VZCZCXRO3853
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLG #0294/01 1481139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271139Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5266
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0257
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000294 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S - ELIZABETH PELLETREAU 
LONDON FOR PETER LORD, MCC FOR DEIDRA FAIR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINS KDEM ASEC MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: FORMER PRESIDENT MULUZI ARRESTED IN 
CONTINUED COUP PLOT INVESTIGATION 
 
REF: A. LILONGWE 280 
 
     ¶B. LILONGWE 286 
 
LILONGWE 00000294  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: On May 25, police arrested former president 
Bakili Muluzi as he exited the airplane in Lilongwe on return 
from a trip to the United Kingdom.  Muluzi was immediately 
escorted to a Malawi Defense Force (MDF) plane and flown to 
Blantyre where he was detained under "house arrest" at his 
home in conjunction with an alleged coup plot.  Reports and 
rumors of individuals having been shot by police firing have 
not been confirmed and the country remains calm.  Despite 
rumors that corruption charges might also be leveled against 
Muluzi, Muluzi's lawyers confirmed that there was no 
additional evidence beyond what was presented at the bail 
hearing of the eight alleged coup plotters on May 20. 
Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Ernest Malenga 
told press that Muluzi's arrest is a continuation of arrests 
in the coup plot but that nobody has formally been charged 
with treason.  On May 26, police questioned Muluzi regarding 
the alleged coup, but afterward Muluzi told the press the 
claims were "laughable" and his arrest was "sad" given Malawi 
is a democracy.  Muluzi will apply for bail on May 27, upon 
completion of the 48 hour detention window. End Summary. 
 
 
Muluzi Arrested at the Airport 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) On May 25, police arrested former president Bakili 
Muluzi upon return from a two-week trip to the UK.  Muluzi 
arrived at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and was 
immediately arrested upon exiting the aircraft.  Police 
escorted Muluzi to a military plane and he was flown to 
Blantyre.  Upon arrival in Blantyre, police took Muluzi to 
his already heavily surrounded home and performed a search of 
the premises that yielded nothing.  Police are currently 
detaining Muluzi under "house arrest" in conjunction with the 
investigation into the alleged coup plot that surfaced on May 
13 (ref A). 
 
Initial Reports of Shootings Unconfirmed 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Muluzi was scheduled to hold a rally in Lilongwe 
upon his arrival.  Initial reports described unruly crowds 
creating roadblocks and throwing stones near the airport. 
Muluzi's private radio station reported that three people 
were shot when police fired in an attempt to disburse the 
crowds, but we have been unable to confirm the shootings and 
press reports have been contradictory.  While crowds also 
gathered around Muluzi's home in a show of support, there 
have been no reports of violence in Blantyre.  On May 26, the 
day after Muluzi's arrest, the country remained calm. 
 
No New Evidence 
--------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Despite early rumors that the Anti-Corruption Bureau 
(ACB) would add corruption charges to the potential treason 
charges, Ralph Kasambara, one of Muluzi's lawyers, confirmed 
to emboff that the detention was in conjunction with the coup 
investigation only and that the government only presented the 
same two pieces of evidence used for the May 13 arrests of 
original eight coup suspects.  On May 20, the High Court 
ruled these pieces of evidence insufficient for further 
detention of the suspects (ref B). Minister of Home Affairs 
and Internal Security Ernest Malenga told the press that 
Muluzi's arrest is only a continuation of the investigation 
into the alleged coup plot.  Malenga continued that nobody 
had been formally charged with treason yet. 
 
¶5. (U) On May 26, police questioned Muluzi about the 
court-dismissed documents that described a plan to return him 
to the presidency through a coup plot.  Afterward, Muluzi 
told the press that the charges were "laughable" since they 
were based only on an anonymous letter and an unsigned 
document.  Muluzi said that he felt his arrest was "sad" 
since Malawi was supposed to be a democracy and to respect 
the rule of law.  Muluzi's lawyers described the arrest as 
nothing more than harassment and stated they were in the 
process of filing for bail on May 27, the completion of the 
48 hour detention window. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: The arrest of Muluzi was surprising given 
 
LILONGWE 00000294  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the recent court ruling on the government's evidence and the 
lack of new evidence.  While many were initially concerned 
the arrest could spark violence, especially in southern 
Malawi, the country has remained calm and continues to let 
the criminal legal system run its course.  Barring new 
evidence, we expect that Muluzi will be granted bail and be 
allowed to move freely within Malawi, which should further 
defuse the situation.  Although the arrests may be an attempt 
to harass and gain leverage over Muluzi as elections 
approach, the arrests continue to bolster Muluzi's status as 
leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the party's 
presidential candidate while giving the UDF a cause to rally 
behind.  End Comment. 
 
 
EASTHAM