S.Africa labor body concerned over Swazi tension

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) -- South Africa's biggest labor federation COSATU said on Wednesday it was concerned that simmering tension in Swaziland could spark a refugee crisis for the southern African region.

The 1.8 million strong Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said it planned to hold a three-day meeting next month with its Swazi counterparts to draw up a programme of action to demand reforms in the landlocked kingdom.

"COSATU is extremely concerned that repression in Swaziland has taken a new dimension through the imposing of brothers of King Mswati III on communities that have their own chiefs," the COSATU executive said in a statement.

"Meanwhile, the abuse of workers' rights continues unabated. We are worried that more and more people from Swaziland will be forced to flee their country and become refugees in the neighboring countries, including South Africa," it added.

Swaziland, with a population of around one million, has recently been hit by a series of student and labor protests over demands for worker rights and democratic reforms.

The forced eviction of villagers who refused to pay allegiance to King Mswati's elder brother a week ago in eastern Swaziland has also led to the closure of the country's university.

The indefinite closure came after students sought to mount daily protests at King Mswati's Lozitha palace over the eviction of about 200 villagers from Macetjeni a week ago.

Those effected have sought temporary shelter in tents in an open field and two chiefs who presided over them are reported to be seeking refuge in neighboring South Africa.

King Mswati III is sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch. Political parties have been banned in the small, landlocked kingdom since 1973.

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