Pressure for sanctions grows

Leading human rights organisations have called on Commonwealth member states to impose economic sanctions against Swaziland for its alleged continued abuse of human rights, ‘The Star’ reported on Friday. At the same time, the United States government called on the country’s absolute monarch, King Mswati III, to reassure the international community of the kingdom’s respect for the rule of law and for the independence and effective functioning of the judiciary. On 22 June, Mswati issued a decree which introduced a state of emergency and gave him the power to overrule court decisions.

The director of the New Delhi-based Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Maja Daruwala, called on Commonwealth member states to “act soon” against Swaziland, because it was actively contravening the aims and values of the Commonwealth. “The CHR believes the latest decree of June 22, one of many, is aimed at muzzling the press and preventing criticism of the monarchy. In contravention of the international norms of fair trial, it disallows bail and appeal. This decree intends to consolidate the king’s position as an absolute monarch at the cost of democracy,” Daruwala said.

The US recently issued a stern warning to the Swaziland authorities to respect human rights and the rule of law, warning that the continued abuse of human rights by the government and traditional authorities would lead to sanctions. The decree was also condemned by Amnesty International’s Mary Rayner. Meanwhile, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Maweni Simelane defended the controversial decree, claiming that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) support the moves taken by the country’s leaders. This has angered political organisations in Swaziland, prompting them to organise a protest demonstration in the Zambian capital of Lusaka during the forthcoming OAU summit.