Demands End To Intimidation, Extrajudicial Killings In Eswatini South
PHOTO: Edwin B. Cisco, LLC Secretary General
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
The Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) is demanding the Prime Minister of Eswatini in South Africa, Cleopas Sipho Dlamini to end what it refers to as the ongoing intimidation, extrajudicial killings, threats of arrest, raids, and unprovoked brutal beatings of workers and others engaged in the exercise of civil liberties and the release of those arrested and in detention.
The Congress through its Secretary General, Edwin B. Cisco is also demanding an independent judicial investigation under the international supervision to bring the perpetrators to justice in a solidarity statement in support of the workers and people of Eswatini.
Mr. Cisco made the assertions at the LLC’s national headquarters on the Japan Freeway in the Gardnersville suburb of Monrovia.
“LLC, federation of all workers’ organizations in Liberia including the public sector, informal sector, private sector, and people living with disabilities express our solidarity and support in consideration of the rest of the world in support of the workers and people of Eswatini” he stated.
Mr. Cisco going forward, said the LLC condemns the “brutal killing of trade union and human rights lawyer Thulani Masekoon on January 21, 2023 in South Africa as well as the continued intimidation, assault, harassment, arrests of trade union officials, the extra-judicial killings of more than 80 protesters since June 2021 and the banning of public gatherings.
“Prime Minister, we also note with regret that on 11th January 2023, the name of sticks Nkambule, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Transport, communication and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU, was published by the police as a wanted person for alleged criminal act. This follows the union’s announcement of a job stay away, 13-14 December 2022 with a demand to improve wages and working conditions of the workers,” Mr. Cisco narrated.
Furthermore, Mr. Cisco intimated that the union is also alarmed by the security forces’ disruption of a trade union workshop at the Global Village Guest Hotel on 18th November 2022. He added that on November 11, Kayise Qwabe, a former national executive member of the Swaziland Communication Workers Union (SCWU) was seriously injured following the shooting at the car by security forces, and on November 17, 2022, Denzel Maziya, a student from John Wesley High School was tortured by security forces.
Edwin B. Cisco further indicated that the union is concerned by the withdrawal without justification of the salary of Mbongwa Dlamini, President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) in October 2022 stating that he has since been forced into hiding/exile.
Earlier in April 2022, he said Mbongwa’s home was attacked by security forces with live bullets.
He reminded Prime Minister Dlamini that his government has also threatened to stop the collection and remittance of trade union subscriptions for SNAT members and has already refused a check-off system for its new members.
The union said it is shocked to learn that Prime Minister Dlamini’s government banned public gatherings in October 2021 and continues to defy a court order that lifted the ban in February 2022. He narrated that the security forces deployed around the country continue to use brutal force against citizens who are conducting their business, noting that the situation is akin to an undeclared state of emergency.
“We call the events of October 2022 in which public sector workers were also brutalized by the security forces on their way to hand over a petition demanding a living wage.
The Liberia Labor Congress’ secretary general informed the Prime Minister that the above incidents indicate a worrying grand of rights abuses and a lack of respect for the rule of law, civil liberties, and human rights in his country which according to him, is contrary to Cleopas Sipho Dlamini’s obligations under the International Labor Organization convention 87.
Additionally, Mr. Cisco noted that the LLC is deeply concerned that the climate of fear and violence is aimed at preventing trade unionists and human rights defenders from exercising their trade union and human rights.
Furthermore, he expressed that these attacks continue despite the Prime Minister’s government and the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) agreement to submit such disputes for mediation through the ILO under Case No. 3425 pending before the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.
He reiterated that call by workers and trade unions for democracy is in line with the legitimate expectations of Prime Minister Dlamini’s obligations under the ILO Convention 87.
Mr. Cisco indicated that the Congress recalled that the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) “considered that a system of democracy is fundamental for the free exercise of trade union rights, and that a genuinely free and independent trade union movement can only develop where fundamental human rights are respected.”
The LLC Secretary has however, on behalf of the Congress urged Minister Dlamini’s government to immediately speed up the ILO-initiated mediation process and engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders to address the pressing issues that his nation is faced with.
He concluded: “We urge your government to immediately speed up the ILO-initiated mediation process and engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders to address the pressing issues that face your nation.”