July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Thursday, July 26, 2001 - Web posted at 09:41:40 GMT

Swazi monarch replaces controversial decree

COLOR="#333333">MBABANE - Swaziland's King Mswati has repealed a controversial decree that tightened his already formidable grip on power and come up with a new one to replace it, the southern African country's premier said yesterday.

The new decree addressed public and diplomatic concerns over the previous one, Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini said, but he could not say what sections had been repealed or when the new one would be issued.

"I cannot single out any section of (the) decree...that has been removed or will be retained in the new decree. People will see for themselves," Dlamini said in a statement.

The US State Department had joined New York-based Human Rights Watch and Swazi pro-democracy groups in condemning the June decree, which enabled the government to ban any book, magazine or newspaper without having to give a reason.

It was issued shortly after the banning of two publications critical of the monarchy.

The decree also made it a criminal offence for anyone to impersonate, ridicule or insult the king.

One of its most draconian clauses abolished bail for people detained for holding unlawful public demonstrations and a number of other politically motivated "crimes".

In a letter to Swaziland's ambassador to the United States, which was printed in Swazi media last week, the US State Department criticised the steps and said that if the decree was not revoked, the country would not be eligible to participate in the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).

The AGOA, singed into law by President Bill Clinton in May 2000, provides African countries with preferential treatment regarding US trade, markets and technical assistance.

"The general public and organisations have responded (to the decree)...these included workers' and employers' representatives and members of the diplomatic community. I am now informing the nation that his majesty has accepted the concerns," Dlamini said. Nampa-Reuters

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