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MORE INTERNATIONAL GROUPS SUPPORT MAKHUBU, MASEKO

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SITEKI – More international organisations have shown support to Bheki Makhubu, the incarcerated Editor of The Nation Magazine and Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko.


Makhubu and Maseko were arrested last week and charged with contempt of court.
Freedom House, a USA-based organisation, condemned the arrest of Makhubu and Maseko in a statement, before calling for their immediate release. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international organisation advocating freedom of the press, also commented on the matter through a statement.


 Meanwhile, Amnesty International has promised to follow the matter. In an interview with German broadcaster DW TV last week, Mary Rayner, a researcher on Swaziland at Amnesty International, said the organisation was anxiously waiting to see what would happen now that the two were behind bars. “We will have to see what happens. They will be trying next week (this week) to obtain bail and we will continue to follow the situation,” Rayner told the TV station before breaking down the charges which Makhubu and Maseko are facing.


 Quoting the Bible, Chairperson of the Council of Churches in Swaziland, Absalom Mnisi said: Psalms 82:2-3 “How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favouring the wicked? Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.” The council released a statement stating that the arrests shocked the church community because the accused were exercising their constitutional rights of freedom of conscience, expression and opinion as guaranteed under Sections 23 and 24 of the Constitution of Swaziland.


He said these rights should not be infringed upon easily. He further said it was in this spirit that the Council of Churches called the nation not to pervert justice either for the poor and the mighty but administer justice fairly as contained in Leviticus 19:15.
He emphasised that this was the Godly standard and expectation the church body had from the courts in their administration of justice and it should apply without exception. Another organisation to join in was the Centre for Human Rights, which stated that Maseko’s arrest rose from his exercise of freedom of expression through articles that he authoured.


The centre further stated that Swaziland must abide by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which guaranteed the right to a fair trial.  The Centre, through members of its staff, also stated that they were endeavouring to use its good offices to engage relevant government officials towards a resolution of these issues. It also called upon the Government of South Africa, through the appropriate channels, to raise its concerns with the Government of Swaziland about the alleged denial of human rights.


Also, the Federation of Employers and Chamber of Commerce (FSE&CC) released a statement on the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.  The statement said: “The Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland enjoins all citizens, the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature and other organs of State to abide by the fundamental freedoms enshrined in it. The Constitution, therefore, applies both vertically and horizontally. Simply put, all human and corporate citizens should be subservient to the law and the Constitution.” FSE&CC also issued a statement stating that the recent arrests and detention for contempt of court on media freedom had brought the spotlight on the country. “Swaziland is dealing with issues relating to opportunities under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The challenges facing us as a nation can better be addressed differently without the need for inviting negative publicity.


“The world and investors, in particular, will judge us by how we find a balance between the competing rights of members of our society and how the Judiciary, as the final arbiters and or interpreters of our Constitution, responds to perceived attacks on its integrity. It is our considered view as business that at this time, we need to pull together towards – marching progressively to guarantee peace, order, happiness and welfare of all our people – increasing investor confidence in how our respected institutions apply and respect the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.”


The FSE& CC further called upon everyone who cared about the integrity of the nation and its socio-economic success, to respect the fundamental rights of all within the country and restore the international dignity of the country. “This has been the call by His Majesty to all Swazis and anyone who cares and loves our country during the official opening of the 10th Parliament to preserve the image of Swaziland at all times,” reads part of the statement.

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