Contents
- UN Special Rapporteur Says Israel is Committing Apartheid
- WFTU statement on the International Day for the elimination of racial discriminations
- Iran’s Support to Venezuela, Cuba Undermines US Sanctions
- Mswati’s police claim to have lost docket on political activists’ politically charged case, now desperate to secretly withdraw case
- Communist Party of Swaziland
- Femicide rears its ugly head again in Swaziland as boyfriend stabs first year university student to death
- EXPOSED: State intelligence documents reveal police operational order to disperse incarcerated pro-democracy MPs supporters
- Venezuelan Govt To Increase Flights for Return of Venezuelan
UN Special Rapporteur Says Israel is Committing Apartheid
March 23, 2022
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Michael Lynk has submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council, concluding that the situation in occupied Palestine amounts to apartheid, Amnesty International reported in its website.
According to Amnesty, Lynk’s report analyzes the current human rights situation in occupied Palestine and finds that Israeli Jews and Palestinians live “under a single regime which differentiates its distribution of rights and benefits on the basis of national and ethnic identity, and which ensures the supremacy of one group over, and to the detriment of, the other.”
The report, Amnesty noted, highlights how Israel “endows one racial-national-ethnic group with substantial rights, benefits and privileges while intentionally subjecting another group to live behind walls, checkpoints and under a permanent military rule”, and concludes that this “satisfies the prevailing evidentiary standard for the existence of apartheid”.
Commenting on the report, Saleh Higazi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said:
On February 1, Amnesty released its own report, which labels Israel an ‘apartheid state’. The report calls for Israel to be held accountable for its practices against Palestinians.
The 280-page document, entitled ‘Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity’, outlines how the Israeli state segregates and controls Palestinians in order to maintain Jewish hegemony.
(The Palestine Chronicle) Reference
WFTU statement on the International Day for the elimination of racial discriminations
21 Mar 2022
The World Federation of Trade Unions honors the International day for the elimination of racial discriminations on March 21, which this years finds the world amidst the war in Ukraine. We hold out our hand to all the uprooted, whether they come from Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, whatever country is living the horrors of imperialist war. Racial discrimination and other types of discrimination are created and kept alive by the monopolies, the transnational corporations, the imperialist mechanisms and the reactionary governments in order to divide workers and safeguard the interests of the capital, maintaining class exploitation.
All workers, whether they are foreigners or locals are class brothers and our struggles are common, no matter the nationality, race, color of skin or religion are. The WFTU calls upon the international working class, to keep expressing its solidarity with immigrants and refugees, especially now, when imperialist wars and aggression have created huge waves of refugees. We intensify the struggle against the real cause of this situation, the capitalist system that generates poverty, wars and racial discrimination.
The world’s militant trade union movement denounces all forms of discriminations and demands universal access to public and high quality healthcare, to dignified work and education for all workers, migrants and refugees and their families. All workers united, independently of their origin, color, language, religion etc, through their trade unions and with internationalist solidarity, must develop common struggles for the fulfillment of their contemporary needs, against exploitation, imperialist wars, racism and xenophobia.
Iran’s Support to Venezuela, Cuba Undermines US Sanctions
25 March 2022
The head of the U.S. Southern Command admits that Iran's support for Cuba and Venezuela has undermined the effect of Washington's sanctions against these countries.
US General Laura Richardson, head of the Southern Command, in a session before Congress, stressed Thursday that Iran is expanding its economic and security relationships with Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela, allowing it to defy sanctions by Washington and its allies.
Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Richardson indicated that "Iran expanded economic and security cooperation with Venezuela, Cuba, and Bolivia through fuel transfers, barter, basic foodstuffs and military assistance, reducing the effects of U.S. sanctions."
Gen. Richardson specified that Iran's support through the exchange of goods has been particularly important in helping the Venezuelan government, presided by Nicolás Maduro, to evade sanctions.
Venezuela and Iran, two countries united by a common vision of international relations and victims of coercive measures by the United States and its allies, have had diplomatic ties for over 70 years. These ties became of strategic relevance with the arrival of the late Commander Hugo Chávez to power in Venezuela in 1999, who built a bridge between their revolutions, the Bolivarian (of Venezuela) and the Islamic (of Iran).
