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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Sep 04 2010 09:18 | LAST UPDATED Sep 04 2010 09:18 |
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A Malawian gay couple who received a presidential pardon on a 14-year sentence for sodomy on Thursday called President Bingu wa Mutharika a "caring father" and a "tolerant president". "The president has demonstrated that he is a caring father, a considerate and tolerant president. We wish him good health in his everyday endeavours as he continues leading the country to respecting human rights and to economic prosperity," the couple said in a statement. Tiwonge Chimbalanga (20) and Steven Monjeza (26) gave a brief news conference in the administrative capital Lilongwe late on Wednesday, their first public appearance together since Saturday's pardon from the sentence of 14 years' hard labour imposed after they held a symbolic wedding. The pardon followed a meeting between Mutharika and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Malawi has been sharply criticised by the international community for jailing the couple and maintaining laws that criminalise homosexuality. The couple asked the media and the general public to respect their privacy. "So much has been said and written about us, both positive and negative. We think this is the time for us to be given an opportunity to enjoy our freedom," they said. They called their ordeal "the most stressful period in our lives". Chimbalanga told Agence France-Presse in a phone interview that he was in Lilongwe to "have a breather", while his partner had returned to his village.  CONTINUES BELOW 'Satanic' wedding Gift Trapence, director of the underground gay movement Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), which paid the couple's legal fees, said the group was trying to find jobs for Chimbalanga and Monjeza. Mutharika on Wednesday asked the country to stop talking about the couple's "satanic" wedding. The public mood in Malawi has generally been in favour of the heavy sentence and against the pardon. "The story ends there," Mutharika told reporters. "I don't want to hear anyone commenting on them. Nobody is authorised to comment on the gays. You will spoil things." He said the couple's wedding was "satanic because they committed a crime against our culture, against our religion and against our laws", but said he pardoned them because "to err is human and to forgive is divine". - AFP TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
Comments
alfonso totole on June 3, 2010, 3:01 pm
What about the next to be convicted? Will he or she also be pardoned? The one after that? The next ten?
Is it only because of the outcry that they have been pardoned or will the president try to change the law?
Jens Ekengren on June 3, 2010, 3:51 pm
LOL, as if they would even dare to say anything against the president! Somebody probably wrote the press release on their behalf!
Concerned Citizen on June 3, 2010, 4:56 pm
Mutharika, '"I don't want to hear anyone commenting on them. Nobody is authorised to comment on the gays. You will spoil things."
Snigger, snigger, the last bit caps it all, 'You will spoil things.' Yes Mr President we hear you and we understand you. The pains of being a beggar country, plenty tangible evidence for all to see. The prepossessed, pre-onwed not in charge of their destiny! Malawi should surely request their spineless President step down immediately. Eish,...
dread dread6 on June 3, 2010, 10:27 pm
@dread, at least I agree with you that the President should step down. Africa has been oppressed enough and oppression from a President in a free and democratic country is a travesty.
Concerned Citizen on June 4, 2010, 9:50 am
will other victims also be pardoned? who have committed the same crime it must not end here mr president
nicolus rudzani on June 5, 2010, 10:24 pm
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Steven Monjeza (L) and Tiwonge Chimbalanga are pictured ahead of their appearance at a magistrate's court in Blantyre on January 4 2010. (Eldson Chagara, Reuters)
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He said the couple's wedding was "satanic because they committed a crime against our culture, against our religion and against our laws", but said he pardoned them because "to err is human and to forgive is divine". - AFP
what things is the president afraid can be spoiled? (could it be donor funding?)
and in his own words its back to square one save for the two who are not in Jail and the silence of coz.