Nine pro-democracy activists held for petrol bombings

Nine members of a pro-democracy Swazi political party have been arrested in connection with a series of petrol bombings aimed at government targets in Africa's last absolute monarchy. The suspects, members of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), a wing of the banned People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), were arrested in countrywide raids over the weekend, according to a spokesman for the Royal Swaziland Police Force. The youth activists appeared at two magistrate's courts in the capital, Mbabane, and in Siteki in eastern Swaziland, on charges including attempted murder, malicious damage to property and possession of substances used in making gasoline bombs. Since July a series of bombings have targeted two courthouses and the homes of police officers, a lawmaker, a government official and other government buildings. Two weeks ago bomb-making equipment was discovered by the police during a raid on a home occupied by an alleged PUDEMO member in Nkwalini outside Mbabane. Police said a pamphlet with petrol bomb-making instructions was also recovered at the premises. No one has claimed responsibility for the petrol bombings. Since the first bombing in 1995, which gutted the House of Assembly chambers at Lobamba, 15 km east of Mbabane, no one has been convicted of the crime. Another blast in 1998 destroyed the offices of the Deputy Prime Minister in downtown Mbabane and claimed the life of a security guard. SWAYOCO Secretary General Bonginkhosi Dlamini claimed the government was attempting to intimidate political reform groups by arresting its members. "The police have refused to state where they are being held, and we have engaged our lawyers to work on the issue," he said. A defiant Dlamini added, "We will continue to fight, and are prepared for the highest sacrifice, which is death, if need be." The outcome of a 2004 court case showed that suspects arrested with alleged bomb-making equipment were not automatically convicted. Police failed to link PUDEMO member Roland Rudd to any blasts after the authorities claimed they had discovered bomb-making ingredients in his car. Rudd is currently suing the government for damages for false arrest.