<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black">Acting pm flexes his muscles</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Oct 14,2008 00:00 by
ARTHUR MORDAUNT <br>
<span style="mso-no-proof:yes"><img width="158" height="170" src="file:///C:/Users/SAHBIT~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" alt="http://www.times.co.sz/../files/Bhekie-Dlamini.jpg"></span></span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold">@ </span><a href="http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=2204">http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=2204</a>
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">MBABANE – Govern-ment
has banned the planned Southern African Social Forum slated for this week.</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The meeting is scheduled
for October 16-18, 2008.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">In a statement from the
office of the acting head of government, Bheki Dlamini, government says it
would not allow the meeting and should attempts be made to continue with it,
the law will take its course.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:
"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Government claimed to
have heard about the meeting from reliable sources.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black">security</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"From the
information available it is the view of the Swaziland Government that the
hosting of the meeting in the country will not be in the national interest, and
will compromise peace, security and stability of the kingdom of Swaziland.
Consequently, the meting cannot be held in the kingdom. Government wishes to
state that in the unlikely event that the meeting goes ahead despite her
position on this matter, the government will be compelled to apply the law to
its fullest extent," government said.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Government stated that
it would work with and support local and international organisations whose
objectives are in line with the country's aspirations and priorities.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The meeting's objective
was to discuss socio-economic issues affecting the country. Regional and
international guests were expected at the meeting. It was being organised by
organisations that included the Coordinating Assembly for Non- Governmental
Organisations (CANGO), the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and the
country's two labour federations, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions
(SFTU) and the Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL).</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">This is not the first
time government has banned a function. A few months ago, a march by women
groups to protest ritual murders was banned. Recently, the police banned a
memorial service for political activist Craig 'Jack' Govender.</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black">...SFTU shocked, COSATU to consult</span></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">MBABANE – The
organisations behind the meeting have reacted with shock to government's ban of
the meeting.</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Swaziland Federation of
Trade Unions (SFTU) Secretary General Jan Sithole said this was shocking,
particularly because Swaziland chairs the SADC organ on peace and security,
which promotes such issues of good governance.</span><span style="font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">He said government's
actions only demonstrated its unwillingness to conform to democratic principles
as espoused in the bill of rights.</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">While admitting his
shock, CANGO Director Emmanuel Ndlangamandla said he could not comment until he
hears government's reasons for banning the meeting.</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Congress of South
African Trade Unions (COSATU) International Spokesperson Bongani Masuku said
they were yet to consult on government's latest action.</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">COSATU was one of the
international organisations that supported the meeting<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"BauerBodni BT","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>