VZCZCXRO7104
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHLG #0390 1281425
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081425Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2714
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0213
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0108
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC 0443
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHDC

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000390 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KCOR MI
SUBJECT: VP'S "ACCOMPLICES" RELEASED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE 
 
REF: A. 06LILONGWE376 
     ¶B. 06LILONGWE365 
     ¶C. 05LILONGWE338 
     ¶D. 05LILONGWE15 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Twelve of those arrested in connection with 
Vice-President Cassim Chiulumpha's treason case were released 
for lack of evidence on May 6, three days after they were 
arrested. The twelve included a number of leaders in the VP's 
United Democratic Front (UDF) party, a former Malawian 
ambassador, a civil society leader, and two Muslim sheikhs. 
The release of the twelve four hours after Zimbabwean 
President Robert Mugabe,s departure is probably not a 
coincidence.  Chilumpha and two others are still in custody. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Those released were former Malawian ambassador to 
Libya Muhammed Kulesi, UDF National Executive Committee 
member Maurice Kachimbwinda, UDF Central Regional Governor 
John Banda, UDF advisor Humphrey Mvula, President of the 
Malawi Democratic Party Kamlepo Kalua, Chilumpha associate 
Hophmally Makande, Sheikh Daudi Abasi, Sheikh Afasi, Ndaila 
Onani, Shaban Kadango, Ali Faki and a Mr. Nkumba.  All twelve 
had been scheduled for a bail hearing on May 8. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Eastham met with three UDF leaders on May 
5 to discuss the case, among other issues. The UDF officials 
took an interesting approach, primarily protesting the 
treatment of Chilumpha, who was moved to Lilongwe in a truck 
that broke down halfway and who remains locked up in a 
severely overcrowded prison in Lilongwe. The UDF leaders did 
not, however, contest the government's right to charge and 
try Chilumpha on treason charges, though they said that the 
serious charge of treason brings the government into ridicule 
and is a tactic of intimidation, given that the maximum 
sentence in Malawi for this charge is death by hanging. They 
also claimed that they were told by friends within the police 
that they were on a list of those targeted for arrest. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Civil society leaders, who have been preoccupied 
with the Mugabe visit,  have also expressed doubt about the 
merits of the case against Chilumpha, and worry over the 
tactics that government has used.  One outspoken NGO leader 
told Embassy officials that he had also been told that he 
would be arrested, and he was worried that Malawi is 
"slipping back into a dictatorship." Another said the arrests 
have been politically motivated, and pointed to the 
similarity of Chilumpha's case with high profile treason 
accusations against opposition leaders in Zimbabwe and Uganda. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Comment: The timing of the arrest of Chilumpha's 
alleged co-conspirators, which came the morning of Mugabe's 
arrival, and their release hours after he left, is apparent, 
though it is difficult to understand why the government would 
use the blunt instrument of an alleged capital offense to 
detain opposition politicians for a short period of time, 
only to release them without charge.  Mutharika was intent on 
making sure Mugabe's visit went smoothly, as demonstrated by 
the extent to which he courted those opposing the visit (ref 
B). Hours before Mugabe arrived, the police arrested 
opposition leaders who could have led protests over 
Chilumpha's arrest, and a civil society advocate who had 
publicly promised to protest Mugabe's visit. Putting the 
twelve on ice, while privately intimidating others, ensured 
that there would be no disruptions while 'Comrade' Mugabe was 
here. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment contd: However, the treason charges against 
Chilumpha might have the end result of bringing back an old 
headache, as former President and Mutharika-foe Bakili Muluzi 
has announced that he will now return early from his extended 
visit in the U.K.  We continue to believe that the case 
against Chilumpha may or may not be valid, and until evidence 
is presented (perhaps as early as his May 11 bail hearing) we 
would reserve judgment on his case and that of his 
co-defendants. It is indeed worrisome that the government 
would use the coattails of Chilumpha,s treason case to put a 
dozen politicians away from public view for a few days.  End 
Comment. 
EASTHAM