The Maravi Post

LILONGWE—The arrest of human rights activist and former attorney general Ralph Kasambara has driven a wedge between members of the Presidential Contact and Dialogue Group (PCDG), formed after last year’s anti-government protests which were organised by civil society organisations (SCOs).

Announcing their pullout from UN-brokered talks last week, SCOs complained that the government hadn’t kept up its part of the deal - making sure activists weren’t intimidated – as evidenced by last week’s arrest of Kasambara, a harsh critic of Pres Bingu wa Mutharika. International human rights groups and SCOs have described the arrest as “arbitrary” and called for Kasambara’s immediate release.
 
The former attorney general was arrested after his security team apprehended three men allegedly sent by the ruling party to petro bomb his offices. The government accuses him of kidnapping and torturing the men but Kasambara denies the torture and kidnapping charges. The incident followed remarks he made last week, saying Mutharika had failed to govern the country and should be impeached.

Concern that the Malawi leader was intolerant to criticism and was curtailing rights led to deadly anti-government protests last July. At least 19 people were killed by police during the two-day national protests. SCOs presented a 20-point petition to the president, leading to the formation of PCDG.

Voice Mhone, SCOs leader in PCDG, says progress has been painstakingly slow since last year.

"At the rate of three issues addressed in seven months, it will take us another two years to complete dialogue which wasn’t the intention of Malawians when we opted for this route than demonstrations," he said.

The three areas the government has so far worked on are the reopening of Chancellor College, availability of drugs and allowing the Law Commission to review some disputed laws.

Mhone however said the government has up to March 28 to address the petition fully.

But chair of the PCDG, Archbishop Bernard Malango, said there had been real progress.
 
"We are ready with responses to all issues and the report was to be given to the Civil Society only that they opted to walk out. There’s been commitment to address the issues," said Malango who held a separate press briefing after the SCOs had said there was no point in negotiating when the other partner lacked commitment.

Steve Duwa, a member of SCO negotiating team, said there was continued intimidation of activists in the country and was surprised that the State House had been dragging its feet addressing issues of concern to Malawians.
 
SCOs say if the petition isn’t fully addressed, it will be up to the people to decide on the next course of action.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment