Human rights are every person’s entitlement

+uman rights are not a privi lege conferred by government. They are every human being¶s entitlement by virtue of his humani ty´ WKH ODWH 0RWKHU 7HUHVD

6ooner or later, it was bound to happen.

/ast week, the (swatini 1ews 6at urday¶s edition carried a very omi nous headline, with an accompany ing article titled, µ86 6enators target sanctions on (swatini individuals...¶

According to the article, four 8nit ed 6tates of America lawmakers from the country¶s upper chamber, filed a resolution to 6enate that seeks, µto facilitate targeted sanc tions against individuals found to have grossly violated human rights in (swatini.¶

The lawmakers also called upon the (swatini *overnment to conduct a, µthorough and transparent investiga tion into the assassination of Thulani Rudolph 0aseko in -anuary .¶

The resolution first gave the secre tary of 6tate, and secretary of treas ury, pointers among others, to what had been, and, is going in the country, like:

+ow advocates for democracy

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in (swatini faced repression, arbitrary arrests, torture, deten tion, including restrictions on political gatherings, freedoms of expression, association, as well restrictions on freedom of the press.

+ow the *overnment of (swatini

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used laws such as 6uppression of Terrorism Act of and the 6edition and 6ubversion Act of

to suppress free speech and criticism of the monarch.

+ow a blanket ban on protests by

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the people who demanded full ad herence to democratic principles resulted in near, complete anar chy, with security forces using excessive force, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of over people how our government conducted arbitrary arrests, and detention of protesters and, how it shut down the internet at the time of the unrests, etcetera, in a crackdown on the protesters that unfolded from Mune to october,

,t also mentioned something ● about the controversial arrests, and incarceration of two 0em bers of 3arliament 03s , who were charged under the 6up pressed of Terrorism Act.

The list of the pointers is Tuite ex tensive, and deeply worrying.

%ut, before , tackle any further this disconcerting subMect, , believe it is of vital importance to understand the importance attached to the adherence to global, human rights values by the superpower, 8nited 6tates of Ameri ca 86A *overnment.

%riefly, and, in part in its official website KWWSV ZZZ VWDWH JRY SRO LF\ LVVXHV KXPDQ ULJKWV DQG GH PRFUDF\ , the *overnment of the 86A states that, Tuote:

“The protection of fundamental human rights was a foundation stone in the establishment of the 8nited 6tates over years ago. 6ince then, a central goal of 86 foreign policy has been the promotion of respect for human rights, as embodied in the 8niversal 'eclaration of +uman Rights.

“6upporting democracy not only promotes such fundamental Ameri can values as religious freedom and worker rights, but also helps create a more secure, stable, and prosperous global arena in which the 8nited 6tates can advance its national in terests.

“,n addition, democracy is the one national interest that helps to secure all the others.

“'emocratically governed nations are more likely to secure the peace, deter aggression, expand open mar kets, promote economic develop ment, protect American citizens, combat international terrorism and crime, uphold human and worker rights, avoid humanitarian crises and refugee flows, improve the global environment, and protect human health...

“The 8nited 6tates uses a wide range of tools to advance a freedom agenda, including bilateral diploma cy, multilateral engagement, foreign assistance, reporting and public out reach, and economic sanctions.

“The 'epartment of 6tate works with democratic partners, interna tional and regional organisations, non governmental organisations, and engaged citizens to support those seeking freedom...´ 8nTuote.

2ur country (swatini, is a very mi nor insignificant player in the global, political arena. ,f truth be told, the country, in terms of global influence, is simply a minnow a nonentity.

DEEPLY CONCERNED

:e are especially, economically a supplicant country, which relies heavily on foreign aid to sustain its economic growth. :e import numerous goods, including food items, and, pharmaceuticals drugs for the healthcare sector, from pow erhouse countries like 6outh Africa and the very 86A, which is deeply concerned about our adherence to human rights.

,t is also very important that as a country, we understand that we are no longer living in an µisland¶, that is, living in isolation, safely cocooned in our own fiefdom, shielded from the international community¶s scrutiny, especially in the manner we govern our people.

Adherence to human rights and, democratic principles are two of the most important concepts, which su perpower countries like the 86A are very fastidious about.

)or years, these superpower coun tries had been urging our government to fix its deplorable record in as far as human rights are concerned but, in vain.

/ocal activists, as well ordinary people had always decried the man ner our government represses the fundamental human rights of the people. All this had more often than not, fallen on deaf ears.

As much as we are Mustified by international law to protect our sov ereignty as a 6tate, including none interference in our internal affairs, we cannot willy nilly do as we please, especially, by aggressively violating with impunity, internationally recog nised, global human rights of citizens.

The 86A, in particular, is a very influential, powerful and colossal, international player in global politics. :hen it snarls or growls, countries are compelled to pay attention.

As much as it is viewed with ab horrence by some countries, the im posing behaviour of the 86A, whom they claim it has no right to act as an µinternational policing country¶, es pecially, by those with deplorable hu man rights records, the glaring fact is that if the 86A conveys its concerns about the undemocratic manner some countries govern their people they better listen, act or.. else.

As much as we claim, and tell who ever cares to listen that we are a µuniTue¶, home brewed democracy, it is important that we understand that we are signatory to numerous, international conventions that protect the fundamental human rights of our citizens.

SUPPRESS HUMAN RIGHTS

,t is also important to understand that much needed aid from donor countries have strings attached.

:e cannot simply beg for aid from powerful, democratic countries like the 86A, while on the other hand, we suppress the human rights of our people. These powerful countries might not act overnight against our country¶s violation of the people¶s human rights, or appear oblivious of what is going on in the country, but, sooner or later, they will demand accountability.

