Le Socialiste
30th July 2012, 11:25
Government employees in Swaziland are demanding better pay, but few people showed up as a protest was called outside parliament on Thursday.
Heavy security deployments scared many people off, in the country where political parties are banned and little public dissent is tolerated.
Public servants have been striking for more than a month demanding a raise of 4.5 per cent, but authorities are refusing to increase their salaries.
On Wednesday nearly 3,000 teachers took to the streets in two towns of Siketi and Umhlanga, according to Sibongile Mazibuko, the president of Swaziland National Association of Teachers.
Police have used rubber bullets, water cannon and batons to break up marches during the strike.
Thousands of teachers are now on what they call a "go slow" - showing up to work but without teaching. They have been given Monday as a deadline to get back to work, or they will be all be fired.
But Mazibuko said they would not resume teaching until their demands are met.
"Teachers will not teach even under the barrel of the gun. We are not deterred," he said.
More here (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/07/2012726152512543944.html).
Heavy security deployments scared many people off, in the country where political parties are banned and little public dissent is tolerated.
Public servants have been striking for more than a month demanding a raise of 4.5 per cent, but authorities are refusing to increase their salaries.
On Wednesday nearly 3,000 teachers took to the streets in two towns of Siketi and Umhlanga, according to Sibongile Mazibuko, the president of Swaziland National Association of Teachers.
Police have used rubber bullets, water cannon and batons to break up marches during the strike.
Thousands of teachers are now on what they call a "go slow" - showing up to work but without teaching. They have been given Monday as a deadline to get back to work, or they will be all be fired.
But Mazibuko said they would not resume teaching until their demands are met.
"Teachers will not teach even under the barrel of the gun. We are not deterred," he said.
More here (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/07/2012726152512543944.html).