ICFTU ONLINE...
251/981118/LD
Head of the Swaziland trade unions arrestedBrussels, November 18 1998 (ICFTU OnLine): Jan Sithole, General Secretary of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) was arrested this morning (November 18) at his home by police officers, says the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, quoting sources in the country.
According to the ICFTU, which immediately sent a message to Prime Minister Barnabus Dlamini demanding his release, Mr. Sithole is being held at the regional police headquarters in Manzini. So far he has not been allowed any contact with his family, his lawyer or his colleagues at the SFTU.
Swaziland, an absolute monarchy, is the only country in Africa that has not yet converted to multiparty democracy. In 1996, King Mswati III (29 years old) promised to restore the Constitution suspended 25 years ago. The country has been governed under the terms of a State of Emergency ever since.
As the organiser of several demonstrations and other forms of action demanding the restoration of democracy, the SFTU has long been a target of the regime. Its leaders have been imprisoned on several occasions and some, including Mr. Sithole, have been the subjects of assassination attempts.
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 155, B - 1210 Brussels, Belgium. For more information
please contact: Luc Demaret on: 00 322 224 0212 - press@icftu.org