Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LILONGWE172
2009-03-31 13:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
MALAWI: MUTHARIKA ILLNESS REPORTS END WITH
how-toVZCZCXRO5100 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHLG #0172 0901300 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 311300Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0406 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0327 RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0018 RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000172
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: MUTHARIKA ILLNESS REPORTS END WITH
RETRACTION AND ARRESTS
REF: LILONGWE 155
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000172
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: MUTHARIKA ILLNESS REPORTS END WITH
RETRACTION AND ARRESTS
REF: LILONGWE 155
1. (U) On March 23, President Mutharika made a live radio and
television address to the nation to dispel rumors that he was
seriously ill and in a coma. The illness reports first
surfaced March 22 on the website run by the pro-Muluzi Nyasa
Times (ref A). In his address, the President reiterated that
his reasons for canceling rallies were weather-related and
not for health reasons.
2. (U) Later the evening of March 23, the Nyasa Times
retracted the story and issued a public apology for the
anguish caused to the President and the people of Malawi. On
March 25, police arrested two people in Limbe for allegedly
spreading rumors of the President's ill health. The two were
charged with fabricating false news likely to cause fear and
alarm.
SULLIVAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: MUTHARIKA ILLNESS REPORTS END WITH
RETRACTION AND ARRESTS
REF: LILONGWE 155
1. (U) On March 23, President Mutharika made a live radio and
television address to the nation to dispel rumors that he was
seriously ill and in a coma. The illness reports first
surfaced March 22 on the website run by the pro-Muluzi Nyasa
Times (ref A). In his address, the President reiterated that
his reasons for canceling rallies were weather-related and
not for health reasons.
2. (U) Later the evening of March 23, the Nyasa Times
retracted the story and issued a public apology for the
anguish caused to the President and the people of Malawi. On
March 25, police arrested two people in Limbe for allegedly
spreading rumors of the President's ill health. The two were
charged with fabricating false news likely to cause fear and
alarm.
SULLIVAN