Posted 2010/3/12
Malawi – Update: Human rights defenders Mr Edward Chileka, Mr Howard Jimu and Mr Awonenji Chimera granted bail
Human rights defenders Mr Edward Chileka, Mr Howard Jimu and Mr Awonenji Chimera were granted bail today, 12 March 2010. They were requested to pay the equivalent of 33 USD each and will have to appear before the court on a weekly basis. They had been arrested on 24 February.
Edward Chileka, Howard Jimu and Awonenji Chimera were arrested on 24 February following a statement criticising the prioritisation of the ruling party's youth group in accessing public funds over other youth groups. They were only brought to court on 2 March, four days after the expiry of the 48-hour limit prescribed by law. During a court hearing on 4 March, bail was not granted.
Edward Chileka is the executive director of Eye for Development (EFD), and Howard Jimu and Awonenji Chimera are EFD staff members. EFD is a youth organisation and is a member of Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) coalition in Malawi.
