Human Rights Activists Under Violent Attack in Malawi

Malawi is often referred to as "the warm heart of Africa," but concerned citizens who are calling for changes to the country's economic conditions have been met with violent cruelty by the country's security forces. At the end of July, 19 people were killed in protests across the country.

Facing a deteriorating economy, trade unions and civil society organizations presented Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika with proposals for addressing the country's rising fuel costs, electricity shortages, foreign exchange shortages, corruption, financial mismanagement, problems with higher education, attacks on freedom of the press and other issues. Joining together under the theme "Uniting for Peaceful Resistance Against Poor Economic and Democratic Governance: A Better Malawi is Possible," citizens rallied across the country on July 20th. While the demonstrations were peaceful, security forces violently repressed demonstrations, killed 19 people, arrested around 500 individuals and assaulted and arrested several members of the press.

In response to growing repression on behalf of Mutharika's government, the US has frozen $350 million in aid to the country. Britain froze aid earlier in the year due to a diplomatic dispute. Civil society organizations had originally planned to hold vigils across the country this week in order to honor those who were killed during the demonstrations and to continue to put pressure on the government to address their concerns. However, government officials obtained a court injunction to prevent these events and organizations leading the movement decided to postpone the vigils.

The vigils were postponed amid growing tension in the country as the President continued to publicly demonize human rights organizations. According to Amnesty International, Mutharika called the July demonstrations "the work of Satan" and he threatened to "smoke out the organizers" while some prominent advocates received death threats. Currently, civil society organizations are working to establish a dialogue with the government that is being mediated by the United Nations. However, even though demonstrations have been postponed, a heightened police presence on the day when protests were previously scheduled to occur was evident across the country.

The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions has started a petition on Change.org calling on President Mutharika to cease attacks on civil society organizations, begin a genuine dialogue around citizens' concerns and to respect freedom of association and expression. You can show your solidarity with these brave human rights advocates facing extraordinary risks for their efforts to exercise their rights by signing the petition here.

Photo credit: tlupic