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date: 6 September 2010

embargo: For immediate release

TUC condemns arrests of Swaziland and South African trade union democracy demonstrators

On the eve of a global day of action on democracy in Swaziland tomorrow (Tuesday), the Swazi Government has arrested trade union demonstrators from Swaziland and neighbouring South Africa.

The TUC has called on the Swazi Government to release them and allow peaceful demonstrations to take place.

The TUC and other demonstrators will be protesting outside the Swazi High Commission in London at 12noon tomorrow.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The feudal dictatorship of the King of Swaziland has left his country racked with poverty, and with the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the world.

'His Government should be concentrating on fighting poverty and disease, not the Swazi people.'

Those arrested include leaders of the Swaziland trade union movement such as the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) National Organiser Fundizwi Sifundza, Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Unions (SATU) General Secretary Frank Mncina, and representatives of the South African trade union movement, including the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) National Campaigns Coordinator George Mahlangu, COSATU Deputy International Secretary Sikelela Dlamini, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) Deputy President Christine Olivier, and the South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) International Secretary Steve Faulkner.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The protest will take place at 12noon outside the Swaziland High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1 E 6LB.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

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13 September to Thursday 16 September. Free media passes can be obtained by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/congress/tuc-18063-f0.cfm and returning a form. Applications must be in by noon on Monday 6 September. Any received later than that will be processed in Manchester and will cost £50.

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 6 Sep 2010