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| National |
| Civil rights body sues Lemani |
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by
Gedion Munthali, 01 June 2004
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20:44:58
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Civil Liberties Committee (Cilic) has taken legal action against former Water Development Minister Dumbo Lemani, his aide Thom Chiumia and Ken Ndanga, plus the police over the beating of its executive director and human rights activist Emmie Chanika last week.
“Cilic is filing court documents this afternoon, while the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) will be taking the advocacy role,” said HRCC chair Rodgers Newa on Tuesday.
“We decided to split roles,” added Newa, saying the action has been taken after the expiry of an ultimatum of three days given to the police last week to act on the three UDF activists.
Chanika was assaulted during the announcement of the elections results last Sunday allegedly after picking a quarrel with Lemani.
HRCC, an umbrella of all human rights organisations including Cilic, demanded immediate arrest of Lemani, Chiumia, and Ndanga, threatening to take legal action if the law enforces failed to act.
Under advocacy role, HRCC will on Wednesday petition president Bingu Mutharika to dismiss inspector general of police Joseph Aironi, accusing him of failing to manage and reform the police service.
HRCC chair Rodgers Newa said on Tuesday during Aironi’s tenure the country has witnessed “the worst atrocities committed by police in the post-dictatorship era”
“We want to implore on President [Bingu wa] Mutharika to act on Aironi. We do not believe he is the right man to lead our police in democratic Malawi,” said Newa.
He said during Aironi’s time the country has seen police killing innocent people, including children, in cold blood.
“How can you call yourself an efficient inspector general when your men fire at unarmed and innocent civilians with live bullets?” wondered Newa. “Is this what the police are learning under the police reform programme?”
He said another petition would be handed to Aironi himself or his representative at Area 30.
“All we want is that he should confirm he fears Lemani, Chiumia and Ndanga, that is why he is not taking action against them,” said Newa.
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