A week after fire from a petrol bomb torched the offices of human rights campaigner Rafiq Hajat’s Instititute for Police Interaction (IPI), arsonists have razed down the Balaka home of Reverend Macdonald Sembereka, one of the leading figures of the civil society coalition behind recent pro-reform protests.

Balaka Police Station Spokesperson Titani Chadwala confirmed the incident and that the house was petrol-bombed.

“I hear the arsonists first came to the house around 6.00pm asking if the house really belongs to me. They told the boy who stays in the house that they had come from Andiamo Campus and I had sent them to bring bricks for building a fence which I never did,” explained Reverend Sembereka from Balaka.

At the time of the incident, the house was occupied by Sembereka’s brother in-law who was away in Malosa in Zomba and had left his younger brother to look after the house. The young boy escaped unharmed but everything in the house perished in the inferno.

A source close to Sembereka confided to Nyasa Times that prior to the visit by the group of young men, a meeting of ruling DPP cadets had taken place where among other things the youth militia were mobilised to take appropriate action on those who are in opposition to President Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration.

“I am told by relatives from Balaka that a meeting was convened by some DPP officials for their youth wing where they were told to deal with the opposition and Sembereka in particular to intimidate critics of government,” he said.

He said property, including office equipment, worth more than K3 million had been burnt in the flames. The value excludes the house.

The rights campaigner also said the destroyed property included office equipment and some belonging to his sister.

On 25 August, President Bingu  wa Mutharika publicly stated that he was ready ‘for war’ with his critics. He earlier also threatened to “smoke out” organisers of the protests and his critics.

Sembereka linked the attack to public hostile statements made by government authorities, which may encourage its supporters to target civil society and human rights defenders.

“I have 100 percent conviction that this is an attack. It is unfortunate that these things are happening shortly after President Mutharika said he would smoke us out and one would only link the incidents to the smoking out the president was referring to. This is an operation smoke out,” he said.

Sembereka , however, said the arson attack will not slow down his activism.

“I will not stop my human rights activism. I will not be intimidated. Even if they kill me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Irish-based human rights organisation called Front Line has expressed shock with the development, saying it has been informed of numerous instances of intimidation against human rights defenders related to civil society’s demands for reforms.

“Of extremely serious concern is that, in a bid to quell peaceful pro-democracy and pro-reform movements, the highest authorities in the country have repeatedly made statements which may incite violence against human rights defenders,” said Front Line.

“Several of them have received death threats and have been assaulted, in particular in connection with the mass protests held on 20 July 2011.”

The right watchdog also noted that the offices of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), whose Director Undule Mwakasungula is a leading figure of the pro-reform coalition, were attacked in March 2011.

There has also been arson attacks on vehicles belonging to private radio, Zodiak and a bus belonging to opposition leader Mark Katsonga.

Despite the numerous instances of intimidation, threats and attacks against human rights defenders, to date no one has been held to account for such violations.

A week after fire from a petrol bomb torched the offices of human rights campaigner Rafiq Hajat’s Instititute for Police Interaction (IPI), arsonists have razed down the Balaka home of Reverend Macdonald Sembereka, one of the leading figures of the civil society coalition behind recent pro-reform protests.

Balaka Police Station Spokesperson Titani Chadwala confirmed the incident and that the house was petrol-bombed.

“I hear the arsonists first came to the house around 6.00pm asking if the house really belongs to me. They told the boy who stays in the house that they had come from Andiamo Campus and I had sent them to bring bricks for building a fence which I never did,” explained Reverend Sembereka from Balaka.

At the time of the incident, the house was occupied by Sembereka’s brother in-law who was away in Malosa in Zomba and had left his younger brother to look after the house. The young boy escaped unharmed but everything in the house perished in the inferno.

A source close to Sembereka confided to Nyasa Times that prior to the visit by the group of young men, a meeting of ruling DPP cadets had taken place where among other things the youth militia were mobilised to take appropriate action on those who are in opposition to President Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration.

“I am told by relatives from Balaka that a meeting was convened by some DPP officials for their youth wing where they were told to deal with the opposition and Sembereka in particular to intimidate critics of government,” he said.

He said property, including office equipment, worth more than K3 million had been burnt in the flames. The value excludes the house.

The rights campaigner also said the destroyed property included office equipment and some belonging to his sister.

On 25 August, President Bingu  wa Mutharika publicly stated that he was ready ‘for war’ with his critics. He earlier also threatened to “smoke out” organisers of the protests and his critics.

Sembereka linked the attack to public hostile statements made by government authorities, which may encourage its supporters to target civil society and human rights defenders.

“I have 100 percent conviction that this is an attack. It is unfortunate that these things are happening shortly after President Mutharika said he would smoke us out and one would only link the incidents to the smoking out the president was referring to. This is an operation smoke out,” he said.

Sembereka , however, said the arson attack will not slow down his activism.

“I will not stop my human rights activism. I will not be intimidated. Even if they kill me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Irish-based human rights organisation called Front Line has expressed shock with the development, saying it has been informed of numerous instances of intimidation against human rights defenders related to civil society’s demands for reforms.

“Of extremely serious concern is that, in a bid to quell peaceful pro-democracy and pro-reform movements, the highest authorities in the country have repeatedly made statements which may incite violence against human rights defenders,” said Front Line.

“Several of them have received death threats and have been assaulted, in particular in connection with the mass protests held on 20 July 2011.”

The right watchdog also noted that the offices of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), whose Director Undule Mwakasungula is a leading figure of the pro-reform coalition, were attacked in March 2011.

There has also been arson attacks on vehicles belonging to private radio, Zodiak and a bus belonging to opposition leader Mark Katsonga.

Despite the numerous instances of intimidation, threats and attacks against human rights defenders, to date no one has been held to account for such violations.