Wednesday, September 7, 2011

POLICE FIRE TEARGAS ON PROTESTERS

Reports coming out of Swaziland are that protestors and by-standers have been injured by police teargas as the Global Week of Action entered day three today (7 September 2011).

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), a banned political party in Swaziland, reports serious confrontation between the police and marchers in Siteki, a small town in eastern Swaziland. Police are said to have fired teargas at demonstrators.

Reports are confused, but it is said that many protestors and other people going about their business have been injured.

PUDEMO, a banned political party in Swaziland, says 2,000 people marched in Siteki another 1,000 protested in Nhlangano, in the south of Swaziland.

In Manzini, the kingdom’s main business city, there was also a reported stand-off with the police refusing to allow a march to continue.

A reported 3,000 students from the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) also marched to the offices of the Ministry of Education in the capital, Mbabane. They are protesting about the Swazi Government cuts in student allowances.

An early report from the scene said students blocked important roads in Mbabane. A later report said seven students and two bystanders had been injured by police teargas.

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