10 August 2003
Following the South African Communist Party’s bilateral meeting with the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) of Swaziland held on 25 July, the SACP gives it full support to the campaign to blockade all South African-Swaziland border posts from 12 to 15 August 2003.
The SACP calls on all South Africans to join the blockade action in solidarity with the people of Swaziland in their struggle for democracy and respect for human rights.
Through the blockade, the SACP, COSATU, the Swaziland Solidarity Network and other South African organisations will be supporting mass action inside Swaziland to protest against the holding of the Global Smart Partnership Summit in Swaziland. The Global Smart Partnership Summit is planned for 13-17 August.
The mass action inside Swaziland is being jointly organised by PUDEMO, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, Swaziland National Association of Teachers, Swaziland Youth Congress, Swaziland Democratic Alliance, and other democratic forces in Swaziland.
The Global Smart Partnership Summit should not be held in Swaziland whilst the Swazi government violates human rights, undermines democracy, undermines the freedoms of association and expression, uses the armed forces and other measures to intimidate independent sections of the judiciary and uses conservative sections of the judiciary as a tool of repression. The Swaziland government continues with detentions of political and trade union leaders for peacefully demanding democracy. In July, a peaceful SWAYOCO was dispersed by police violence.
Along with this political onslaught, the Swaziland government has colluded with foreign and local capital to mortgage the Swazi economy through accelerated privatisation, massive retrenchments and moves to undermine basic workers’ and trade union rights.
It is therefore unjustifiable that the international community conducts affairs with the undemocratic and un-elected government of Swaziland. Holding the Global Smart Partnership in Swaziland is an insult to the people of Swaziland and their struggle for democracy.
Swaziland cannot continue being part of the African Union and other international forums as if it is business as usual. Therefore, the SACP reiterates its call for increased political and diplomatic pressure against Swaziland for meaningful democratic change in Swaziland. Specifically, the SACP calls on the South African government to play a leading role in this regard.
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara – SACP Spokesperson – 072 275 4723
Norman Mokoena – COSATU Mpumalanga Province - 082 563 6969
Bongani Masuku – Swaziland Solidarity Network - 072 258 3600