Botswana National Front (Gaborone)
4 June 2011
press release
Yesterday the Botswana Police in Selebi Phikwe briefly held two female members of the public sector unions who are currently on a six week long strike. This happened yesterday late in the afternoon. The workers were on a peaceful march when the police pounced on them armed with buttons and guns. The two are to appear before the Selebi Phikwe Magistrate on Monday.
The police were also carrying a red banner with the words, “Disperse or we Fire”.
In Gaborone recently, a bystander sustained injuries due to what is believed to be gun shots from the police, yet they deny their involvement and blame this on the workers. Union leaders are currently facing charges of violence incitement.
The Botswana National Front (BNF) is concerned about this behaviour by the Police who appear to be itching for a confrontation with the demonstrators. They overstep their authority with impunity and have turned the country into a police state. To us this is an effort to intimidate the workers and it interferes with their freedom of expression. The police have to respect strikers who march peacefully.
Lastly, we urge the police to respect the rights of the workers as they are engaged in a legal strike.
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