MANZINI - Police in Swaziland yesterday fired water cannons and tear gas, beat people with batons and arrested activists to prevent pro-democracy protests in sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy.
Yesterday's protests come exactly 38 years after the Swazi king's father, King Sobhuza II, banned political parties and abandoned the country's constitution.
Simantele Mmema, spokesperson for the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, said yesterday that police dispersed more than 1000 workers who were singing and chanting peacefully at a teachers' training centre in Manzini.
Mmema said teachers left the centre for Manzini's Freedom Square, where the march was scheduled to take place. Protesters and passers-by fled the tear gas, leaving the usually bustling streets of Manzini deserted.
Police spokesperson Wendy Hleta said she could not confirm that police fired on protesters at the training centre, but said police fired tear gas elsewhere in Manzini after people threw stones that injured two officers.
More than 150 Swazi police guarded the square where protesters had planned to demonstrate. Outside the square, police kept watch on the streets.
Swazi activists said police arrested nine labour and pro-democracy leaders. With political parties banned, the labour movement has become a key platform for pro-democracy activists.
Hleta said the union leaders were being questioned over threats they made to overthrow the government .
Thuli Makama, director of the Swaziland Legal Assistance Centre, said police were blocking people and buses from travelling between towns. "They are in every corner of the country," she said.
Activists said police were also barring students at the University of Swaziland from leaving the campus.
Cops beat up protesters
MANZINI - Police in Swaziland yesterday fired water cannons and tear gas, beat people with batons and arrested activists to prevent pro-democracy protests in sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy.
Yesterday's protests come exactly 38 years after the Swazi king's father, King Sobhuza II, banned political parties and abandoned the country's constitution.
Simantele Mmema, spokesperson for the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, said yesterday that police dispersed more than 1000 workers who were singing and chanting peacefully at a teachers' training centre in Manzini.
Mmema said teachers left the centre for Manzini's Freedom Square, where the march was scheduled to take place. Protesters and passers-by fled the tear gas, leaving the usually bustling streets of Manzini deserted.
Police spokesperson Wendy Hleta said she could not confirm that police fired on protesters at the training centre, but said police fired tear gas elsewhere in Manzini after people threw stones that injured two officers.
More than 150 Swazi police guarded the square where protesters had planned to demonstrate. Outside the square, police kept watch on the streets.
Swazi activists said police arrested nine labour and pro-democracy leaders. With political parties banned, the labour movement has become a key platform for pro-democracy activists.
Hleta said the union leaders were being questioned over threats they made to overthrow the government .
Thuli Makama, director of the Swaziland Legal Assistance Centre, said police were blocking people and buses from travelling between towns. "They are in every corner of the country," she said.
Activists said police were also barring students at the University of Swaziland from leaving the campus.