August, 16 2011, 09:31am EDT
Malawi Set for Fresh Anti-Government Protests, says Amnesty International
WASHINGTON
Malawians participating in nationwide protests planned for August 17 risk being killed or injured unless the authorities halt the use of live ammunition against anti-government demonstrators, Amnesty International said today.
The protests come amid increased harassment and intimidation of activists and other dissenting voices in Malawi. In July, at least eighteen people were killed and scores of others injured when police opened fire on protesters in a number of Malawian cities.
"The Malawian authorities must allow people to express their opinions without fear of violent reprisals or arbitrary arrests," said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International's deputy program director. "The police must refrain from using excessive force. Under U.N. policing standards, firearms should only be used when there is no other means of defending against threats of death or serious injury."
While some of the July demonstrations had turned violent, most protesters were unarmed. Around 500 people, including human rights defenders, were arrested.
The protests brought together students, human rights activists and religious groups over a range of issues including repressive legislation, poor governance and fuel shortages.
The Malawian government has intensified its harassment and intimidation of critics and dissidents over recent months, stifling freedom of expression and creating a climate of fear. During the July demonstrations, police deliberately targeted at least eight journalists, beating them with gun butts.
Human rights activists have also been targeted. Some have received death threats, others have been forced to go into hiding. Threats to activists appear to have been fuelled and perpetuated by persistent public criticism by high level government officials.
Recently, President Bingu wa Mutharika described July's protests as "the work of Satan" and threatened to "smoke out the organizers," prompting several more prominent human rights defenders to go into hiding.
Amnesty International again urges the Malawian authorities to open an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the lethal use of force during July's protests.
"Such an investigation is now well overdue," said Kagari. "In the interim, we are calling on the Malawian authorities to exercise restraint and to respect their citizens' rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. If Malawians want to exercise their right to peaceful demonstration, they should be allowed to do so in safety."
Amnesty International is a global movement of millions of people demanding human rights for all people - no matter who they are or where they are. We are the world's largest grassroots human rights organization.
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Once Again, Tom Cotton Blocks Bill to Shield Journalists From Betraying Sources
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Trump has picked Harmeet Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She has stated that it must be "made unsafe" for hospitals to provide trans care, and frequently shares Libs of TikTok posts. She intends to target trans people in blue states. Subscribe to support my journalism.
[image or embed]
— Erin Reed (@erininthemorning.com) December 10, 2024 at 8:14 AM
Reed continued:
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Reed also highlighted Dhillon's attacks on state laws protecting transgender people, as well as her expression of "extreme anti-trans views" on social media—including calling gender-affirming healthcare for trans children "child abuse."
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