Dr. Bakili Muluzi
President of Malawi
Office of the President
Private Bag 301
Capital City
Lilongwe 3
Malawi

Fax: +265 782 095

Vienna, 24 September 2001

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives, condemns the recent brutal attack by an armed gang on an independent journalist.

According to information provided to IPI, on 19 September, Brian Ligomeka, a journalist with the Africa Eye News Service (AENS), suffered a pre-dawn raid at his home in Blantyre by six men armed with pistols, machetes and clubs. The gang approached the journalist’s house and subsequently attacked two security guards hired to protect Ligomeka and his family. Fortunately, the security guards managed to drive the attackers off before they could enter the journalist’s home.

Speaking immediately after the attack, Ligomeka said, “If it wasn’t for [the security guards], I’d have been abducted or killed… The guards drove the attackers off, but I’m terrified and don’t know what to do next. I’m even considering fleeing to Mozambique or Zambia, but that would be admitting defeat.” As a consequence of the attack, the journalist has now gone into hiding.

The pre-dawn raid was the second violent attack in a month on Ligomeka or his associates. On 12 August, seven masked men grabbed Ligomeka as he waited for an Angolan diplomatic delegation to arrive at Blantyre’s Chileka airport. The journalist was dragged out of the airport building by the men and towards a copse of trees. During the struggle, Ligomeka managed to break free of the men and lock himself in a police vehicle. As a result of the attack, he suffered severe bruising and a cracked jawbone. Commenting on the incident, Ligomeka stated that the men had identified themselves as members of the ruling United Democratic Front’s (UDF) youth league.

Both attacks are believed to have been precipitated by Ligomeka’s recent articles which reported growing criticism over the possibility that Your Excellency would run for an unconstitutional third term. In addition, during the original attack on 12 August, Ligomeka was accused of being a spy for the opposition pressure group, the National Democratic Alliance.

With regard to the above-mentioned incidents, IPI views it as essential that the government allow the media to report on news free of harassment and intimidation. IPI notes that, in the first attack, the perpetrators identified themselves as members of the ruling UDF; therefore, IPI believes it is implicit on the government to control those elements of its own party that are intent on violently suppressing the media. Furthermore, IPI views Ligomeka’s need to hire security guards as a sad comment on the failure of the police to assist Malawian citizens. For this reason, IPI calls on the government to fully investigate both attacks and make sure that the perpetrators are brought swiftly to justice.

Finally, IPI would remind Your Excellency that, according to article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”. IPI would invite the government to uphold this democratic principle, thus allowing the media to continue in their essential role of reporting on the news and commenting on political life in Malawi.

We thank you for your attention.

Best regards,

Johann P. Fritz
Director