JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
Rights groups have condemned Eswatini's arrest of two lawmakers this week and the use of force against pro-democracy protesters. The southern African kingdom, Africa's last absolute monarchy, has been rocked by protests since June.
Protests re-ignited Thursday in Eswatini, previously known as
Swaziland, as two pro-democracy members of parliament appeared in court.
Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi Mabuza were arrested earlier this
week on charges of terrorism for inciting unrest and violating COVID-19 regulations.
The unrest began over a month ago with protests calling for
political reform.
Twenty-five-year-old Vuysiwa Maseko is a member of the Swaziland
National Union of Students, which is among the central groups leading the
demonstrations.
He says the arrests exemplify the lack of freedom in the
country.
"Indeed, it’s angering and raging because these are the
people's representatives in parliament," said Maseko. "They are the
voices of the voiceless and arresting them means government is shutting 1.1
million voices – the population of Swaziland.”
Weeks of demonstrations have cost the landlocked country’s
economy at least $200 million.
They’ve also cost lives. Local police have confirmed over 30
people have been killed and many more arrested.
International organizations and governments have condemned the
response by authorities, calling the use of force excessive.
Amnesty International spokesperson Robert Shivambu says the
lawmakers should be released immediately.
"They have committed no crime and have been targeted by the
government solely for for their political views," said Shivambu. "We
believe that both MPs are victims of political witch hunt, which is designed to
silence any critical voice that is demanding political reforms and human
rights.”
Government spokesperson Sabelo Dlamani declined to comment in
response to the condemnation.
Instead, he deferred to Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini’s
parliamentary address on Wednesday, in which he vehemently denied political
motivation for the lawmakers’ arrest.
But the prime minister also said the rule of law would be upheld
and applied to anyone who incited violence under the guise of free expression.
Until the government meets with the public for peaceful
negotiations, Amnesty International spokesperson Robert Shivambu says more
episodes of violence are feared.
"The government thinks that the only way to respond to
these protests is crackdown that we have seen, they have deployed the police
and the army to crack down on dissent. So we are we are concerned that things
could escalate," said Shivambu.
The international support is welcome by student protesters like
Maseko.
But members of the United Eswatini Diaspora say they want to see
more than just talk from the international community.
Qhawekazi Khumalo says they want countries, from neighboring
South Africa to other global powerhouses, to halt business with the government.
"We’re calling for sanctions of all Swaziland products,
particularly those that Emaswati are business shareholder in, and those are
some of the things that the world has authority, you know to do," Khumalo
said.
The jailed members of parliament remain behind bars after a
judge deferred a decision to grant them bail at a Thursday hearing.
A new date for a ruling has yet to be announced.
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