statement expressing concern about efforts “to prevent the peaceful assembly of labor and opposition groups.”

Swaziland, a mountainous and generally peaceful place, is wedged between South Africa and Mozambique. Its chief source of revenue has been its share of import duties from the multicountry Southern African Customs Union.

But the group’s distribution formula was recently revised, and Swaziland’s $741 million share was cut to $281 million. The government announced an austerity program. Every ministry had to cut its budget by as much as 25 percent. Thousands of public workers were furloughed. Street lights were turned off.

The dismal economy has heightened political discontent. Tuesday’s rally follows a protest last month when 2,000 people marched to the prime minister’s office. King Mswati III disapprovingly took note of the demonstration.

He told his people to “work harder and sacrifice more.”