Throughout 2011, human rights defenders and other critics of the government were harassed and intimidated. Human rights defenders were directly targeted for their support of societal demands for reform and good governance and for leading mass protests. Virtually all human rights defenders involved in the pro reform movement received serious threats, including phone calls to family members asking for the location of the offices or homes of their relatives. The authorities made statements inciting violence against human rights defenders and civil society leaders. Late President Mutharika repeatedly called on supporters to fight all those opposing his views or criticising the Government, stating he would “smoke them out”. In reaction to widespread demonstrations, local authorities banned protests in the main cities. In March 2011, the President imposed a prior monetary deposit of 2 million MK on those trying to organise peaceful demonstrations. Mass protests in July 2011 were violently suppressed by the police and resulted in the death of 19 protesters and injuries to hundreds. In October 2011 the Government announced an outright ban. On various occasions, cabinet ministers threatened to de-register NGOs critical of government policies, particularly those involved in the demonstrations. There were several suspicious break-ins at NGO offices, and the office and the home of two prominent human rights defenders were set on fire. Threats and attacks were made either by people identifying themselves as aligned with the ruling Democratic Progressively Party or by unidentified people believed to be the state security agents. A student activist was found dead in circumstances that were never clarified. With the new government in place since April 2012, threats, attacks and intimidation of human rights defenders dropped dramatically.