Police crush pro-democracy rally

Political parties are not free to operate in Swaziland, despite a new constitution, following a weekend crackdown by police on a rally by the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). Several members of the party's leadership were arrested on Saturday, during the planned rally in central commercial hub of Manzini, 35 km east of the capital Mbabane. "We wanted to celebrate the release on bail of our comrades who are on trial," said Arnold Shongwe, a member of PUDEMO's youth wing, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO). PUDEMO sources told IRIN they wanted to test the limits of political freedom under the new constitution, signed by King Mswati last year and in effect since January, which contains a Bill of Rights allowing freedom of speech and assembly. However, Prince Mangaliso Dlamini, appointed by his brother, King Mswati, to head the Constitutional Review Commission, warned last week that the constitution did not allow political parties to operate in Swaziland. Police dispersed PUDEMO members who had gathered in Manzini and set up roadblocks at entry points to the city. Passengers on public transport were told to disembark and were inspected by police officials before being allowed to enter the city. PUDEMO President Mario Masuku was arrested on Saturday but released later that evening. Some of the arrested party members are on trial for treason, allegedly for firebombing government targets last year. The Times of Swaziland quoted a police officer as saying that political organisations would not be permitted to hold public meetings, and "this will remain so until the parties are officially unbanned by the king". "This shows there is still a state of emergency in the country; this proves the constitution was not people-driven," rally organiser Alex LaNgwenya, president of SWAYOCO, told the Times. Attempts to get comment from the government were unsuccessful.