Mbabane — If found guilty, 13 members of a banned political party may face the death penalty after being charged with high treason in connection with a string of fire bombings against government targets.
The latter half of 2005 saw nearly a dozen bombings that targeted the homes of police officers, government officials and government buildings. Damage was minimal and no injuries were sustained, and to date no one has claimed responsibility.
"We are trying to establish if there is any direct evidence linking the suspects to the bombings," said Mario Masuku, president of the outlawed political organisation, People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).
The 13 arrested men, who allegedly belong to PUDEMO or its youth wing, the Swaziland Youth Congress, have pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and malicious damage to government property.
Government prosecutors have requested that the accused be held without bail while investigations continue. A bail hearing will be held this week.
Organised political opposition groups were banned by royal decree in 1973 by King Sobhuza, father of currently reigning King Mswati III. It is uncertain whether a new constitution, due to go into effect later this month, will lift the ban on political parties.
Marches and gatherings of a political nature are also prohibited and police are uncomfortable with any form of public demonstration. On Wednesday a march by rural women to protest against local criminal activity that had led to the death of a school headmistress was banned, but police did permit the women to hold a prayer meeting for the deceased instead.
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It is not known whether there is any forensic evidence placing the accused at the sites of the bombings. In court prosecutors produced PUDEMO pamphlets found in the possession of some of the accused, claiming this was evidence of a desire to overthrow the government.
The pamphlets conveyed messages calling for freedom, such as: 'If the people of Africa freed themselves, why not the Swazi? Now is the time', 'People must struggle for their freedom/ The war has just begun' and 'We need to fight now/ PUDEMO must hit now'.
Police have been under intense pressure to solve the series of bombings, which targeted the homes of government spokesman Percy Simelane and MP Gundwane Gamedze, among others.
Addressing an assembly of traditional warriors this week, King Mswati referred to the bombings but downplayed their political significance, saying: "Even though a few incidents aimed at derailing the peace occurred, the Swazi nation clearly indicated that you do not support such things."
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
