From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:MALAWI: Delegation meets EC officials to query aid decision
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 13:46:52 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1993, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: MALAWI: Delegation meets EC officials to query aid decision


brussels, jan 18 (ips/alecia mckenzie) -- as malawi prepares to go
to the polls a delegation from the country's opposition group is
scheduled to visit here wednesday to hold talks with officials of
the european community about ending the supension of aid.

the two-man delegation from the alliance for democracy (aford),
which comprises the secretary general denis nkhwazi and
coordinator jan jaab sonke, will also meet with the powerful
international confederation of free trade unions (icftu).

the ec has suspended all new aid programmes to malawi in line
with the ec's stated principle of ''no aid unless there's
democracy and respect for human rights'', said mauro mariani, the
desk officer for the southern african country. however, aid to
refugees and for emergency humanitarian assistance is continuing.

mariani said the ec may send a monitoring team to malawi if there
are clear signs that the referendum on adopting a multi- party
system will go ahead as planned on march 15. ''there's no
guarantee it will actually take place,'' he said.

mariani responded guardedly when asked what measures the
community would adopt if the referendum is cancelled: ''let's wait
and see,'' he said. ''even if we have foreseen some measures, we
cannot publicise them because this field of political cooperation
is a very delicate issue.''

but he acknowledged that the ec was keeping a close watch on
events in malawi, as is the brussels-based icftu. the
organisation, which groups 162 trade union centres representing
113 workers worldwide, has been in the forefront of the campaign
to have western aid to malawi suspended because of alleged human
rights violations by the government of hastings kamuzu banda.

the organisation has been particularly angered by the treatment
of the trade union leader, chakufwa chihana, who is also chairman
of aford.

chihana is currently serving a two-year jail sentence for
allegedly conspiring against the state, charges icftu general
secretary enzo friso has dismissed as ''a farce, based on trumped-
up charges and mainly aimed at silencing one of the most prominent
democrats in the country''.

friso plans to visit malawi at the end of this month and the
icftu has written to president kamuzu banda asking for an audience
but has received no response so far.

since chihana was arrested last april, the icftu has repeatedly
intervened with the government and has lobbied governments and
international institutions to make aid to the country conditional
on tangible improvements of its human rights record.(more/ips)

malawi: delegation meets ec officials to query aid decision(2-e)

chihana has appealed against his sentence and is waiting for a
ruling from malawi's supreme court.

the icftu is particularly interested in the aford  delegation's
visit because the labour organisation is not convinced of
president kamuzu banda's commitment to reform.

''just this month a journalist was arrested because he was
writing in favour of multi-partyism, so there is not much sign of
change,'' said prem fakun, a spokesman for the icftu.

he said that the group had written to the malawi president
saying that while the icftu welcomes the referendum, there are
certain criteria that must be met for it to be seen as fair.

''we've told him that groups and parties must have freedom to
campaign for their ideas and must have access to the media,
including state-owned radio and television,'' fakun said.
''we've also called for electoral registration.''

the group sent a similar letter to malawi's ambassador to
belgium and the ec, lawrence anthony, who had promised to assist
with visa and other arrangements for friso's planned visit but has
done nothing so far, according to the icftu.

but the ambassador said he had sent a fax to the malawi
government and was waiting for a reply. ''as soon as i get a
response about arrangements for friso to meet with government
officials, there will be no problems with the visa,'' anthony
said.

he also said he knew nothing about the aford delegation's visit.
''when are they coming and who are they?'' he asked.
(end/ips/la/am/mf/93)