BRITAIN must do more to help prevent human rights abuses in Swaziland, unions and campaigners said yesterday.

An open letter, organised by TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady and head of Action for Southern Africa (formerly the Anti-Apartheid Movement) Tony Dykes, has been sent to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond urging the government to step up its campaign for human rights in the African dictatorship.

The letter calls for action to secure the release of the leader of the opposition and the leader of the country’s youth movement, both jailed for shouting political slogans at a rally on May Day last year.

It expressed grave concerns over the Swaziland government’s demands on Wednesday that unions and employer organisations cease operations immediately or their leaders will face jail, pending the introduction of a new “industrial relations” law.

Ms O’Grady said: “Anyone brave enough to stand up to the government is frequently on the receiving end of beatings, intimidation and arrests. In that context the promise of new industrial relations laws cannot be believed.”

Other signatories include head of Amnesty International Kate Allen, NUS president Toni Pearce and actor Richard E Grant (who was born in Swaziland).