Four senior members of Swaziland’s two daily newspapers, “Times of Swaziland” Director Paul Loffler and Editor Mashumi Twala, and “Swazi Observer” Managing Director Jeremiah Gule and Managing Editor Cyril Dhlamini, have been released on bail of R1000 each after being charged with contravening the Books and Newspapers Act for publishing and printing their respective newspapers […]
Four senior members of Swaziland’s two daily newspapers, “Times
of Swaziland” Director Paul Loffler and Editor Mashumi Twala, and
“Swazi Observer” Managing Director Jeremiah Gule and Managing
Editor Cyril Dhlamini, have been released on bail of R1000 each
after being charged with contravening the Books and Newspapers
Act for publishing and printing their respective newspapers since
1963 without certificates of registration. The trial will
commence on 21 June.
The decision on the part of the Director of Public Prosecutions,
Adinkra Donkoh, to institute an urgent application against the
newspapers appears to be an act of political intimidation since
the newspapers have been publishing since 1963 under these
conditions. While Donkoh did not oppose bail when the four men
appeared in court, he did argue that further publication of the
newspapers should cease until the outcome of the trial.
Magistrate Steven Collins, however, refused to prohibit
publication of the newspapers, saying that to do so would be like
“passing sentence without leading any evidence.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Swaziland authorities:
newspapers
such arbitrary actions which in turn impinge on the freedom of
speech and freedom of the press
Appeals To
Rt Hon. Prince Mbilini
Prime Minister of Swaziland
PO Box 395
Mbabane, Swaziland
Fax: +268 43943
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
