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The autocratic Mswati regime of Swaziland has once again interfered with the rights of the President of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Comrade Mario Masuku by refusing the COSATU delegation to visit him in prison.

On 2 September 2009 COSATU Mpumalanga Province wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Swaziland, the honourable Themba Dlamini, requesting permission for the COSATU delegation of 20 Provincial Executive Committee members to visit the President of the banned PUDEMO in Swaziland on 16 September 2009.

On receipt of our letter the Prime Minister delegated the responsibility to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Swaziland.

COSATU tried unsuccessfully to get a response from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation until we received a letter on 15 September 2009 denying COSATU the permission to visit Comrade Mario Masuku.

The letter further referred us to the High Commission of the Republic of South Africa Mr. Mampane. On phoning the office of the High Commission we were moved from pillar to post, we spoke to both Mina Komitase (white lady) and Busi Mkhatshwa who all indicated that the High Commission is not available and are not sure as to when he will come back.

We are reliably informed that on the day of our intended visit the Swaziland Police and Soldiers staged roadblocks all over the country interviewing whoever is suspected to be not of Swazi origin. We are further informed that those with a Zulu accent were taken for questioning.

No amount of frivolous suppression, intimidation, harassment or repression will deter us from struggling in solidarity with the people of Swaziland for the unconditional release of comrade Mario Masuku and for a democratic Swaziland.

It is against that background that COSATU vows that should permission not be granted, the COSATU delegations will invade Swaziland and face the brutality of the Swaziland Security forces.

Our next visit is immediately after the COSATU Congress on 29 September 2009.