Malawians living in the United Kingdom (UK) have petition the British government, asking the Queen’s land to condemn the imminent dangers that are facing the human rights defenders and some leaders of civil society organizations dealing with human rights, democracy and good governance issues.

Presented Wednesday at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in London through MP John Leech (Liberal Democrats), the group, Concerned Malawians (UK), have also submitted their grievances to the British Prime Minister’s, (David Cameroon) base at 10 Downing Street.

“We have called on the UK government to immediately step up strict conditions of good governance, democracy and human rights as a prerequisite for providing aid. We base this request on the reasoning that the lack of such strict conditions and prerequisites imply support to the state machinery for the further decay of governance, democracy and human rights in Malawi,” reads the statement dated 23rd March 2011, signed by spokesman Ben Chiza Mkandawire and coordinator Thom Chiumia.

The Diaspora grouping demands that Britain condemn President Bingu wa Mutharika’s government as they have done with the Libyan government and Comrade Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

“We want… the Malawi government to stop the intimidation and harassment of civil society organisations and human rights defenders. We also express grave concerns –in the petition – on the de facto ban of demonstrations and oppressive police law,” says the statement released to our media house, adding “we want the UK government to condemn the Malawi government on its attack of academic freedom”.

The group further demands condemnation of the Malawi government on its enactment of section 46 which gives full powers to Minister of Information and Civic Education to ban any publication or newspaper.

“We want the UK government to be aware that media and press freedom in Malawi have been violated by the enactment of this law,” they say.

The UK-based Malawians further raised the alarm on Malawi’s rampart corruption which they say is now institutionalized by the ruling elite.

“The anti-corruption drive is interpreted by the public as driven by the state's desire to silence and push into submission people who seem to be politically ambitious or critical of some Government decisions. The UK government as a major donor to Malawi must ensure that the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Malawi acts independently and is giving enough resources to start and conclude cases speedily,” concludes the statement.

Human rights defenders have been warned and ridiculed by the government and President Mutharika for their persistent cries over bad governance, and the groups have since presented a petition to the United Nations on their concerns, recommending for targeted sanctions.

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