Cosatu condemns the arrest and torture of Ignatius Date : 11 -01-06

 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions angrily condemns the arrest and torture of Ignatius Bonginkosi Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland opposition movement PUDEMO, and thirteen other PUDEMO members, and demands their immediate and unconditional release.

These brutal attacks on pro-democracy activists are further proof that King Mswati's regime is hell-bent on crushing any opposition to its dictatorship and they vindicate COSATU's longstanding support for trade unionists and opposition forces in their battle for human rights and democracy in that country.

COSATU calls for bold action from the South African government, SADC and the AU to condemn this intensification of the Swazi regime's repression of all those who stand for democracy. Anything less than an outright condemnation of this regime would make a mockery of the AU's declared commitment to human rights and good governance.

Patrick Craven (Editor, Shopsteward Journal)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets

Braamfontein, 2017

P.O.Box 1019

Johannesburg, 2000

South Africa

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940

E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za