AS WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange prepares to end a two-year forced stay at Ecuador's London embassy, he may take comfort in knowing he inspired resistance to secrecy in places as far away as Swaziland.
AS WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange prepares to end a two-year forced stay at Ecuador's London embassy, he may take comfort in knowing he inspired resistance to secrecy in places as far away as Swaziland.
In this small kingdom, a group of citizens have started a social media movement called "Swazi-Leaks" to expose the lavish lifestyles of the country's ruling royals.
SwaziLeaks members - who refuse to say who or where in Swaziland they are, for fear of being targeted - started a Twitter feed a year ago.
They post photos of royals purportedly abroad: partying in Los Angeles in the US, enjoying a luxurious suite at Heathrow airport in the UK, or at other opulent locations. "We wanted to expose some of the exploitation and corruption of the rich and powerful," said SwaziLeaks.
Swaziland is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III.
The king has an annual household budget of some $60-million (R636-million) in a country where about 60% of the population live on less than $1 a day.
"We get information and pictures from people who know or work for them," said SwaziLeaks.
"We try not to tweet information that we feel has no basis." - AFP
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