§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for an official from the United Kingdom mission in Malawi to attend the trial of Chakufwa Chihana on charges of sedition and publish a report of the proceedings.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydChakufwa Chihana's trail ended on 12 November. The judge has now withdrawn to consider458W the evidence. Members of the high commission staff together with representatives from other diplomatic embassies in Lilongwe took it in turns to ensure a continuous diplomatic presence at the trial. Transcripts of the proceeding are expected to be available through the high court in Blantyre. We do not propose to prepare an independent report of the proceedings.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government about the imprisonment and criminal charges brought against Chakufwa Chihana in Malawi; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe made formal representations in April and August this year calling on the Malawian Government to release Mr. Chihana pending formal committal proceedings. We have told them that we considered his arrest and subsequent indictment to be a flagrant violation to his right to freedom of speech.