Within the framework of the Tehran-Caracas strategic alliance, Iran sent tankers loaded with gasoline and additives to Venezuela to supply the South American nation, plunged into a severe fuel shortage as a result of illegal U.S. coercive measures.
Likewise, Havana and Tehran, after the triumph of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, maintain a strategic alliance and bilateral cooperation ties in energy, housing, trade, industry, education, agriculture, science and technology, and culture, among other sectors.
Both countries have supported each other in different circumstances and condemned the aggressive measures of U.S. imperialism against them.
ReferenceMswati’s police claim to have lost docket on political activists’ politically charged case, now desperate to secretly withdraw case
Communist Party of SwazilandWednesday 23 March 2022:- Mswati’s police claim to have lost the docket relating to Comrade Bafanabakhe Sacolo and Comrade Sethu Mavimbela who were arrested on 21 May 2021.
Since they have no case against the comrades, the royal police are now desperate to secretly withdraw the case against them in bid to save the ruling regime from embarrassment.
Comrade Bafanabakhe and Comrade Sethu were charged with malicious damage to property, in which the royal police claimed they had vandalised and burnt a police station in Manzini during the #JusticceForThabani campaign.
Bafanabakhe Sacolo was the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Union of Students and a student at the University of Swaziland at the time of arrest, while Sethu Mavimbela is a student at the Limkokwing University.
After enduring about 10 months of regularly reporting to the police station as per bail conditions, enduring financial losses due to long travels, regularly attending court cases, suffering academically, enduring police surveillance, among others, the police have discovered that they have no case against the two comrades.
Commenting shortly after the police’s disclosure in Manzini today, Comrade Bafanabakhe Sacolo said, “The police have been claiming over the months that they are waiting for footage to prove the case. Our case has been postponed repeatedly. This is in addition to spending six days in police cells and maximum prison in Matsapha following arrest. After all this, the police claim they have lost the docket. It is clear that they never had a case against us.”
Comrade Sethu Mavimbela stated that despite the losses they have suffered due to the long case, they are still relentless on the call for democracy. He demonstrated the financial and psychological challenges the case has brought upon them.
The CPS calls for unity of all the democratic forces to intensify the struggle for freedom in our country under the “Democracy Now” campaign.
CPS PRESS SERVICES Reference
Communist Party of Swaziland
Update on police kidnap of CPS member Bongi Nkambule: Police heavily assaulted him all over the body, confiscated his phone and dumped him late at night
Thursday 24 March 2022:- Yesterday, around 13:00, Mswati's police kidnapped a member of the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS), Bongi Nkambule (33), heavily assaulted him and dumped him very late at night just outside the capital city Mbabane.
After the over 40 police threw him into the truck they were travelling in, they held him down and proceeded to assault him with their batons for what appeared to be for eternity, targeting particularly his buttocks, thighs, legs and arms.
They also hit him countless times under his feet and on the head, with some pulling his hair as they hurled insults at him.
Speaking this morning before receiving medical attention at the Mbabane government hospital, Comrade Bongi said, “As the police were assaulting me, they accused me and the CPS of burning a police camp in Mbabane. They also complained about the CPS’s Sunset Rallies and the rallies the party has been leading in Msunduza township and the various communities across the country.”
After the assault, the police held him at the Mbabane police station and interrogated him until very late at night. They further denied him his right to a phone call and to speak to a lawyer.
The police confiscated his cellphone, forced him to unlock it, but could not find anything incriminating. The cellphone remains with the police. They claimed they will be conducting forensic investigations on it.
Later, in the thick of the night, the police dumped him just outside the city, near the police camp, about three kilometres away from home in Msunduza township.
“With the exhaustion and swollen feet, I found it extremely difficult to walk all the way home, and the worst thing is that my security was still not guaranteed as I had to pass next to the police camp which is always littered with violent police,” added Bongi.
Since his cellphone remains with the police, as a self-employed father of three he is unable to do business and bring food for his children. He is also unable to get money for his medication as government hospitals have run out of medication. Most medication must be purchased from pharmacies.
Comrade Bongi’s kidnap and assault was among other acts of police violence on protesters yesterday. Police assaulted dozens more protesters in Mbabane on the same day.
