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15 August, 2011
The ICEM joins the wide condemnation of the Malawi government’s vicious crackdown on human and trade union rights. A raft of recent legislative changes has systematically curtailed civil liberties, freedom of the press, and increased impunity of government agencies and officials.
In the African nation, Section 46 of the Penal Code was amended, allowing the Minister of Information to ban publications which are deemed to be contrary to the public interest. The Civil Procedure Bill was also amended, denying plaintiffs the right to instant relief when their rights are under threat by a government agency or officer. This latter amendment also allows police to search any house without a search warrant.
Civil society groups have given President Mutharika until 17 August to respond to their grievances. "If nothing happens, the nation will hear from us," stated Robert Mkwezalamba, General Secretary of the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), referring to a petition of grievances submitted to the President.
Nationwide popular protests on 20 July were brutally repressed by shocking police violence, leaving 19 people dead including a 13-year-old boy. The violence used by the Malawi government has been widely condemned, and attention is now on Mutharika’s regime to peacefully reach agreement with protest groups, and reverse the country’s archaic legislation.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has initiated an electronic campaign through LabourStart. Please support it here.
Nationwide popular protests on 20 July were brutally repressed by shocking police violence, leaving 19 people dead including a 13-year-old boy. The violence used by the Malawi government has been widely condemned, and attention is now on Mutharika’s regime to peacefully reach agreement with protest groups, and reverse the country’s archaic legislation.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has initiated an electronic campaign through LabourStart. Please support it here.