Watchdog links ‘operation smoke out’ to Bingu’s war cry

Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has condemned the petrol-bomb b attack  on its acting national director the Reverend MacDonald Sembereka's Balaka home and accused President Bingu wa Mutharika for his "careless" statements inciting attacks on human rights activists .

Balaka Police spokesperson Titani Chadwala confirmed that a 20-litre fuel container was found at the razed house, suspecting that the property was petrol –bombed.

"HRCC unequivocally condemn this escalating trend of violence against people with dissenting views, particularly human rights activists. This trend is not only unsettling but it is also barbaric and uncivilized," a statement emailed to Nyasa Times by HRCC chairperson Undule Mwakasungura and his vice Margret Ali said.

The rights watchdog said political tolerance is an indispensable hallmark of a democratic society, and violence against those with dissenting political views is clearly unacceptable in such a democratic dispensation.

HRCC which was among the main organisers of the July 20  anti-Mutharika demonstrations said the organisation is convinced that the attacks against human rights activists are being masterminded and carried out by sympathizers of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), aimed at suppressing dissent against the incumbent government.

"This conviction is not without basis. For a long time now, human rights defenders in Malawi have been reporting incidents of harassment and intimidation as well as acts of violence to police but never before have such matters been followed to their logical conclusion," said HRCC, one of the outspoken critics of the DPP-led government.

The NGO also accused President Mutharika for his hate speeches.

"We take note that President Mutharika himself has been on the forefront uttering careless sentiments during public functions, to the extent of threatening to 'smoke out' his critics and challenging them to 'war'.

"He threatened to deal with the organizers of the 20th July demonstrations (and smoke out those who are in hiding): it is therefore no mere coincidence that the latest victims of violence are the same people whom he threatened to deal with. We also wonder whether this is the 'war' that Mutharika was referring to in his rants against the civil society during the Agricultural Fair on August 25, this year. ," reads the statement.

HRCC asked Police to commence earnest investigations into the "shameful act of arson" at Reverend Sembereka's house as well as bring all related matters to their logical conclusion so that the perpetrators are duly brought to book, thereby upholding justice and preserving the rule of law in our country.

Police said investigations are currently under way.

Two weeks ago, another activist and government critic Rafik Hajat had his Institute for Policy Interaction office burnt in Blantyre while private radio station Zodiak on July 16 and 17 had its vehicles attacked and torched.

Petro-bombed: Sembereka's house

Nyasa Times 12 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/watchdog-links-%e2%80%98operation-smoke-out%e2%80%99-to-bingu%e2%80%99s-war-cry/
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