Malawi: Fears for the safety of pro-democracy activists

Index Number: AFR 36/017/1993
Date Published: 5 March 1993
Categories: Africa, Malawi

AI is concerned about apparent attempts to assassinate Reverend Emmanuel Chinkwita Phiri, head of the Baptist Church in Malawi and a member of the Public Affairs Committee, which lobbies for political reform. The most recent incident occurred on 4 January 1993 when a car drove at him at high speed as he was waiting at a bus stop. On two earlier occasions, in November and December 1992, it appears that attempts were made to poison him by impregnating his clothes with organo-phosphates. AI is concerned for the safety of many other campaigners for multi-party democracy in the run- up to the referendum on 14 June 1993.