MBABANE: Wandile Mpumelelo Gina’s inclusion on the International Criminal Police Organization(INTERPOL) website by the eSwatini Government does not mean he will be arrested, this is according to the rules and regulations governing the organization.
The Times of eSwatini reported on Sunday that Wandile Mpumelelo Gina, who resigned from the Correctional Services a few months ago to join other citizens in fighting for the liberation of Swazis, has been included on the INTERPOL wanted list.
“Are the individuals wanted by INTERPOL? No, they are wanted by a country or an international tribunal.INTERPOL cannot compel the law enforcement authorities in any country to arrest someone who is the subject of a Red Notice.Each member country decides what legal value it gives to a Red Notice and the authority of their law enforcement officers to make arrests,”reads a researched online INTERPOL statement clarifying the rules and regulations and some questions that people might have regarding operations of the organization.
Speaking to this Swaziland News, human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, the Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum said the reality of the matter “is that eSwatini is caught up in a low key civil war”.
The human rights lawyer said violence and the alleged terrorism and murder must be understood in their proper context.
“The question is what is it that is driving those who the State chooses to call terrorists. The reality is that these are Swazis who seek a break from Tinkhundla royal oppression. As they say one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist. This is where we are as a people. In my view this must be seen in the light of the broader laws on terrorism and the African Union Conventions on Terrorism. In so far as the Swazi people are fighting for the right to self-determination and self rule, the State can arrest them and put them in jail, but does that resolve the political problem? We think not, it is just postponing the inevitable:Democratisation,” said the human rights lawyer.
Reached for comments, Wandile Gina, the former Correctional Services officer said he was not shaken by the inclusion on the INTERPOL Red Notice.
“I chose not to be part of a regime that murders people, everything was well, I had a secured job. I was salaried, I had everything at my disposal but I decided that I cannot enjoy the pleasures of the oppressor while a majority of the people are suffering,” said the freedom fighter who defected from Mswati’s Correctional Services.
Part of statement on INTERPOL website clarifying its operations.