Come rain, snow, sleet or thunder we will be outside the Swazi embassy protesting about democracy and respect for human rights in Swaziland. It rained just as we were setting up but lucky we have a cloth banner and a few placards that are covered in plastic. As usual news from back home is horrific and depressing, to the locals who stopped by to ask about the situation back home and sign our petitions its shocking. Barnabas Dlamini, the illegally-appointed Prime Minister of Swaziland, is victimizing the senate leader who said he and the Swazi government are answerable to parliament. We told the passing public that these are the few stories that they hear, the more horrific ones are swept under the carpet by the propaganda swazi press who are a mouth pieces of Dictator regime by the King because he closes the paper if they report against him. We were happy to hear that the launch of the Swaziland democracy was a success and we were glad that the Swazi vigil UK received words of encouragement from their report. On Friday the 5th of march we will join our friends the zimvigil to protest our side the South African embassy. We will be there between 1130 am to 1230pm to meet Jacob Zuma on his visit here in the UK. Please check www.zimvigil.co.uk. We will present to Mr Zuma our demands for democracy and respect for human rights in Swaziland we will also encourage Mr Zuma to speak out on Swaziland as he seems to know what is happening in the Kingdom. We are also pleased to let our supports know that so far we have more than 2000 signatures on our petitions, which is very encouraging. Thanks once again to our stewards Godfrey Madzunga, Kelvin Kamupila, Thobile Gwebu, Francesca Toft and many more who stood by us in the rain. The Swazi embassy staff were also surprised to see us protesting in the rain. Once again one of our supporters reminded them that will be here until Swaziland is free. Our singing and drumming once again attracted a group of brownies who stopped by and their teachers signed our petitions, but most of these children were so sad to hear that children in Swaziland are suffering with hunger and starvation and most of them can not afford to go to school at all, while Dictator Mswatii III is squandering money on his so many wives. What a sham said one teacher who signed our petition. Hopefully the weather will be on our side next weekend. Just as we were writing this diary we received yet some more depressing news
Swaziland police officers have been on the attack again, assaulting members of the public – one a form-four school pupil and the other, a pregnant woman.
This is a daily routine for swazi police, the show of force to silence human rights defenders, for how long shall the world stand and watch SWAZI PEOPLE SUFFER at the hands of the Dictator Mswati III.
PRESS NOTICE – 31st January 2010 Launch of the Swazi Vigil Exiled Swazis and supporters held a Vigil outside the Swaziland High Commission in London on Saturday 30th January in protest at human rights abuses in the small southern African country. Further Vigils are planned between 10 am and 1 pm every Saturday until there is democracy and respect for human rights in Swaziland. The organizer Thobile Gwebu expressed gratitude for the attendance of representatives from the Zimbabwe Vigil and Action for Southern Africa, the successor to the Anti-Apartheid Movement. She said the Swazi flag was lowered when the group started drumming and they were filmed by people inside the building. Swaziland has a population of 1.1 million and is Africa’s only absolute monarchy. A state of emergency has been in force for 35 years. Political parties are banned, activists are imprisoned, and the judiciary, media and other bodies are controlled by the monarch. Women, in particular, suffer gross violation of their human rights. Seventy per cent of the population live on less than $1 a day and more than 1 in 4 Swazis are living with HIV / AIDS. Next Vigil: Saturday 6th February Venue: Kingdom of Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB Nearest Tube: St. James Park Interview opportunities: Political activists, torture and rape survivors Further information: Thobile Gwebu +44 7873 164 482.
From St. Jame's Park Underground Station
From Victoria Station
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Protest photos on Flickr - Click Here