Malawi Pardons Two Gay Men After They Illegally Got Married!

[Derryck alias Mimbari]

http://mimbari.livejournal.com/

May 31-2010:

Tiwonge Chimbalanga & Steven Monjeza pardoned by Bingu wa Mutharika in
Malawi

ATTENTION:

Malawi-Two Gay Men Pardoned For Getting Married!

If this president Matharika is truly humitarian in heart, then he
aught to have legislation enacted to protect those whose sexual
identity or orientation, does not fit the historic and cultural
preferences of his culture or country.

And it also ensures that they get the Hunman Rights Protection/
Entitlement like everyone else in that society too.

Derryck.
NYC.

See The Full Story Below:

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/10190653.stm

Malawi Pardons Jailed Gay Couple!

29 May 2010 17:14 UK

Aid donors had put pressure on the government to free the pair A gay
couple jailed in Malawi after getting engaged have been pardoned by
President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Mr Mutharika, speaking as UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited his country,
said he had ordered their immediate release.

Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were given 14-year jail terms
earlier this month after being convicted of gross indecency and
unnatural acts.

The case has sparked international condemnation and a debate about
homosexuality in the country.

Mr Ban hailed the president's decision as "courageous".

"This outdated penal code should be reformed wherever it may exist,"
he said.

The BBC's Karen Allen, in Lilongwe, says Mr Ban is trying to put
pressure on parliamentarians to reform anti-homosexuality laws that
date back to colonial times.

'Culture of hate'

Correspondents say Malawi is a deeply conservative society where
religious leaders equate same-sex liaisons with Satanism.

ANALYSISContinue reading the main story
Karen Allen
BBC News, Lilongwe
The president has certainly gone against public opinion in pardoning
the gay men. What we have seen recently is a boldening of public
opinion against gay rights.

But this issue is causing friction between Western governments and
several African nations which have similar legislation.

It will be interesting to see what the reaction is on the rest of the
continent. There is talk of constitutional change in a number of
countries across Africa which, theoretically at least, could see gay
people protected.

But so far, South Africa is the only country on the continent to
legislate for gay rights. If public opinion does not change, it is
unlikely many other countries will follow their lead.
Mr Mutharika, who has in the past dismissed homosexuality as alien,
said he had set them free on humanitarian grounds.

"In all aspects of reasoning, in all aspects of human understanding,
these two gay boys were wrong - totally wrong," he said after meeting
Mr Ban.

"However, now that they have been sentenced, I as the president of
this country have the powers to pronounce on them and therefore, I
have decided that with effect from today, they are pardoned and they
will be released."

Monjeza, 26, and Chimbalanga, 20, were arrested in December 2009 after
celebrating their engagement. They have been in custody ever since.

Their lawyers say the two men are likely to be freed by Monday.

Our correspondent says there are plenty of people who were not sorry
to see the men go to jail, many of whom will be slightly puzzled at
the president's announcement.

Gift Trapence, from the campaign group Centre for the Development of
People, welcomed the decision.

"We're very happy and we praise the president for his maturity, but
there is still a long way to go to end the culture of hate," he said.

External pressure

Aid donors and human rights groups have been putting pressure on his
government to respect the rights of minority groups.

The UK government, Malawi's biggest donor, said it was dismayed by the
sentencing, and the US labelled it a step backwards for human rights.

On Saturday, British popstar and Aids campaigner Sir Elton John wrote
an open letter to Mr Mutharika in the UK's Guardian newspaper pleading
for the release of the pair.

"Their trial and harsh sentencing will have a perilous effect on our
continuing efforts to combat Aids in Malawi and potentially reverse
the gains we have achieved," he said.

The two men were convicted under a law dating back to colonial rule by
Britain.

Many of Britain's former colonies have similar laws outlawing
homosexuality; India overturned its anti-homosexuality law last year.

In Uganda, MPs are debating whether to strengthen the laws to include
the death penalty for some gay people - a move which has infuriated
Western governments and rights campaigners.