Amnesty Condemns Prison Attacks

Amnesty International has denounced the use of excessive force by Swaziland's correctional services officers against journalists and political activists after a demonstration at one of the main country's prisons turned violent.

The attack on 21 September 2009 by prison security guards at Matsapha Central Prison, a maximum security facility 25km east of the capital, Mbabane, occurred shortly after Mario Masuku, head of the banned opposition People's United Democratic Movement, was acquitted of terrorism charges.

In a press statement, Amnesty says that, "The security officers reacted aggressively to the presence at the prison gate of some 50 noisy but peaceful, unarmed supporters awaiting Mario Masuku's release from the prison ... Without any official warning to disperse, security officers charged into the group at the gate."

To read the article titled, “Violent prison guards condemned,” click here.