Times Of Swaziland:  Bomb' suspect for Student Peace Prize

Bomb' suspect for Student Peace Prize
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 NONTOBEKO TSHABALALA on 17/11/2011 00:00:00


MBABANE – Explosives suspect and President of the Swaziland National Union of
Students (SNUS), Maxwell Dlamini, has been nominated for the 2013 Student Peace
Prize.
Dlamini’s nomination for the prize was endorsed by a solidarity organisation
from Denmark called Africa Contact.
The event is held biennially.
Dlamini’s father, Nimrod Dlamini, said he was visited by two Danish students
from the organisation a few months ago.
"Two students from Denmark visited me a few months ago and wanted to talk to me
about Maxwell. I guess this nomination is a result of the conversation we had,"
Dlamini said.
The reason given for the nomination, in a letter penned by Africa Contact to the
Student Peace Prize Secretariat, partly reads, "he has done important work to
promote peace, democracy and human rights because his struggle for free
education, recognition of students rights in Swaziland doesn’t receive the
attention it deserves (sic)." Maxwell is currently incarcerated at the Manzini
Remand Centre on suspicion of being in possession of explosives during the April
12 protest. The Danish organisation, though aware of this, considers it a smear
campaign, saying "he has selflessly put aside any fear for his own safety in
pursuit of his and his fellow students’ struggle."
Maxwell’s nomination is also endorsed by the Free Maxwell Campaign, Swaz-iland
United Democratic Front, SNUS, All Africa Students Union, Student Representative
Council at the University of Marburg and the Free Education Movement, Marburg.
According to the website, the prize attempts to shed light on and increase
recognition of the work of the student who receives the award. Dlamini’s
father expressed happiness and surprise at the nomination, saying he could not
wait to share the news with Maxwell. "I can’t explain how proud and happy I
am. I hope it will open other doors for him. I’m excited to share the news
with his mother, she will also be very happy. I’m going to see Maxwell
tomorrow and I’ll tell him the good news," Dlamini said.
The deadline for nominations for the Student Peace Prize is April 15, 2012.
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Comments
Congrats MAx...u mai heroooooooooooooo...
Nov 17, 2011, 11:22 AM, mndeni (Melusig@ymail.com)