(NYASATIMES) Malawi police brutality decried in US rights report

Malawi police brutality decried in US rights report
Thom Chiumia
03 March, 2009 01:04:00

US State Department, in its annual report on human rights, finds that has shamed Malawi police for denting the country's rights record as it highlighted that "police used excessive force, including torture and other unlawful techniques, in handling criminal suspects.”

The Malawian section of the official US rights said while senior officials publicly condemned prisoner mistreatment, their subordinates continued to employ unacceptable techniques.

It also attached its survey’s credibility by pointing out that the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) condemned police for human rights violations several times throughout the year.

“There were several instances of security forces abuse,” the report said in reviewing the last year.

US noted the police force was inefficient and poorly trained due to inadequate funding.

“Corruption was widespread, and impunity was a problem,” said the report.

However, it noted that Police continued efforts to improve investigative skills, including training on internal affairs investigations, and to introduce the concept of victims' rights through workshops and other training exercises, particularly in the areas of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and trafficking in persons.

The police continued to receive foreign assistance to train officials and procure equipment But the report catalogues several abuses.

“On March 10, The Nation photographed an unknown woman who was left outside the Chilinde Police Station in Lilongwe. Witnesses said she was held by the neck and squeezed against bars on the window by a police officer until she was unconscious. The woman was trying to watch police transport two corpses,” reads the report.

“Aubrey Kasten claimed three police officers from Kabula Police Station in Blantyre beat him on August 22 until he was unconscious. Kasten said the officers first asked him to pay a bribe and when he refused, they forced him to join a roving night patrol. When Kasten asked to be released, he was beaten. Police told the media they would investigate but no further information was available,” noted the report.

“On November 10, Mzuzu First Grade Magistrate's Court sentenced former police officer Leonard Chitimbe to 24 months in prison for assaulting four suspects on the night of July 20. The suspects has been accused of stealing a digital camera and claimed that Chitembe beat them with his hands, a cane, and a machete in an attempt to gain a confession,” said the report.

US also surveyed that Malawi security forces engaged in rape and sexual abuse.

“For example, on August 23, a police officer in Lilongwe, Enock Chawanda, was arrested for sodomizing a suspect; the suspect reported the sodomy to medical personnel and a medical examination confirmed the act. Chawanda was awaiting trial at year's end.” It said during the year the MHRC received three complaints of arbitrary detention related to overstay of remand, denial of bail, and unheard appeals.

“Arbitrary arrests remained a problem. Police arrested relatives of suspects when a suspect could not be found to draw the wanted individual out of hiding.”

US said security forces arrested a number of opposition politicians, primarily from the UDF, on a range of charges.

“Arrests of opposition politicians were greater than in the previous year.”

Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister, Ernest Malenga said he had not read the report and could not comment.