R 200947Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3369
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS MBABANE 000397 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS); DRL (NWILETT, TDANG) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PHUM KDEM WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZI POLICE TARGET LABOR, CIVIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  In the two months following King Mwsati III's 
appointment of Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini and the government's 
ban on four political organizations, Swazi police have detained, 
beaten or threatened numerous members of political organizations, 
trade unions, and civil society.  On November 19, six Swaziland 
Police Union (SWAPU) members attempted to attend a meeting between 
police staff associations and Prime Minister. They were detained by 
police officers and beaten.  Civic and political activists have been 
detained and questioned about their political beliefs and their 
views on the monarchy.  END SUMMARY. 
POLICE RECRUITS BEAT UNION MEMBERS 
 
¶2.  On November 19, six SWAPU members attempted to attend a meeting 
with police staff associations, a group that negotiates on behalf of 
junior officers and secure collective agreements, and the PM.  On 
November 26, EmbOff spoke with Bhule Dlamini, SWAPU Secretary 
General, who confirmed they were detained by police recruits.  One 
was severely beaten on the leg and had to seek medical attention at 
a local hospital in Manzini.  Another  victim states that each 
police union member was surrounded by about eight police recruits, 
then assaulted.  No police recruits were charged for the beating. 
One police union member was charged with unauthorized leave of 
absence from work to attend the meeting.  Union members are seeking 
legal advice.  In May, the Supreme Court ruled that police and 
correctional officers do not have the right to form a union.  In its 
ruling, the bench urged the government to enact legislation to allow 
for the two sectors to unionize. 
 
POLICE QUESTION POLITICAL ACTIVISTS 
 
¶3.  Since the Prime Minister's November 14 banning of four political 
organizations, the police have regularly detained or interviewed 
political and civic society activists.  Police have detained and/or 
questioned Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) president Wandile 
Dludu, People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) secretary 
general Sphasha Dlamini, Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic 
Organizations (SCCCO) coordinator Musa Hlophe, and have attempted to 
question two members of Luvatsi, a youth civic organization.  A 
typical police interview consists of a couple of officers, including 
special operations officers, questioning the activist on their 
political views and their feelings about the monarchy.  Sometimes 
the interview is a recruiting mechanism for police to encourage the 
person to join a political organization, then report the 
organizations activities to the police. 
 
POLICE RAID MEDIA TRAINING WORKSHOP 
 
¶4.  On December 3, plainclothes police officers threatened to 
disrupt a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) training 
workshop for senior media personnel if they were not allowed to 
monitor the discussions.  After a discussion with a MISA officer, 
the police officers left, saying they would return if ordered to do 
so by senior officers.  They did not return.  MISA's director is a 
well-known government critic. 
 
¶5.  COMMENT: Swazi activists, although accustomed to police 
interviews and surveillance, are concerned that the police seem 
emboldened to increase these activities with the Suppression of 
Terrorism Act at their disposal.  The police, who fall under the 
Prime Minister's office, are believed to be acting on direct orders 
from the Prime Minister, who would be following the instruction of 
the King and the traditional council.  Embassy does not believe the 
police will go beyond harassment and brief detentions to make their 
point, but is concerned by the flagrancy with which the police are 
attempting to disrupt or stop government critics from operating. 
 
 
PARKER