Thai military reports more clashes with Cambodia, says artillery and rockets fired
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The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
US-Eswatini deal sparks outrage over criminal deportations
In July 2025, Eswatini accepted five deportees from the United States under a secretive third-country agreement. The arrangement followed several months of quiet negotiations between US Homeland Security and Eswatini's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although officials have not confirmed the exact signing date or location, the deportations began around 16 July 2025. On 16 July 2025, acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli publicly defended the decision, stating that it was based on Eswatini's sovereignty and its longstanding diplomatic relations with the United States; however, she did not disclose the terms of the agreement. According to media reports from Reuters and Al Jazeera, the United States paid for the incarceration costs of the deportees. Human rights organisations, opposition parties, and civil society leaders have criticised the government for lack of transparency. Despite mounting pressure, Eswatini has not released the full details of the arrangement. Calls for accountability continue as citizens demand clarity on why the country agreed to host third-country deportees. The U.S. government has deported five individuals to Eswatini. This move forms part of President Donald Trump's revived third-country deportation policy. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the policy to resume in late June 2025. Since then, deportations have restarted. Eswatini is now the second African country to accept deportees under this framework. Previously, eight men were deported to South Sudan. US officials state that violent criminals were deported. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin explained that the United States sent the individuals to Eswatini because their home countries refused to accept them. US officials described the deportees as 'uniquely barbaric criminals,' a characterisation that sparked strong condemnation from human rights groups and Eswatini's main opposition party. The People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Eswatini's main opposition party, labelled the agreement 'human trafficking disguised as a deportation deal. They argue the government's secrecy undermines public trust. Many are demanding full clarity about the terms of the agreement. News reports from early April 2025 confirm that the U.S. government announced a 10% tariff on all imports, which included goods from Eswatini. Furthermore, Eswatini's Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade, Mancoba Khumalo, issued a press statement stating that the new tariffs would negatively impact local exporters. The deportation of the criminals to Eswatini follows the U.S. third-country deportation policy. In addition, the Eswatini government confirmed that it is holding the individuals in isolation at a correctional facility after their arrival. The full terms of the agreement remain undisclosed. The agreement's classified nature has triggered public backlash. On 27 July 2025, the Eswatini Women's Movement protested outside the US Embassy, calling the deal 'undemocratic and opaque.' Civil society organisations have since demanded a full release of the agreement's terms. Additionally, the opposition party, PUDEMO, warned that the transfer could undermine regional security and called for urgent parliamentary oversight. Eswatini officials initially indicated that the deportees would be repatriated 'in due course.' However, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has denied involvement in the process and confirmed it has not been consulted regarding their repatriation. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Royal pardon brings hope for George's Ashley Oosthuizen
There is cautious relief for Ashley Oosthuizen (26), a young woman from George who has spent over five years behind bars in Thailand. George Herald reports that, earlier today, her mother Lynn Blignaut confirmed in a YouTube livestream that Oosthuizen has been included in this year's Thai royal pardon, reducing her sentence further. Sentence reduction and time served Originally sentenced to death in 2021, later commuted to life, then reduced to 33.4 years, Oosthuizen's charges were downgraded in April to possession, cutting the term to 13 years and four months. Under the royal pardon mechanism, granting one year off for every seven years remaining, Oosthuizen received an additional one year remission, bringing her theoretical remaining sentence to roughly 12 years and four months. Crucially, factoring in the five-plus years sentence already served, her current remaining time is estimated at seven years and five months. She could eventually go into house arrest as well. 'Nothing is a given in Thailand with its system. It's a waiting game,' as she spoke live shortly after her visit that day. What royal pardon means A royal pardon in Thailand doesn't equate to release. It only applies to prisoners who meet strict criteria, good behaviour, rehabilitation efforts and formal documentation before the June deadline. Oosthuizen's inclusion is a significant milestone, but release remains contingent on further processing. Additional clemency or sentence reductions may only be considered after 2026, when she could apply for extradition to serve time in South Africa. Life behind bars Oosthuizen remains incarcerated at Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison, where she continues her role as an English teacher and has enthusiastically taken up learning Mandarin, a skill that her mother says is progressing well. Family and public advocacy Oosthuizen was arrested in October 2020 after unknowingly signing for a package containing MDMA at her workplace, a parcel not addressed to her. She has maintained her innocence from the start. Her ex-boyfriend, Tristan Nettles, later admitted to being part of a drug trafficking ring and confirmed that Oosthuizen did not know about his activities Blignaut, who moved to Thailand in 2022 to be closer to Oosthuizen, remains committed to securing her daughter's release. She continues to appeal to the South African government to pursue extradition, and her family and supporters in George watch and wait, hoping the young woman will soon return home. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
Thailand and Cambodia trade allegations of truce breaking
Fresh clashes erupt despite a ceasefire meant to end deadly border fighting, with both nations accusing each other of violations. Thailand and Cambodia exchanged allegations on Wednesday of breaching a ceasefire deal which has largely halted the open combat that engulfed their frontier. The nations agreed a truce starting Tuesday after five days of clashes killed at least 43 on both sides, as a long-standing dispute over contested border temples boiled over into fighting on their 800-kilometre (500-mile) boundary. But Thailand's foreign ministry said its troops in Sisaket province 'came under attack by small arms fire and grenade assaults launched by Cambodian forces' in an offensive which continued until Wednesday morning. 'This represents a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement,' said a foreign ministry statement. Thai government spokesman Jirayu Huangsab also reported overnight clashes but said in a statement 'the Thai side maintained control of the situation' and 'general conditions along the border are reported to be normal' from 8:00 am (0100 GMT). ALSO READ: Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets and rockets in deadly border row On Wednesday a Cambodian defence ministry official accused Thailand of twice the previous day breaching the ceasefire, intended to end fighting which has seen the two countries evacuate a total of more than 300,000 people from the border region. At a temple in Thailand's Surin city serving as a shelter and field kitchen 50 kilometres away from the frontier, volunteer Thanin Kittiworranun said evacuees remain in limbo. 'We don't believe Cambodia will hold the ceasefire,' the 65-year-old told AFP. But an AFP journalist on the Cambodian side who heard a steady drumbeat of artillery fire since fighting began last Thursday reported hearing no blasts between the start of the truce and Wednesday morning. And Beijing said deputy foreign minister Sun Weidong hosted a Shanghai meeting with Thai and Cambodian officials where both 'reaffirmed to China their commitment to abide by the ceasefire consensus'. ALSO READ: SA acts against dumping of Chinese and Thai washing machines 'Still fragile' The armistice got off to a shaky start in the early hours of Tuesday, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of continuing attacks in 'a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust' — before peace generally prevailed. Meetings between rival commanders along the border — scheduled as part of the pact — went ahead, with Thailand's army saying de-escalation steps were agreed including 'a halt on troop reinforcements or movements that could lead to misunderstandings'. But later in the day a foreign affairs spokeswoman for Bangkok's border crisis centre, Maratee Nalita Andamo, warned: 'In this moment, in the early days of the ceasefire, the situation is still fragile'. Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 15 Thai troops and 15 Thai civilians, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civilian and five military deaths. The flare-up has surpassed the death toll of 28 in violence that raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over the territory, claimed by both nations because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. ALSO READ: Myanmar holds minute of silence for over 2 000 earthquake victims The peace pact was sealed in Malaysia after intervention from US President Donald Trump — who both Thailand and Cambodia are courting for a trade deal to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs. – By: © Agence France-Presse
