Global Day of Action to Free Maxwell and All Political Prisoners [Sept. 5th 2011]

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(ISM-Africa)

This call was initiated by activists on the International Student Movement - Africa (ISM-Africa) platform.

We call upon all students, student bodies, human rights groups and all concerned organisations and individuals to lobby for the urgent and unconditional release of Maxwell Dlamini (President of the Swaziland National Union of Students) and all political prisoners. Maxwell was detained on April 12th on false accusations that he was in possession of explosives, yet it is clear that his detention arose from his active involvement in fighting for student rights against a scholarship policy that the Swazi government drafted independently without the input of students whose futures are at stake.
Maxwell wrote his examinations in May behind bars and passed his Diploma in Commerce. He is now supposed to automatically enroll in a degree programme, however he is academically frustrated since he is in prison.

Among others the National Congress for Democratic Change Youth Assembly (NACODEC Youth Assembly) demands his urgent release since all charges are false and the state has failed to prove its case. Maxwell must enjoy his right to education and we demand his unconditional release.

OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS: The Swazi government currently holds five political prisoners. These courageous freedom figthers are kept imprisoned by the government simply because they have been part of the struggle for democracy and human rights, as well as social and economic progress for the people of Swaziland.
These activists and leaders have been routinely tortured and denied access to family members and friends. Their health is deteriorating each day and they are denied proper medical assistance. They are held on trumped up charges because the government considers their activism for democracy and freedom a danger to the rule of King Mswati III. The rule of law protects only the selected few in Swaziland. Our comrades held in prison by the government have no rights.

This Global Day of Action calls for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Swaziland and around the world, as well as for concerted action to prevent more activists being detained as the struggle for democracy and freedom continues.
The government denies that it has political prisoners. It also denies that there are political exiles living abroad. It lies continuously and blantantly in an effort to appear reasonable and fair. At the same time the government presides while constantly oppressing the Swazi people through enforced poverty and degradation as well as the denial of democratic, social and economic rights. Those who campaign against this vile injustice are persecuted by the state.

We call on all progressive organisations, youths and concerned people around the world to march to Swaziland embassies/consulates on September 5th 2011 in their region to add their voices to demand the immediate release of Maxwell Dlamini and all political prisoners. Of course alternative forms of action are also welcome, if you have no embassy/consulate of Swaziland near you.This must be a first step towards unbanning progressive political movements in Swaziland and around the world. This Global Day of Action also pushes for the protected right of the people to free assembly and guarantee a safe return for exiles.

Turning Global Solidarity into Reality!

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