VZCZCXRO4262
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHLG #0384 1241547
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041547Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2705
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0212
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0107
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC 0442
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000384 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV KCOR MI
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT ARRESTS MORE ALLEGED TREASON 
CONSPIRATORS 
 
REF: A. 06LILONGWE376 
     ¶B. 06LILONGWE365 
     ¶C. 05LILONGWE338 
     ¶D. 05LILONGWE15 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The government has arrested ten more 
alleged accomplices of Vice President Chilumpha, claiming 
that they are all linked to the VP's alleged plot to 
assassinate President Mutharika.  Those arrested include 
senior members of the United Democratic Front (UDF) party, a 
former ambassador and two Muslim sheiks. This comes after the 
VP was denied bail in his treason case, and his claim of 
immunity was rejected by the presiding Magistrate in the 
case.  Rumors of more arrests, including those of the former 
defense force commander and former inspector general of the 
police, are swirling through Lilongwe and Blantyre. End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Malawi's private media condemned the arrests, 
calling Mutharika "paranoid" and "insecure."  In recent days 
both national daily papers ran startling front page photos of 
the VP speaking to his family through the prison barbed wire 
and being bundled into the back of a police van following his 
appearance in court.  The arrests are also being seen as 
another example of the government targeting Muslims (half of 
those arrested so far are Muslims), and will surely further 
estrange Mutharika's government from the Muslim community. 
 
¶3. (U) Vice President Chilumpha's lawyers sought his 
immediate release on May 2, claiming the constitution granted 
the VP immunity from prosecution. Chilumpha had been granted 
an injunction by the high court in December 2005 that 
protected him from prosecution in a corruption case. 
However, the Magistrate ruled that the December injunction 
does not apply to the current treason case.   The 
constitution clearly lays out the immunity granted to the 
President, but is silent on any immunity given to the VP. 
Chilumpha's lawyer is expected to appeal the ruling to the 
High Court. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment: As the list of alleged conspirators grows, 
government claims about the assassination plot become less 
credible.  Certainly among urban Malawians, the arrests are 
being seen as an effort to decisively quash the opposition 
UDF.  For the GOM, it also serves the purpose of keeping 
former president Muluzi off the scene, as Muluzi will surely 
not return from his convalescence in the UK while UDF members 
are being arrested left and right.  The arrests of the Muslim 
sheiks are seen as an effort to head off public protests over 
Chilumpha's arrest, particularly while President Mugabe is in 
town.  The credibility of the government's case ultimately 
will depend on the evidence that is presented in court. 
 
EASTHAM