Swaziland faces isolation

Submitted by on 3 July, 2002 - 3:34

The Internal Security Bill of 2002, otherwise known as the Makhundu, has begun to attract national and international outrage just weeks after it was announced.

The Makhundu, which retrenches the government's repressive stranglehold on the democratic opposition (see Simunye Update, 17 June 2002: http://www.swazis.org.uk/simup-170602.pdf ), appears to have already come into force before going through the official rubber-stamping procedures.

One SWAYOCO member told SSC that "police special branch cars are monitoring the movements of political activists on a constant basis.

"All PUDEMO and SWAYOCO exiles in South Africa have been alerted to strange and sinister moves of the Swazi police who are seen moving around in cars with South African registration and the suspicion is high that they are preparing targets for possible elimination."

The US has issued an official condemnation of the Makhundu, claiming it was against its position on human rights. This raised the prospect of further action, especially if the new constitution, expected to be published by the end of 2002, does not meet the country's various treaty obligations.

In a statement, the US authorities said: "Passages that restrict the freedom of association and expression, as well as those authorising police searches without warrants, are particularly troublesome".

The US indicated that it was closely following developments leading up to the publication of the draft constitution later this year. It reiterated its hope that it would include a bill of rights and meet international standards on democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law.

"The Internal Security Bill of 2002 as published in the gazette is a step away from these commitments. We hope that government officials and parliamentarians will reflect carefully on the choices before them, and refrain from undermining the values and principles to which the kingdom is committed."

A sign of Swaziland's growing isolation was seen at a summit of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held in June. One of the King's wives, Senator Queen Motsa, was shunned by delegates. This followed claims that she was working as a secret agent which she refused to deny in an interview with the Times of Swaziland.

If the government is not seen to be carrying out democratic reform, many believe the country could lose its trading privileges under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), which gives countries free access to vital US markets.

However, this could do the country far more harm than good. Economic growth in the first half of 2002 showed signs of decline due to the effects of drought and exchange rate depreciation. Cutting Swaziland off from foreign markets could deny it important hard currency for grain imports, damage investment and jobs and cause social disruption.

The Swaziland Solidarity Campaign is calling on Western and African governments to target sanctions on members of the regime, including freezing the foreign bank assets of King Mswati. This is more likely to convince the government to change its policies than sanctions and trade restrictions, which will punish the wider population.

[Extracted from "Simunye", 1 July 2002 http://www.swazis.org.uk/simup-010702.pdf - fortnightly newsletter of the Swaziland Solidarity Campaign. For more information, go to: http://www.swazis.org ]

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