Re: [Marxism] Swaziland disgrace

[Patrick Bond <pbond@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

glparramatta wrote:
> People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) leaders address the 
> situation in Swaziland at http://links.org.au/node/586
>
> 10,000 Swazis protested (a huge demo considering Swaziland's population) 
> on September 3.
>   

And more on Thursday... and it appears Pudemo's recent turn to armed 
struggle is underway:

Bombs explode on eve of Mswati’s bash
Sapa-AFP Published:Sep 05, 2008

TWO explosions went off in Swaziland’s capital, Mbabane, yesterday, on 
the second day of demonstrations to persuade the government to introduce 
democratic reforms and improve workers’ welfare.

A bus and a concrete rubbish bin were damaged in the separate blasts, 
two days ahead of Swaziland’s “40-40” double celebrations to mark 
independence from Britain and King Mswati III’s birthday.

About 10000 protesters marched in Mbabane, a day after demonstrators 
took to the streets in Manzini, the industrial centre of the landlocked 
state, which is Africa’s last absolute monarchy.

A witness who runs a hawker stand at the bus station said smoke billowed 
out of the bus’s windows.

“A loud bang was heard and it was at this stage that we called the 
police,” she told AFP.

Police spokesman Superintendent Vusi Masuku confirmed the bus blast, but 
declined to give further details.

“The marchers were responsible for the blast and we will not rest until 
we get the culprits. For now we can confirm the blast, but we do not 
know whether it was a bomb or another form of explosive,” Masuku said.

March organiser Vincent Ncongwane, of the Swaziland Federation of Labour 
trade union, condemned the use of explosives and bombs.

“None of our members could be associated with these acts and we would 
like to challenge anyone who claims that our members engaged in such 
acts to come and name such a person or people,” Ncongwane said.

A group calling itself Umbane, meaning lightning, has reportedly 
threatened to use force to spoil Saturday’s celebrations.

Local newspaper The Times reported at the weekend that the group — which 
claimed responsibility for two blasts last month — would make sure they 
did not give the ruling elite a chance to celebrate.

The Swaziland government issued a statement yesterday saying that the 
Swazi people would decide on the need for a multi-party system.

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