Opposition UTM Friday demanded the urgent and unconditional release of its Secretary General Patricia Kaliati.
Kaliati was arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion that she had conspired with others to commit a felony, according to police.
Briefing reporters in Lilongwe Friday afternoon, UTM Director of Youth and presidential aspirant, Penjani Kalua, said the party is outraged by what it has described as the unjust arrest of Kaliati.
According to Kalua, it is evident that Kaliati’s arrest is politically motivated and aimed at silencing her.
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“This is a gross violation of her rights and an abuse of power that seeks to intimidate those who stand for justice and democracy,” Kalua said.
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The UTM also called on the police to respect the principles of multiparty democracy which guarantee freedom of association and participation.
“Intimidation and arbitrary arrests have no place in Malawi,” Kalua said.
The party urged its supporters and all Malawians who stand for justice to remain calm.
“In solidarity, we invite all our supporters to visit the Secretary General to offer her moral support,” Kalua said.
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The UTM reminded the authorities that any further attempts to silence the opposition would be met with continued resistance from all freedom loving Malawians.
“In this country, democracy must prevail,” he said.
Friday, scores of opposition leaders from the UTM, DPP, UDF and Aford took turns to cheer Kaliati.
In the morning, Kaliati was taken to National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe’s Area 30 before she was driven to Lilongwe Police Station in Area 3.
As of yesterday evening, police could not come out clearly on when they intend to take Kaliati to court.
Meanwhile, Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Friday expressed concern over the slow process by the police to take Kaliati to court.
Speaking outside Lilongwe Police Station, MHRC Director of Civil and Political Rights Peter Chisi said the law provides that a suspected person should be taken to court within 48 hours.
He expressed worry that with the slow pace of taking Kaliati to court, the 48 hours period shall expire on Saturday which is a weekend and the courts are closed.
Because of that, Kaliati may be made to spend the weekend in custody up to Monday when the courts reopen, he said.
In a statement on Thursday, police said they had arrested Kaliati and were hunting for two others for suspecting them of conspiring to “commit a serious offence”.
It said details of the offence would be given out to the public “at an appropriate time.”
The police further said Kaliati would be taken to court within 48 hours as required by the law.
In a statement upon her arrest, NGO Gender Coordination and the Women’s Manifesto Movement said they were concerned over Kaliati’s arrest.
“We urge law enforcement agencies to proceed with this matter in a professional manner, within the confines of the current laws,” they said.
They said they hoped that Kaliati’s arrest would “neither impede the advancements made in the political engagement of women nor deter other women from entering the political sphere.”
