"On the Morning of June 17, 2010 the home of human rights defender Musa Hlophe was raided by police on suspicions of his alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
Musa Hlophe who is 72 years old, is a long standing human rights defender, former trade unionist and ex-chair of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, and coordinator of the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations (SCCCO).
"SCCCO is a coalition of trade unions, employers, lawyers, churches NGO’s, media, women and youth groups which aims to give a platform to civic society on issues of common interest, promoters democracy, human rights and economic and social justice, and is involved in the promotions of a local broad-based civic education campaign.
On June 17, 2010, Musa Hlophe and his family were awoken early in the morning, by a large number of police officers who arrived in a fleet of vehicles and requested to search the house for evidence of terrorist activities.
"A search warrant was provided which reportedly detailed the purpose of the search as being to search for bombs or bomb-making materials, any documentation aimed at promoting a terrorist act or any material which could be used to promote a terrorism act.
"The police left the house after two hours with just two documents; namely a memo from Freedom House concerning Swaziland and Zimbabwe, and a document relating to democratisation in Swaziland.
While there is no evidence linking the raid to specific SCCCO activities, the police search occurred just two days after a preparatory meeting held on June 15 between the European Union (EU) and representatives of Swaziland Civil Society including SCCCO in advance of the of the political dialogue held on 16 June between the EU and Swaziland Government.
"The dialogue took place according to Article 8 of Cotonou agreement, which includes human rights issues. The raid also follows the recent meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference Committee on the Application of Standards, held on June 2 – 18, 2010, which reviewed Swaziland’s implementation of ILO convention and decisions.
"Front Line believes that the police raid at the home of Musa Hlophe is directly linked to his work in defence of human rights, and that the suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities constitutes an attempt to de-legitimise the work of human rights defenders in the country.
Front Line urges the authorities of Swaziland to:
l Immediately cease all further harassment of Musa Hlophe and his family, as Front Line believes that the raid carries out at his home was solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights.
l Return the documents confiscated during the raid, as they are manifestly not linked to any terrorism related activities.
l Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Swaziland are able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions."
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