Document #1035089
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
There is only one unconfirmed mention of
demonstrations and/or strikes protesting the arrest, trial and
death sentence of Orton Chirwa in the sources regularly consulted
by the IRBDC although there is a great deal of literature on the
subject. According to Africa Contemporary Record 1983-84 ,
"One commentator reported that there had been large demonstrations
in support of Chirwa and Mafremo during the treason trial" (Legum
1985, B653). This information is refuted, however, by
reports from diplomatic and other reliable sources inside the
country [which] said that there had been no such demonstrations and
that the trial and its result had been greeted with a show of
public apathy (Ibid., pp. B653-54).
Two sources regularly consulted by the
IRBDC report that, in the early 1980s, "While strikes are legally
permitted none has occurred" (Kurian 1987, 1248) and "Strikes are
not legally prohibited but rarely occur, and when they do they are
not publicized" (Country Reports 1983 1984, 221).
Reports from Malawi in the past few months
indicate that strikes are taking place at the present time and
being put down with violence (see attached reports).
Agence France Presse (AFP). 29 April
1992. "L'université fermée pour une durée
indeterminée et libération de syndicalistes."
(NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 18 July
1992. "Malawi: About 200 People Reportedly Arrested over
Multi-partyism Pamphlets." (NEXIS)
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices for 1983. 1984. U.S. Department of State. Washington:
Government Printing Office.
Kurian, George Thomas, ed. 1987.
Encyclopedia of the Third World. Vol II. 3rd ed. New York:
Facts on File, Inc.
Legum, Colin, ed. 1985 Africa
Contemporary Record: Annual Survey and Documents 1983-84. New
York: Africana Publishing Company.
The Washington Post. 14 May 1992.
Keith B. Richburg, "West Suspends Most Aid to Malawi Regime; Rights
Record, Absence of 'Basic Freedoms' Form Basis for Action."
(NEXIS)
Agence France Presse (AFP). 29 April
1992. "L'université fermée pour une durée
indeterminée et libération de syndicalistes."
(NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 18 July
1992. "Malawi: About 200 People Reportedly Arrested over
Multi-partyism Pamphlets." (NEXIS)
Legum, Colin, ed. 1985 Africa
Contemporary Record: Annual Survey and Documents 1983-84. New
York: Africana Publishing Company.
The Washington Post. 14 May 1992.
Keith B. Richburg, "West Suspends Most Aid to Malawi Regime; Rights
Record, Absence of 'Basic Freedoms' Form Basis for Action."
(NEXIS)