Civil unrest in USA’s eyes... ... Prince Simelane’s fire fight with fire statement cited
MBABANE –The statement by Prince Simelane that security forces should ‘fight fire with fire’ has been recorded in the United
States.
Prince Simelane is the Minister of Housing and Urban Development. According to a report on human rights practices in Eswatini, the minister also announced that cities and towns in the country should cease approving requests for gatherings and protests. It is stated in the report, which Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, tabled on April 12, 2022, that several national demonstrations and community meetings and rallies occurred without incident, including marches to deliver petitions.
However, the US Government’s report states that on June 24, Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku announced the suspension of the delivery of petitions and protests, citing COVID-19 regulations and the abuse of the law.
It is mentioned that Masuku pointed out that the ‘full might of the law’ would come to anyone who violated this order, and that there would be ‘zero tolerance’ for those who disregarded the law. William Dlamini, the National Commissioner of Police, was also cited. He is said to have followed suit, stating ‘this is war’ when describing the need to ban petition deliveries.
“In July, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane, declared that security forces would ‘fight fire with fire’. On October 21, he announced that cities and towns in the country should cease approving requests for gatherings and protests,” reads the report, which is an official document and reference for human rights practices in Eswatini.
UNPRECEDENTED
In its recollections, the US Government said in late June and early July, the country experienced unprecedented civil unrest, following the banning of the petition deliveries, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Americans referred to the incidence that was widely reported in the country, in that, the unrest was marked by violence, looting, arson and large-scale destruction of property.
They said in October, the civil unrest again sparked protests, resulting in at least one fatality and dozens of injuries. During the unrest, the US Government reported that the military was deployed to restore order, and the government disrupted internet service. It is said that the government acknowledged that there were 34 fatalities from civil unrest in June/July, but other groups reported much higher numbers.
The US Government mentioned in the report that there were credible reports that security forces used excessive force when responding to the unrest. During the civil unrest in June/July the Government of the United States referred to civil society and local media reports, which stated that security and police forces killed dozens of people.
In July, it is reported that the national commissioner of the police stated that 34 individuals had lost their lives during the unrest, but civil society organisations reported higher numbers of deaths.
In October 2021, the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration (CHRPA), a semi-autonomous government body, released a preliminary assessment specifically reviewing events on June 28-29. CHRPA is said to have verified 46 deaths due to the unrest, although the report stated that “this figure does not rule out the possibility of more deaths,” citing swift funerals and the possibility of unregistered fatalities. CHRPA also verified that a total of 245 persons sustained gunshot injuries, including 17 children, 17 women, and two elderly persons.
ASSESSMENT
The Commission could not verify if injuries were the result of rubber bullets or live rounds of ammunition. CHRPA’s assessment stated that lethal force was used indiscriminately on protesters and members of the public who were not engaged in protests, as demonstrated by the death of children and women, and the injuries sustained by victims on the upper body, such as head, abdomen and spinal area, the US Government reported. Americans said internal investigations by Royal Eswatini Police Service and the military were still pending as of year’s end. It is said that the Government of Eswatini maintained that security forces took appropriate measures to restore law and order.
In September 2021, Sizwe Shoulder, who lost his mother during the unrest, allegedly due to complications after she was beaten by soldiers, initiated
court proceedings against Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini, alleging that his mother was deprived of her right to life.
On October 20, 2021, at least one person was killed and 80 others were wounded by security forces during a second round of the unrest, according to media reports and civil society.
In addition, the Government of the Great Nation reported that media and witnesses mentioned that police stopped two buses carrying protesters and deployed tear gas inside the buses.
They pointed out that those on the bus could be seen in video footage jumping from the bus windows as oncoming cars swerved to avoid them. They said gun shots could also be heard in the video footage, and protesters alleged that police shot at them with rubber bullets as they ran to escape the tear gas. At least one protester was shot with a rubber bullet in the face, according to local media.
Pertaining to torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, the United States Government alleged that there were numerous reports that security forces employed such practices.
This is despite the fact that the law in Eswatini prohibits police from inflicting, instigating, or tolerating torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment.
VIOLENCE
The law also provides for disciplinary action against officers who use violence or unnecessary force, or who intimidate prisoners or others with whom they have contact in the execution of their duties.
During the year under review, the USG said there were several reports of police brutality, towards those alleged to have violated curfews that were imposed during the unrest and continued under the auspices of COVID-19 responses.
They referred to media articles and civil society reports, to the effect that security forces beat citizens on the buttocks and elsewhere for breaking curfew. They said there was also a report that soldiers forced a group of boys to eat raw meat that they were preparing to cook.
Tengetile Khumalo, the Public Relations Officer of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), said the issue was outside the army’s ambit, urged this newspaper to contact relevant structures who were better positioned to respond to such allegations.
Thabile Mdluli, the Deputy Government Press Secretary, had not, at the time of going to press reverted to this publication as she had promised to do so. Prince Simelane was engaged throughout the week and it was not possible to get hold of him.
Referring to the media reports, the USG said these boys were within the confines of their homestead, but were gathered after curfew.
It is stated in the report that there were numerous reports of police brutality during drug raids in Lavumisa and Hosea, including one report in August of a pregnant woman who was beaten badly by police and subsequently miscarried.
Thomas Nhlanhla Tsabedze, whose leg was amputated after being shot in the June unrest, sued the government after police officers in August allegedly kicked his amputated leg stump repeatedly until the stiches broke open.
In October, 60 workers from the Swaziland Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union claimed that soldiers stopped them from travelling to a planned protest march, beat them and forced them to roll in the mud.
It is mentioned that there were isolated reports throughout the country of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment by ‘community police’, untrained volunteer security personnel who exist outside the country’s formal legal structures and are empowered by rural communities to act as vigilantes, patrolling against rural crimes such as cattle rustling.
In September 2021, it is said that a community police officer allegedly shot a man in the leg. The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) reported that they initiated an investigation into the matter.
SECURITY FORCES IMPUNITY
The US Government said impunity was a problem in the security forces. It is stated in the report that His Majesty’s Correctional Services, REPS and UEDF had internal mechanisms to investigate alleged wrongdoing and apply disciplinary measures.
However, Americans said the reliability of such internal mechanisms remained unclear, although members of these forces had been investigated, prosecuted and convicted.
Where impunity existed, it is said that it was generally attributable more to inefficiency than politicisation or corruption, although the latter remained legitimate concerns.
Security forces employed training modules to help promote respect for human rights.
The United States Government went on to make ALLEGATIONS THAT SIGNIfiCANT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES INCLUDED CREDIBLE REPORTS OF –
Unlawful or arbitrary killings by the government;
Cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government;
Political detainees;
Serious problems with the independence of the judiciary;
Serious restrictions on free expression and media, including an allegation of violence against foreign journalists;
Serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly;
Restrictions on freedom of movement;
Serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation;
Existence of the worst forms of child labour; It is also alleged that the government was inconsistent in its investigation, prosecution and punishment of officials, who allegedly committed human rights abuses or for government corruption.