HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (HRCC) Press Statement HRCC CONDEMS ATTACK ON REV.

MACDONALD SEMBEREKA HOUSE The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) is a network of 91 local civil so ciety and non-governmental organisations that work to promote good governance, p rotect human and peoples rights, and contribute to national development through t he entrenchment of a culture of transparency and accountability. HRCC does not p romote personalities for political or other interests, but promotes systems and principles that are incidental to development and to the entrenchment of a cultu re of respect for human dignity at all levels. HRCC has learnt with shock that the house of Reverend MacDonald Sembereka, the E xecutive Director of Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV/AIDS (M ANERELA+) who is also the Acting National Coordinator of Human Rights Consultati on Committee (HRCC), was petrol-bombed by a group of unidentified thugs in Balak a last Saturday night. Reverend Sembereka is the latest victim of what is appare ntly a deliberate campaign of physical violence against human rights defenders i n Malawi. Barely a week ago, the offices of Institute of Policy Interaction (IPI ), a think-thank led by another prominent activist Mr Rafiq Hajat, were also tor ched by unidentified thugs. These two incidents remind us of an incident earlier this year whereby on one fateful night, a similar band of thugs invaded the Cen tre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) premises in Lilongwe, severely be at up a guard and dumped him some miles away from the premises after the guard h ad expressed ignorance about the location of the Executive Directors residence. HRCC unequivocally condemn this escalating trend of violence against people with dissenting views, particularly human rights activists. This trend is not only u nsettling but it is also barbaric and uncivilized. Political tolerance is an ind ispensable hallmark of a democratic society, and violence against those with dis senting political views is clearly unacceptable in such a democratic dispensatio n. At HRCC, we are convinced that these attacks against human rights activists a re being masterminded and carried out by sympathizers of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and are aimed at suppressing dissent against the incumbent governmen t. This conviction is not without basis. For a long time now, human rights defen ders in Malawi have been reporting incidents of harassment and intimidation as w ell as acts of violence to police but never before have such matters been follow ed to their logical conclusion. We take note that President Mutharika himself has been on the forefront uttering careless sentiments during public functions, to the extent of threatening to smo ke out his critics and challenging them to war. He threatened to deal with the orga nizers of the 20th July demonstrations (and smoke out those who are in hiding): it is therefore no mere coincidence that the latest victims of violence are the sa me people whom he threatened to deal with. We also wonder whether this is the war that Mutharika was referring to in his rants against the civil society during th e Agricultural Fair on August 25, this year. In view of the foregoing, we would like to call upon the Police to commence earn est investigations into the shameful act of arson at Reverend Semberekas house as well as bring all related matters to their logical conclusion so that the perpe trators are duly brought to book, thereby upholding justice and preserving the r ule of law in our country. We urge the authorities to expedite the investigation s and allow justice to take its course. HRCC hereby also kindly appeal to our President to refrain from making reckless statements that only inflame tension and violence instead of peace, harmony and tranquility amongst Malawians. If anything, President Mutharika should also cond

emn these acts of violence against his critics. Otherwise, we will have many ans wered questions on these attacks against human rights defenders. Finally, we at HRCC would like to reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for th e attainment of a vibrant democratic society where fundamental human rights are respected and the rule of law is upheld. We reaffirm our commitment to this stru ggle fully cognizant of the fact that in our pursuit of such a noble cause, we w ill be subjected to all forms of harassment and intimidation as well as to a con stant threat to our lives from a regime that has clearly demonstrated apathy tow ards values of a fully functioning democracy. In the history of mankind, tyranny has never outlived the will of the people. We therefore undertake to always align our agenda with the aspirations of the peop le and not allow ourselves to be swayed even by such threats and attacks. Malawi does not belong to individuals: it belongs to all Malawians, and no citizen of Malawi is more Malawian than any other. We all have stake in the future of our n ation. Long Live the Struggle Against Oppression and Dictatorship! Undule Mwakasungula (Mr) Margret Ali (Mrs.) Chairperson Vice Chairperson HRCC HRCC Monday 12th September, 2011/Lilongwe/MALAWI