SWAZI PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE HOODWINKED INTO THE DINNER TABLE BY THE UNELECTED KING MSWATI REGIME!
13 April 2011
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) calls on the workers and the youth of Swaziland to remain steadfast and resolute until the illegitimate and unelected regime of King Mswati succumbs to popular demands for change and democratic reforms.
The ongoing mass protests or revolts in Swaziland should not be de-linked from other similar revolts in the Arab world against dictatorships in the pockets of US imperialist. The people of Swaziland should be supported by all democratic forces inside South Africa, including by the highest office in the land, the Presidency.
We owe our freedom and democracy to those gallant fighters of uMkhonto weSizwe and PUDEMO who perished in Swaziland at the hands of the apartheid security forces invasion of exile bases of the movement.
The democratic forces as led by PUDEMO should not be hoodwinked by the regime’s calls for negotiations to end the crisis. The calls for negotiations by the regime are part of their strategy to demobilize, weaken and out-maneuver the forces that are behind the struggle for popular change and democratic reforms.
Never in world history has an oppressive regime surrendered power willy-nilly over a conference table or red carpets. The democratic forces should be weary of the fact that what is not won on the ground will not be won in a negotiation table. The struggle continues!
We call on the Swaziland security organs, particularly the police and the army to stop behaving like a poodle or private army of the Royal family by using excessive force against the masses fighting for democratic change and reforms in Swaziland.
The police and the army should appreciate the masses struggles of toppling King Mswati’s regime, since they are going to benefit immensely in a democratic dispensation as a fully-fledged police and defense force.
We pledge our unconditional support and solidarity with the people of Swaziland to continue exerting pressure until the regime surrenders power to the people as a whole. The people of Swaziland should be conscious of the fact that the time has arrived for their long over-due freedom and democracy.
We re-iterate our calls for all South African owned companies operating in Swaziland to de-invest until King Mswati’s regime is replaced by a democratically elected government of the people.
They continued operation in Swaziland directly or indirectly contributes in funding King Mswati’s military strategy directed towards eliminating his political opponents as led by PUDEMO.
Contact:
Castro Ngobese, National Spokesperson – 073 299 1595
Source
Numsa Press Release