Conviction of Human Rights Defenders in Swaziland Makes a Mockery of the Rule of Law RFK Center (July 17, 2014 | Washington, DC) The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (Robert F. Kennedy Center) condemned today’s court ruling in Swaziland, which convicted human rights defenders Thulani Maseko and Bheki Makhubu for contempt of court. Maseko, a decorated activist and lawyer, and Makhubu, a prominent editor and journalist, have long been detained for publishing articles that lamented continued threats to judicial independence in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. The two criticized the prosecution of a government vehicle inspector who was arrested after he impounded a vehicle used by a top judge and associate of King Mswati III. In court documents, a judge defined the contempt of court as the violation of the dignity of a judicial body or interfering with the administration of justice, noting that the right to freedom of expression is not absolute. During the trial, which concluded today, the presiding judge disallowed much of the defense testimony and reserved judgment on sentencing “indefinitely,” meaning the two will remain behind bars for the foreseeable future and raising further questions about the independence and fairness of Swaziland’s judicial system. The maximum sentence for their alleged crime carries a 30 day prison term, but the two have already spent over a combined 200 days in detention. This arbitrary decision makes a mockery of justice and deals a severe blow to freedom of expression in Swaziland,” said Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center. “King Mswati III must act swiftly to reaffirm the rule of law in his country and to ensure that his citizens’ fundamental human rights are protected.” On his part, Santiago A. Canton, Executive Director of Robert F. Kennedy partners for Human Rights said “A judicial system that is ready to deny freedom of expression to shield itself from criticism cannot legitimately claim to be administering justice”, and added “Public officials, such as judges and magistrates, by the very nature of their position should be freely scrutinized by the population”. Today’s decision comes in the immediate aftermath of President Obama’s decision to withdraw Swazilands African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) eligibility over rising concerns about human rights abuses. The continued arbitrary arrests and detentions of human rights lawyers, independent journalists and editors, and political activists have demonstrated a brazen disregard for basic legal procedures and human rights in Swaziland. For additional information on the work of the Robert F. Kennedy Center in Swaziland, please see our petition letter we sent to King Mswati III last month, as well as our corresponding press release, which demanded that the monarch immediately release all prisoners of conscience, replace the current Chief Justice, and to take concrete measures to restore the confidence of the Swazi citizenry, including ceasing the unlawful arrest and harassment of members of civil society and the political opposition. ** MEDIA CONTACT Jeffrey Smith Email: [email protected] Tel: 202.463.7575(ext. 254) Twitter: @Smith_RFKennedy
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:11:35 +0000