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Human Rights Watch on Tuesday demanded that Malawian authorities investigate and prosecute armed men who attacked peaceful election protesters last week while police on scene declined to step in. The international rights organization stressed that immediate action is crucial to send a strong message that human rights violations will not be tolerated ahead of the crucial September general election.
HRW’s senior Africa researcher, Idriss Ali Nassah, emphasized the need for authorities to “investigate this brutal attack… and ensure that those responsible are appropriately punished.” Nassah highlighted that public confidence in the upcoming election’s fairness hinges on police responding “promptly and impartially to threats or acts of violence.” HRW underscored Malawi’s obligations under international human rights law to protect peaceful assembly.
On June 26, an election rally in Lilongwe was attacked by masked, machete-wielding men who emerged from unregistered vehicles. The protesters had called for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials, Judge Annabel Mtalimanja and Andrew Mpesi, alleging bias towards the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and a lack of transparency concerning electronic voting plans.
Activist Sylvester Namiwa, the chief organizer, was “mercilessly” beaten in front of police and army personnel, describing the inaction as “helplessly watching.” He reported being dragged towards a vehicle in an attempted abduction, only escaping when police fired tear gas. Several protesters were injured, and public property, including two vehicles, was torched. Social media images showed attackers beating protesters while security forces observed.
The attack has drawn significant condemnation. The European Union and the United States called for an investigation. The US separately accused the police and defense force of failing to intervene, with US Embassy in Malawi’s Charge d’Affaires Amy Diaz expressing she was “sickened to see the violence.” Malawi Police Service spokesperson Peter Kalaya acknowledged the incident as “regrettable” and stated investigations are underway. However, police officials have denied claims of inaction, asserting they used tear gas.
Civil society groups and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) allege the assailants were linked to a youth militia aligned with the ruling MCP, accusing the party of “fear and intimidation” tactics. MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila dismissed these accusations, denying party involvement and instead accusing the DPP of orchestrating the violence due to internal disputes.
These events occur as President Lazarus Chakwera seeks a second term in a nation grappling with economic challenges and nearing 30 percent inflation.
The post Rights group calls for probe into Malawi protest violence ahead of elections appeared first on JURIST - News.
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HRW’s senior Africa researcher, Idriss Ali Nassah, emphasized the need for authorities to “investigate this brutal attack… and ensure that those responsible are appropriately punished.” Nassah highlighted that public confidence in the upcoming election’s fairness hinges on police responding “promptly and impartially to threats or acts of violence.” HRW underscored Malawi’s obligations under international human rights law to protect peaceful assembly.
On June 26, an election rally in Lilongwe was attacked by masked, machete-wielding men who emerged from unregistered vehicles. The protesters had called for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials, Judge Annabel Mtalimanja and Andrew Mpesi, alleging bias towards the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and a lack of transparency concerning electronic voting plans.
Activist Sylvester Namiwa, the chief organizer, was “mercilessly” beaten in front of police and army personnel, describing the inaction as “helplessly watching.” He reported being dragged towards a vehicle in an attempted abduction, only escaping when police fired tear gas. Several protesters were injured, and public property, including two vehicles, was torched. Social media images showed attackers beating protesters while security forces observed.
The attack has drawn significant condemnation. The European Union and the United States called for an investigation. The US separately accused the police and defense force of failing to intervene, with US Embassy in Malawi’s Charge d’Affaires Amy Diaz expressing she was “sickened to see the violence.” Malawi Police Service spokesperson Peter Kalaya acknowledged the incident as “regrettable” and stated investigations are underway. However, police officials have denied claims of inaction, asserting they used tear gas.
Civil society groups and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) allege the assailants were linked to a youth militia aligned with the ruling MCP, accusing the party of “fear and intimidation” tactics. MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila dismissed these accusations, denying party involvement and instead accusing the DPP of orchestrating the violence due to internal disputes.
These events occur as President Lazarus Chakwera seeks a second term in a nation grappling with economic challenges and nearing 30 percent inflation.
The post Rights group calls for probe into Malawi protest violence ahead of elections appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.