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| National |
| Human rights body petitions police chief |
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by
Gedion Munthali, 07 June 2004
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09:06:05
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The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) on Friday petitioned Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi to use the powers vested in him to arrest Dumbo Lemani, Thom Chiumia and Ken Ndanga for assaulting human rights activist Emmie Chanika some two weeks ago.
“We also demand that based on the available overwhelming evidence, you cause, Sir, that the Malawi Police Service builds up a solid case against the perpetrators necessary for an effective prosecution in a competent court,” reads the petition signed by HRCC chair Rodgers Newa.
“We have taken liberty of copying this petition to the Secretary for Home Affairs and Internal Security for his information and also to the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) and the Office of the Ombudsman, who in the absence of an independent policing complaint commission, do provide policing oversight — again, for their information,” said the petition.
According to Newa, HRCC decided to petition the IG after the Commissioner of Police (South) has not acted on the perpetrators, in spite of an HRCC’s letter of May 26, 2004 addressed to the commissioner regarding the assault of Chanika, executive director of the Civil Liberties Committee (Cilic).
Cilic is already in court against the alleged assailants.
“Pursuant to Standing Order 175 and 176 of the Malawi Police Service as spelt out in the police law, we now dutifully petition you, Sir, as the commissioner of Southern Region has, in our considered view failed to act,” reads the petition.
The alleged incident took place within the precincts of Chichiri International Conference Centre in Blantyre where the Electoral Commission established a national electoral tally centre.
“We wish to raise the issue, sir, that the assault in issue was committed in the full presence of police officers who were deployed to provide for public safety and security. You may have followed vivid media reports which captioned graphics of the scene,” the HRCC drew the attention of the IG.
“It is disturbing that notwithstanding the fact that the police were available at the spot of the incident, they virtually failed to provide much needed public safety to Chanika. The police also failed to immediately arrest the perpetrators of the aforesaid violation,” lamented the HRCC.
The HRCC also said it was worried about the impunity that is being suggested by the police failure to act and by the open challenge by the said perpetrators that the police cannot arrest them.
“It is our trust that the police is not being influenced,” it adds.
Aironi could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
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