Swazi bans civil rights meeting

2008-10-14 22:11

Mbabane - Swaziland's absolute monarchy banned independent civil rights groups from meeting later this week, saying on Tuesday that the gathering could be destabilising.

The Southern Africa Social Forum was scheduled to take place on Thursday, the same day King Mswati III was expected to appoint a new prime minister following Parliamentary elections held last month that were denounced as a parody of democracy.

Forum participants from across the region had been expected to discuss calls on Mswati to accept political parties and other democratic reforms. Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy.

"From the information available it is the view of the Swaziland government that the hosting of the meeting in the country will not be in national interest, and will compromise peace, security and stability of the kingdom of Swaziland," Bhekie Dlamini, an official in the king's office, said in a statement.

If the groups disobey the order, "the government will be compelled to apply the law to its fullest extent," he said.

Democratic principles

One of the organisers, Thembinkosi Dlamini, said the groups would challenge the ban in court.

"The social forum is an open space for reflective thinking, democratic debates of ideas, free exchange of experiences," Thembinkosi Dlamini said.

Jan Sithole, who is a trade union leader and government critic, said the ban "demonstrates government's unwillingness to conform to democratic principles".

Swaziland held elections on September 19 for a 55-seat National Assembly that is subservient to the king. Political parties have been outlawed in Swaziland since 1973, when Mswati's late father, King Sobhuza II, declared a state of emergency.

Also in September, Mswati attracted negative headlines around the world with lavish celebrations in his impoverished nation marking his 40th birthday and Swaziland's 40th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Despite occasional unrest and a growing democracy movement, Swaziland is overwhelmingly peaceful. But police have prevented demonstrations by the king's critics.

Members of Parliaments from across Africa who observed the September vote said it did not meet regional and international standards for democratic elections. The observers called for a national referendum to determine a political way forward.

- AP