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Search for bombs reaches Musa Hlophe

20/06/2010 00:00:00 NHLANHLA MATHUNJWA

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MBABANE - As police intensify their search for alleged terrorists, the home of Musa Hlophe, has been visited.

The police invaded Hlophe’s home at KaLanga in Siteki on Thursday.

They allegedly raided the home on suspicions of his alleged involvement in terrorism activities.

Hlophe (72) and his family were awoken early in the morning by a large contingent of police officers who had arrived in an unspecified number of vehicles.

The officers produced a search warrant and went on to comb Hlophe’s home for bombs.

Hlophe has confirmed the matter, saying it embarrassed him in front of his wife, children and neighbours.

He wonders how the police could even suspect him of such a crime.

Mary Lowler, Director of Frontline, an international human rights group, said the search warrant stated clearly that the purpose was to look for bombs or bomb-making material together with any documentation aimed at promoting a terrorist or any material that could be used to promote terrorism activities.

"The search lasted about two hours and at the end, they had only two documents in their hands. These documents included a memo from the Freedom House concerning Swaziland and Zimbabwe and a document relating to democratisation in Swaziland," said the source.

Superintendent Wendy Hleta, police Deputy PRO, confirmed the raid, saying the police had a search warrant permitting them to search Hlophe’s home.

"The search was conducted according to the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. I cannot disclose what we found during the raid. I can only confirm that we conducted the raid as per the search warrant," she said.

Meanwhile, Front Line’s Lowler believes the raid was directly linked to Hlophe’s work in defence of human rights.

She said the suspicion of his involvement in terrorist activities constituted an attempt to delegitimise the work of human rights defenders in the country.

Lawler said they now demanded an immediate cease of all further harassment of Hlophe and his family.

"We demand the return of the documents confiscated during the raid, they are manifestly not linked to any terrorism related activities. We want a guarantee in all circumstances that human defenders in the country are able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions," reads the statement.

Below is Front line’s full statement on the matter:

"On the Morning of June 17, 2010 the home of human rights defender Musa Hlophe was raided by police on suspicions of his alleged involvement in terrorist activities.

Musa Hlophe who is 72 years old, is a long standing human rights defender, former trade unionist and ex-chair of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, and coordinator of the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations (SCCCO).

"SCCCO is a coalition of trade unions, employers, lawyers, churches NGO’s, media, women and youth groups which aims to give a platform to civic society on issues of common interest, promoters democracy, human rights and economic and social justice, and is involved in the promotions of a local broad-based civic education campaign.

On June 17, 2010, Musa Hlophe and his family were awoken early in the morning, by a large number of police officers who arrived in a fleet of vehicles and requested to search the house for evidence of terrorist activities.

"A search warrant was provided which reportedly detailed the purpose of the search as being to search for bombs or bomb-making materials, any documentation aimed at promoting a terrorist act or any material which could be used to promote a terrorism act.

"The police left the house after two hours with just two documents; namely a memo from Freedom House concerning Swaziland and Zimbabwe, and a document relating to democratisation in Swaziland.

While there is no evidence linking the raid to specific SCCCO activities, the police search occurred just two days after a preparatory meeting held on June 15 between the European Union (EU) and representatives of Swaziland Civil Society including SCCCO in advance of the of the political dialogue held on 16 June between the EU and Swaziland Government.

"The dialogue took place according to Article 8 of Cotonou agreement, which includes human rights issues. The raid also follows the recent meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference Committee on the Application of Standards, held on June 2 – 18, 2010, which reviewed Swaziland’s implementation of ILO convention and decisions.

"Front Line believes that the police raid at the home of Musa Hlophe is directly linked to his work in defence of human rights, and that the suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities constitutes an attempt to de-legitimise the work of human rights defenders in the country.

Front Line urges the authorities of Swaziland to:

l Immediately cease all further harassment of Musa Hlophe and his family, as Front Line believes that the raid carries out at his home was solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights.

l Return the documents confiscated during the raid, as they are manifestly not linked to any terrorism related activities.

l Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Swaziland are able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions."

NB: Also see comment on Page 20.

Comments

Hlope might be surprised by this, 2 us members of pudemo its not a humiliation to get raids.you were honoured wit a search warrant ,go ask mphandlana how many warrants does he have, he has none i know,but ask him of scars he wont b able 2 count,as a young person myself i know how is it to be a freedom fighter,i repeat hlophe was honoured no one got injured during da process
June 20, 2010, 5:31 pm, G du pont (Goodwilldupont@gmail.com)