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News
release from Southern African Litigation Centre - 3 June
2009
Prominent
Swazi human rights lawyer arrested
Mbabane,
Swaziland - Thulani Maseko, a prominent human rights lawyer,
has been arrested and is currently in police custody. He was
initially charged under Swaziland's recently enacted Suppression
of Terrorism Act, but now faces charges under the Sedition
Act.
Maseko
is currently acting for Mario Masuku, president of the
banned People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), who has
spent six months in police custody awaiting trial. Masuku
was also initially charged under the Suppression of
Terrorism Act but now also faces charges under the Sedition
Act.
Maseko's
arrest comes amid growing demands for democratic reform in
Swaziland. Despite a new constitution, political parties are
not entitled to contest elections and the king continues to
rule by decree.
The
Suppression of Terrorism Act, enacted in late 2008, has
already been the subject of much international and domestic
criticism. Its definition of terrorism is so broad it could
potentially encompass any activity and the powers given the
Minister of Justice to ban individuals and organizations are
almost unfettered.
Calling
for the release of Mr Maseko, Nicole Fritz, director of
SALC, said : "This is one more instance in which the
Swazi government shows that it has no genuine commitment to
constitutional democracy in Swaziland. That it would arrest
Thulani who has been involved in almost every important
human rights challenge in Swaziland in recent years shows
just how shameless it is".
Sisonke
Msimang, OSISA director, added : "In recent years, as
the region has been focused on the crisis in Zimbabwe,
Swaziland's King Mswati has systematically targeted civil
society activists and human rights defenders in a manner
that emulates Mugabe. Swaziland's political crisis deserves
far more attention than it has previously received".
Prepared
by : FD Beachhead |