Two people are critically
ill in hospital after police in Swaziland / Eswatini attacked demonstrators.
Police blocked an injured
person from being taken for treatment, local media reported.
The Observer on
Saturday
reported two people were ‘reported critical after some severe
bashing from the no nonsense police security’.
It happened on Friday (29
June 2018) in the kingdom’s capital Mbabane during a protest march to deliver a
petition organised by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) against
government policies.
The Observer reported, ‘Majembeni Thobela, a security guard hired by
the Swaziland Security Services, was one of the marchers who received the worst
beatings and was reportedly left unconscious.’
It added, ‘Thobela was
severely beaten by the police using batons, kicks and fists in a confrontation
which was started by disagreements on which route to take when going to deliver
their petition to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Offices.
‘Police reacted to the
confrontation by spraying water on the marchers using their water cannon.
‘Thobela was left covered
with blood on his face from head injuries.’
The Observer reported, ‘Police watched a helpless Thobela as he talked
until he collapsed in front of their line.
‘First aid was later applied
to him by other marchers immediately after the confrontation had calmed.’
The Swazi
News
reported, ‘the protestors had to push and shove the police who were
blocking them from taking the injured man into the ambulance’.
The Observer reported, ‘The police did not even bother to rush their
victim to hospital despite that he was oozing blood and lay on the floor.’
It added, ‘As the pushing
and shoving for passage to the DPM’s office ensued, a police casspir water
tanker started to spray the protestors and followed with stun grenades when
they saw that the marchers retaliated with stones.’
The marchers ran for safety,
‘with police heavy on their pursuit beating everyone on sight with batons’.
The Observer reported, ‘Other marchers were cornered and severely
assaulted by the police.’
Gcebile Ngcamphalala is
reported to have suffered a fracture when she was whipped by officers whilst
trying to jump over a fence.
There were also reports of police
using rubber bullets and stun grenades against the protestors.
Swaziland Police
spokesperson Assistant Superintend Phindile Vilakati confirmed the incident
which left Thobela oozing with blood, but denied the injury was caused by
police.
The Observer reported Vilakati
saying Thobela’s injury was as a result of the flying stones from the marchers.
‘We don’t carry stones, but
batons. This was an unfortunate incident caused by marchers failing to adhere
to the agreed route. We are at times forced to use minimum force to enforce
compliance with the rules,’ she said.
See also
POLICE FIRE STUN GRENADES AT PROTEST
POLICE SHOOT WOMAN STRIKER IN HEAD
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