The CPS has been under heavy attack from the regime's security forces for some time now. On Sunday, they kidnapped the children of one of our organisers, while also pursuing CPS comrades who were leading rallies at Lubulini community in the eastern part of Swaziland.
The latest acts of police violence prove once again that Mswati is unwilling to dialogue with the people regarding the democratisation of the country. The regime has reached untold levels of paranoia and will do anything to hold on to power.
The CPS calls for justice for all victims of police brutality in Swaziland. The CPS will continue organising its Sunset Rallies to build community councils for the waging and defence of the revolution.
The CPS also calls for the widest possible unity among the oppressed people of Swaziland with the aim of totally removing the autocracy and democratising the country.
CPS PRESS SERVICES
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Contacts:
Thokozane Kenneth Kunene
General Secretary
(+27)72 594 3971
Pius Vilakati
International Secretary
(+27)81 353 3383
Email: cpswa.org@gmail.com
Facebook: Communist Party Of Swaziland – CPS
Twitter: @CPSwaziland
Reference
Femicide rears its ugly head again in Swaziland as boyfriend stabs first year university student to death
Communist Party of Swaziland
Tuesday 22 March 2022:- Nonduduzo Mabuza, a Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) first year student studying Primary Teacher’s Diploma, was on Friday 18 March 2022 stabbed to death by her boyfriend.
The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) reiterates its stance that there is no excuse for the murder of women, even if the man supports her in whatever way.
The CPS reminds the people of our country that, while it is prudent to call for swift legal action upon violators, the end of all forms of violence against women will be possible when the patriarchal system has been totally removed from society.
For the removal of patriarchy, we must unite and fight against the deeply patriarchal tinkhundla system and for the democratisation of the country.
Although information on the incident’s details is quite bleak, it has been confirmed by the institution’s Students Representative Council that Nonduduzo was rushed to the RFM Hospital in Manzini where she then lost her life.
Speaking to the CPS’s Women Commission Secretary, Sandzisile Mnisi, the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) Gender Secretary condemned such acts of gender-based violence on women by their partners.
“The country has long been ignoring our laments on gender-based violence and this act of ignorance on these issues has to come to an end,” said the SNUS gender secretary.
The boyfriend in question is said to have handed himself over to the police after murdering Nonduduzo. To this very hour, neither the police nor the government have issued a statement addressing this issue or even communicating on what is being done with regards to this case.
The latest femicide incident proves once again that Swazi society still has a long way to go in eradicating the issue of gender-based violence among communities. Women are still the primary victims of gender-based violence, and men are the prime perpetrators.
The CPS Women’s Commission condemns such behaviour and calls upon all women and men to unite and fight against gender-based violence. The struggle for the emancipation of women is in our hands and it begins now, with each one of us playing a part. The democratisation of Swaziland will not be complete without the total emancipation of women.
CPS PRESS SERVICES
EXPOSED: State intelligence documents reveal police operational order to disperse incarcerated pro-democracy MPs supporters
Tuesday, 22nd March, 2022
By Zweli Martin Dlamini
MBABANE: A bundle of State intelligence documents obtained by this publication’s investigation unit exposes an operational order by King Mswati’s police to ensure that protestors are not allowed to gather at the High Court this week in support of incarcerated pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.
A police operation order is a highly confidential State document outlining a strategy to be used during an intended operation, it includes the types of resources required,the chain of command and the implementation methods.
Now, it has emerged that the State intelligence documents including the operational order in possession of this Swaziland News was allegedly prepared by the Police Executive Command and signed by Deputy National Commissioner Manoma V Masango on behalf of National Commissioner William Tsintsibala Dlamini.
“The operation will be under the strategic command of Mr. R.S. Mngometulu S/DNCP Chief Operations and Frontline Policing Services Officer on behalf of the National Commissioner of Police.
Mr. M.V. Masango DNCP Director General Operations and Territorial Policing assisted by acting Senior Operations Officer, Mr. R. D. Fakudze S/Supt will be overall in command of the operation. Mr. M. Ntshalintshali ANCP, Director General Intelligence Services assisted by Mr. V. Mkhabela ACP will be responsible for matters pertaining to internal state security. The department will also assist the operation with up-to-the-minute information so that commanders take informed decisions,” reads the operational order in part.
