THE Communist Party of Swaziland welcomed a UN statement condemning excessive use of force by the security services today — calling for King Mswati III to be charged with crimes against humanity.

“Mswati III, as the military’s commander in chief, is directly responsible for the death of over 70 people, the wounding and maiming of hundreds, and the arrest of close to 700 protesters since June this year,” the party said.

“These attacks on an unarmed population flowed from direct commands issued by the absolute monarch.”