24 January 2002
The South African Communist Party (SACP) calls on the government of Swaziland and the Swaziland High Court to release Comrade Mario Masuku, the president of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), without any delay. His trial starts today and the Director of Public Prosecutions in Swaziland has ensured that the trial will be held in trial without the public and the media. The SACP condemns this in the strongest possible terms.
Comrade Masuku is a political prisoner detained by an autocratic regime which represses democratic organisations. Therefore his trial is not legitimate and is not founded on any principles which will stand scrutiny in a free and democratic society. The trial against Masuku is a trial against free speech, democracy and the will of the people of Swaziland.
Comrade Masuku has been in detention from 04 October 2001. He was charged with treason for speaking at PUDEMO rallies in September 2000 (in Manzini) and November 2000 (Mbabane) calling for the democratisation of Swaziland.
The SACP also calls on the Swazi government to release other political prisoners in Swaziland. As the majority of the people of Swaziland demand, the Swaziland government must take meaningful steps for the democratisation of Swaziland. The SACP calls on the international community to condemn political detentions in Swaziland and to put pressure for the democratisation of Swaziland.
In this regard, the SACP together with the Johannesburg based Swaziland Solidarity Network invites all South Africans to join a picket of the Swaziland Consulate in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
In this regard, the SACP calls on all democratic and progressive South Africans to picket the Swazi Consulate (Braamfontein, Johannesburg) from 12h30 to 14h00 on Friday, 01 February 2002.
CONTACT
Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel - 011 339 3621
Cell- 083 651 0271
Email - sacp1@wn.apc.org