The World says…about Mario's arrest

The World says…about Mario's arrest
Swazi News
Nov 22, 2008

Siteki, Swaziland - Swaziland opposition leader Mario Masuku was charged on Monday with terrorism and remanded in police custody, court officials said.

Masuku, leader of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), was arrested last Saturday as part of a crackdown under the country's anti-terrorism laws.
He made no plea at the magistrates' court in Siteki, about 180 kilometres (115 miles) east of the capital Mbabane, as he made his first appearance before the judges, according to an AFP reporter at the hearing.

His case will come up on November 24 at the High Court of Swaziland, the officials said. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy and political organisations have been banned since 1973. The king makes all key government appointments.

King Mswati III, who ascended the throne at age 18, has the power to appoint the prime minister, the legislature and the judiciary. Masuku, 56, a vocal campaigner for multi-party democracy, was arrested in the mid 1980s for treason, a case he later won on appeal.

Swaziland is one of Africa's poorest countries, with one of the world's highest HIV rates, and some have blamed the state's spending for draining Swazi-land's finances.
A series of small bomb blasts have rattled the country in recent months. The banned Umbane People's Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

New York Times, United States of America
Mario Masuku, an opposition leader in Swaziland, which bans political parties, was charged with terrorism on Monday after his arrest over the past weekend.

He entered no plea in a court in Siteki and was remanded to police custody.

Masuku, a champion of multiparty democracy, was charged with making statements encouraging the bombing of government property, the BBC reported.

News 24- South Africa
Mbabane - Police have arrested a Swaziland opposition leader as part of a crackdown under the country's anti-terrorism laws, his family said last Sunday.

People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) leader Mario Masuku was arrested last Saturday and was being held in eastern Swaziland 180km from the capital, his son, Mzwandile, told AFP.

Police raided their home just outside Mbabane on the pretext that their father was a terrorist, he said. "My father is expected to appear in court on Monday morning," he said.

Swaziland is Africa's last monarchy. Political organisations in Swaziland have been banned since 1973, and the king makes all key government appointments.

His country is one of Africa's poorest, with one of the world's highest HIV rates, and some have blamed the state's spending for draining Swaziland's finances. The banned Umbane People's Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for several bomb blasts in the country in recent months.