Toronto — In a 25 May 2001 letter to President Bakili Muluzi, IPI condemned the recent decision of the police in the Malawi capital Lilongwe to arrest a newspaper vendor selling newspapers critical of the government.
According to the information provided to IPI, on 23 May, newspaper vendor Austin Machewere was arrested by a police detachment led by George Chikowi of the Police Public Relations Department. At the time of Machewere's arrest, five copies of "The Dispatch" newspaper were confiscated by officers from the Area 18 police station.
Subsequently, Machewere was charged with the offence of creating public fear or alarm. He was later granted bail and released on a surety of approximately US $65. Commenting later on his arrest, Machewere said he was asked to reveal the names of those newspaper vendors who distribute "The National Agenda" newspaper.
In a related incident, police officer Chikowi visited the offices of the Karora Printers, which prints "The Dispatch", and asked members of staff where they could find the managing editor of the newspaper, Martines Namingah. Apparently, Namingah is being sought by police for publishing "The Dispatch".
The police officers told members of staff at the Karora Printers that Namingah was to report to police headquarters for questioning. Responding to the request, Namingah has steadfastly refused to attend police headquarters and has attempted to contact the inspector general of police and Oliver Soko, the public relations officer, in order to explain his position. However, there has been no reaction from the police. The newspaper editor says he fears for his safety if arrested, particularly since Director of Public Prosecution Fahad Assani recently stated that he would bring sedition and treason charges against those who used derogatory language. Under Malawian law, treason is punishable by death.
Aside from suppression of "The Dispatch" newspaper, there have been attempts to confiscate the following newspapers in Malawi: "The Chronicle", "The People's Eye", "The Mirror" and "The National Agenda".
In the belief of IPI, the intimidation of newspaper vendors confirms suspicions that the attacks on the media are motivated by a desire to prevent critical reporting in the lead-up to a possible announcement by President Muluzi that he will run for an unconstitutional third term as president of Malawi.
As highlighted by IPI in a previous protest, dated 22 May, the independent weekly "The Chronicle" is currently facing three separate civil defamation suits instituted by President Muluzi, the health and population minister and the speaker of the national assembly (see IFEX alert of 22 May 2001, 10 October and 25 September 2000). Furthermore, IPI has been told that vendors for the newspaper have been afraid to sell the newspaper in the southern town of Blantyre for fear of attack by United Democratic Front supporters. Elsewhere, publications such as "The People's Eye" have been intercepted while being transported to various distribution outlets.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the president: - reminding His Excellency that the right to "report and publish freely" is enshrined under chapter 4, section 36 of the Malawian Constitution and that the arrest and intimidation of newspaper vendors is in breach of this implicit right - calling on His Excellency to withdraw the charges against Machewere, desist from harassing newspaper vendors, and allow newspapers to be sold in all parts of Malawi - noting that by doing so, he will be affirming the right of the media to operate freely within Malawian society
APPEALS TO:
Dr. Bakili Muluzi President of Malawi Office of the President Private Bag 301 Capital City Lilongwe 3 Malawi c/o The Justice Ministry Fax: +265 788 841/33
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Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact IPI at Spiegelgasse 2, A-1010 Vienna, Austria, tel: +43 1 512 90 11, fax: +43 1 512 90 14, e-mail: Michael Kudlak at mkudlak@freemedia.at, or Barbara Trionfi at info@freemedia.at, Internet site: www.freemedia.at
The information contained in this action alert is the sole responsibility of IPI. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit IPI.
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