:e can no longer fool or hoodwink the international community that we adhere to globally accepted, human rights concepts. :e¶re living in the golden age of instant communication. :hatever we do is at the bat of an eyelid, communicated to the inter national community.

/et it not escape our attention that we have envoys and embassies in the country representing their various, global countries, many of them who practice true, democratic principles, and, most importantly, some of them feed our hand which unashamedly goes to them, cap in hand, begging for aid.

The 86A is one of the main coun tries who, for decades, had always extended to us much needed aid.

,t is very disheartening at times, to listen to the arrogant responses of our government¶s µerrand boys¶ of the calibre of our so called, government¶s spokespersons, uttering disrespectful, sarcastic and undiplomatic remarks directed to international criticism whenever their responses are sort.

:e are cognisant of the fact that they are singing for their supper, but, hayi mani, they sometimes take it to the extremes.

)or 3ete¶s sake These are powerful, donor countries, and it calls for tact and diplomacy whenever the need to criticise them arises , sometimes wish their handlers could call them to order, at times.

,t is important to understand that nothing that is happening in the country escapes the attention of the various envoys stationed in the coun try. Their ears are constantly on the ground. :e are always under their radar, especially, concerning matters of how we practice human rights.

They report back to their govern ments about undemocratic actions like police brutality, suppressing of fundamental human rights, which may include freedom of speech, ex pression, assembly, and many other human rights.

They have intimate knowledge, for instance, about what took place in the country in -une , , going forward, and, to date. As much as local, political activists might re port human rights violations by our government to such countries, it is important to note that these countries have their own, top notch intelligence about what is going under the noses of their envoys.

, also cringed with concern as , read the contents of the article where it was mentioned that the 86, upper chamber, lawmakers also called for (swatini to convene the national di alogue before the elections scheduled for this year:

CREDIBLE

4uote: “(xpeditiously initiate pre dialogue preparations and an nounce a firm date by which a cred ible, inclusive dialogue on constitu tional and political reform will begin, starting prior to scheduled 6eptember

elections,´

This is the sentiment conveyed by many people in the country, espe cially, those who attend the ongoing, civic and voter education exercise, which is conducted by the (lections and %oundaries &ommission (%& concerning the upcoming elections.

They are adamant that the dialogue should be a priority, with others put ting it succinctly clear that how can the nation go to the polls when there is so much fear, intimidation, and tension engulfing the whole country.

1ow, what are µtargeted sanctions against individuals"¶ :hat are their pros and cons" :ill our µdemocratic¶ government take any positive actions to avoid this ominous threat of tabling the resolution by the four senators"

According to Think Tank, (uropean 3arliament, targeted sanctions are:

“2ne of the tools utilised to address human rights violations. They are also an increasingly prominent tool, especially in the (uropean 8nion¶s foreign policy.

“,nternational sanctions policy is part of a global trend towards indi vidualisation: Rather than affecting the 6tate as a whole, bans nowadays are targeted at individuals identified as responsible for the abuses...´

The 3eterson ,nstitute for ,nterna tional (conomics 3,,( , goes on further to describe targeted sanctions:

µTargeted sanctions¶ or µsmart sanc tions¶, like µsmart bombs¶, are meant to focus their impact on leaders, polit ical elites and segments of society be lieved responsible for obMectionable behaviour, while reducing collateral damage to the general population and third countries.

“*rowing emphasis on the individ ual accountability of those in power for the unlawful acts of states high lighted by the 3inochet case and the %osnian war crimes trials , has made the concept of targeted sanctions all the more attractive...´

:hat form do some targeted sanc tions take"

3,,( elaborates, these targeted measures could be arms embargo, travel bans, asset freezes.

“Arms embargoes are targeted in the sense that their purpose is to bend military and political leaders by denying them access to weapons and other military eTuipment, while sparing the civilian population.

“Travel or aviation bans fall into two categories: Restrictions on all air travel to and from a target country, and restrictions on the travel of targeted individuals, groups or entities. ,n the case of restrictions on air travel to and from a target country, or areas under control of targeted groups the assumption is that the flight ban will affect people in power substantially more than the gen eral population. Travel bans and visa restrictions against individ uals not only avoid the possible humanitarian impacts of broader travel restrictions, but also are useful in denying legitimacy to political leaders, military officials and their supporters...

“Asset or financial freezes of tar geted individuals: These include measures such as a freeze on foreign assets of specifically des ignated individuals, 6tate owned companies and governments.´

TARGETED SANCTIONS

)inally, do such targeted sanctions normally work" :ell...,¶m no author ity on the subMect. :e will only know when, and if the resolution is adopted, won¶t we, dear reader"

0y take on the whole, targeted sanctions conundrum"

:ell, for starters, , would sincerely urge our government to consider seri ously the seriousness of the intended action by the 86A lawmakers. 2ur government, as much as it appears confident, conceited, and, unim pressed by the intended action, needs to put side its haughty attitude aside, and avoid such scrutiny by improving its human rights record.

:ithout any shadow of doubt, the country had long been on the radar of the international community. :e need to avoid as much as it possible the international community ganging up against us.

2nce the international commu nity begins imposing international sanctions, it would be curtains for the country. 6anctions individually targeted or not are anathema to the ordinary man on the street. ,t is the rank, and file who would be adversely affected.

Adherence to human rights by gov ernments is vital. :e are a country torn apart by serious, political, and socioeconomic divisions. There is mounting hatred for authority. 3eo ple are fed up with the manner we are governed. There is dire poverty, corruption, economic woes largely affecting the ordinary man on the streets. 3eople cannot freely exercise their human rights.