Critical State intelligence documents in our possession further expose that the operational order was developed by a team of senior police officers as per the recommendations from the Intelligence Unit.
It is alleged that on or about 22nd February 2022, King Mswati, the Police Commander-in Chief summoned National Commissioner and ordered him to among others, ensure that supporters of the MPs were dispersed at the High Court on the basis that 'these gatherings create an impression in the eyes of the international community that the MPs enjoyed huge political support from the people.
Reached for comments, Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) described the operational plan of the police as illegal and urged citizens across the country to immediately engage in another disruption wherever they were if they were blocked from gathering at the High Court to support their incarcerated Members of Parliament(MPs).
“This affirms the position suggesting that Government does not operate in accordance with the law, because this whole operation is illegal and has no legal instrument, not withstanding that it is violating basic human rights,” he said.
The PUDEMO Secretary General said institutions of the State were being used by politicians for political purposes adding that there was no legal instrument from the court of law empowering the police to implement this operational order.
“We are calling all Swazis to at least make their way to Mbabane, but also, Swazis wherever they are,they must engage in another disruption of whatever form. The State is disrupting our lives, we are supposed to go to court and support our MPs, it is disrupting that. So if now, everybody engages in an illegal activity, what must the citizens do?” said the PUDEMO Secretary General.
Questions were sent to William Tsintsibala Dlamini, the National Commissioner of Police about the operational order, however, he had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
But a high level independent investigation by this Swaziland News further uncovered that the operational order would act as a guiding operational method from the 22nd-25th March 2022, these are dates where the MPs would be appearing in court.
The list of police officers who would be on duty during the operation from the Executive Command to the junior ranks are listed in the State documents, part of the information contained in the other intelligence documents cannot be revealed for now pending further investigations.
King Mswati, one of the world’s remaining absolute Monarchies rules eSwatini as a dictator with Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers.
Political parties are banned from participating in elections and dozens of civilians have been killed by soldiers and the police merely for protesting in demand for democratic reforms while pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) and human rights defenders are jailed.
A cover of the police operational order
Venezuelan Govt To Increase Flights for Return of Venezuelans
24 March 2022
The Venezuelan government announced that it would increase humanitarian flights to continue returning its nationals abroad, as seen in a message on the Twitter account of the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Felix Plasencia.
"On behalf of President Nicolás Maduro, we are committed to tripling the Return to the Homeland Plan flights, launching the second consecutive day, with destination Peru, to continue returning Venezuelan nationals and filling more Venezuelan homes with joy," the Venezuelan official published on Twitter.
A total of 254 Venezuelans returned to the country on Thursday as part of the state program called "Plan Vuelta a la Patria," an initiative developed by Maduro's administration to guarantee the free return to Venezuela of Venezuelans in vulnerable situations.
Coming from Peru, a plane of the Venezuelan Consortium of Aeronautical Industries and Air Services (Conviasa) arrived at the International Airport of Maiquetía, Simón Bolívar, in the state of La Guaira (north) at 15.44 local time (19.44 GMT), with the group of repatriated people.
According to information published on the official web page of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, Greidimar Doria, one of the beneficiaries on this second day, said that returning to her country is a dream.
"Thanks to this initiative, we have achieved our dream to set foot on Venezuelan soil for our son to grow up with his family," said Doria.
This is the second repatriation flight from Lima this year, the first was on Wednesday and in it, more than 250 Venezuelans arrived. At the same time, last March 22, another 97 migrants returned to their country from Ecuador.
Since 2018, the Venezuelan government implemented the plan back to the homeland; according to government authorities, more than 28,000 Venezuelans have returned.
On March 15, President Nicolás Maduro denounced the bias of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and accused it of producing false figures on Venezuelan migration.
In addition, he qualified as a lie the figure published by UNHCR, which states that more than six million Venezuelans left the country in the last eight years.
The Venezuelan government said that the migration of Venezuelan citizens had been caused by the sanctions of the United States and the European Union, which have hit its economy and caused the devaluation of its currency and, therefore, its purchasing power.
Issued by NEHAWU International Service Centre
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