14 February 2000
The South African Communist Party is outraged at Swaziland police for their violent
break up of the 5th General Congress of the Swaziland Youth Congress, which was held at
the weekend. This police action is part of the undemocratic Swaziland's government
strategy to suppress democratic opposition to the tinkhundla system. The Swaziland
government is using
authoritarian tactics to suppress legitimate people's voices opposed to the tinkhundla
system. The SACP condemns this act as
unacceptable.
SWAYOCO is part of democratic forces struggling to achieve political democratisation in
Swaziland. Over the last decade
these forces have grown is strength and influence. No amount of repression will stop the
advent of democracy in Swaziland.
The SACP understands fully that South Africa cannot survive as a democracy without the
full democratisation of Southern
Africa. We therefore call on the South African government and the Southern African
Development Community to take steps to protect freedom of expression and the achievement
of political democratisation in Swaziland. We also call on the Swaziland
government to listen to the cries and demands by millions of Swazi people for democracy
and people's rule.
For its part, the SACP is fully aware of its internationalist task of solidarity,
support and joint work with people's
and working class organisations in Swaziland and the rest of Southern Africa. Also key in
this task is the development of a common socialist agenda for Southern Africa. The SACP
will work with all organisations to achieve this.
Embili nenkululeko yemaSwati!
Contact Mazibuko K. Jara, Department of Media,
Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
COSATU House
No. 1 Leyds Street - 7th Floor
Braamfontein 2001
Republic of South Africa
Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2
Fax: 27 11 339-4244
Email: sacp1@wn.apc.org