Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LILONGWE384
2006-05-04 15:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT ARRESTS MORE ALLEGED TREASON
how-toVZCZCXRO4262 RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHLG #0384 1241547 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041547Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2705 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0212 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0107 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC 0442 RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000384
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV KCOR MI
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT ARRESTS MORE ALLEGED TREASON
CONSPIRATORS
REF: A. 06LILONGWE376
B. 06LILONGWE365
C. 05LILONGWE338
D. 05LILONGWE15
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000384
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV KCOR MI
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT ARRESTS MORE ALLEGED TREASON
CONSPIRATORS
REF: A. 06LILONGWE376
B. 06LILONGWE365
C. 05LILONGWE338
D. 05LILONGWE15
1. (SBU) Summary: The government has arrested ten more
alleged accomplices of Vice President Chilumpha, claiming
that they are all linked to the VP's alleged plot to
assassinate President Mutharika. Those arrested include
senior members of the United Democratic Front (UDF) party, a
former ambassador and two Muslim sheiks. This comes after the
VP was denied bail in his treason case, and his claim of
immunity was rejected by the presiding Magistrate in the
case. Rumors of more arrests, including those of the former
defense force commander and former inspector general of the
police, are swirling through Lilongwe and Blantyre. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) Malawi's private media condemned the arrests,
calling Mutharika "paranoid" and "insecure." In recent days
both national daily papers ran startling front page photos of
the VP speaking to his family through the prison barbed wire
and being bundled into the back of a police van following his
appearance in court. The arrests are also being seen as
another example of the government targeting Muslims (half of
those arrested so far are Muslims),and will surely further
estrange Mutharika's government from the Muslim community.
3. (U) Vice President Chilumpha's lawyers sought his
immediate release on May 2, claiming the constitution granted
the VP immunity from prosecution. Chilumpha had been granted
an injunction by the high court in December 2005 that
protected him from prosecution in a corruption case.
However, the Magistrate ruled that the December injunction
does not apply to the current treason case. The
constitution clearly lays out the immunity granted to the
President, but is silent on any immunity given to the VP.
Chilumpha's lawyer is expected to appeal the ruling to the
High Court.
4. (SBU) Comment: As the list of alleged conspirators grows,
government claims about the assassination plot become less
credible. Certainly among urban Malawians, the arrests are
being seen as an effort to decisively quash the opposition
UDF. For the GOM, it also serves the purpose of keeping
former president Muluzi off the scene, as Muluzi will surely
not return from his convalescence in the UK while UDF members
are being arrested left and right. The arrests of the Muslim
sheiks are seen as an effort to head off public protests over
Chilumpha's arrest, particularly while President Mugabe is in
town. The credibility of the government's case ultimately
will depend on the evidence that is presented in court.
EASTHAM
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV KCOR MI
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT ARRESTS MORE ALLEGED TREASON
CONSPIRATORS
REF: A. 06LILONGWE376
B. 06LILONGWE365
C. 05LILONGWE338
D. 05LILONGWE15
1. (SBU) Summary: The government has arrested ten more
alleged accomplices of Vice President Chilumpha, claiming
that they are all linked to the VP's alleged plot to
assassinate President Mutharika. Those arrested include
senior members of the United Democratic Front (UDF) party, a
former ambassador and two Muslim sheiks. This comes after the
VP was denied bail in his treason case, and his claim of
immunity was rejected by the presiding Magistrate in the
case. Rumors of more arrests, including those of the former
defense force commander and former inspector general of the
police, are swirling through Lilongwe and Blantyre. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) Malawi's private media condemned the arrests,
calling Mutharika "paranoid" and "insecure." In recent days
both national daily papers ran startling front page photos of
the VP speaking to his family through the prison barbed wire
and being bundled into the back of a police van following his
appearance in court. The arrests are also being seen as
another example of the government targeting Muslims (half of
those arrested so far are Muslims),and will surely further
estrange Mutharika's government from the Muslim community.
3. (U) Vice President Chilumpha's lawyers sought his
immediate release on May 2, claiming the constitution granted
the VP immunity from prosecution. Chilumpha had been granted
an injunction by the high court in December 2005 that
protected him from prosecution in a corruption case.
However, the Magistrate ruled that the December injunction
does not apply to the current treason case. The
constitution clearly lays out the immunity granted to the
President, but is silent on any immunity given to the VP.
Chilumpha's lawyer is expected to appeal the ruling to the
High Court.
4. (SBU) Comment: As the list of alleged conspirators grows,
government claims about the assassination plot become less
credible. Certainly among urban Malawians, the arrests are
being seen as an effort to decisively quash the opposition
UDF. For the GOM, it also serves the purpose of keeping
former president Muluzi off the scene, as Muluzi will surely
not return from his convalescence in the UK while UDF members
are being arrested left and right. The arrests of the Muslim
sheiks are seen as an effort to head off public protests over
Chilumpha's arrest, particularly while President Mugabe is in
town. The credibility of the government's case ultimately
will depend on the evidence that is presented in court.
EASTHAM