Date Of Article: 6/17/2002
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Police arrest Catholic priest
By: Hope Musukwa
Police on Saturday arrested a Catholic priest, Father Augustine Matola in Kasungu for trying to photocopy press releases by churches and the civil society published in The Nation newspaper on third term. Speaking in a telephone interview from Lilongwe yesterday, Matola said he was released on bail. “I was holding your paper (The Nation). I wanted to translate the press releases into Chichewa. I didn’t know that there was a UDF loyalist who reported the issue to the district governor,” he said. The priest explained that the UDF Kasungu district governor took him to police where he was detained for 13 hours from 7 AM to 9 PM. “The police were frightened because somebody from above had ordered my arrest. In fact the police did not know what to do,” said Matola. The priest, who has been charged with “conduct” said he is expected to report to police on June 29. “When I asked the police what they meant by conduct they just said it is a term standing for a general offence. I think the church is being persecuted,” said Matola. He said he had been threatened before when he commented on the hunger situation in the country. “I said people are dying of hunger and are being buried like dogs. The UDF people were not happy with that comment,” said the priest. UDF secretary general Katenga Kaunda said he was not aware of any UDF involvement in the arrest of Matola. “I am not aware of it. I don’t know anything,” said Kaunda. Police Inspector General Joseph Aironi said Father Matola was detained for questioning but could not reveal on what issue. “You mean Matola? He is already released; He is at his home at the Parish. Just phone him. He will tell you what the police was questioning him,” said Aironi.
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