Cable sobre el juicio a una pareja del mismo sexo en Malawi y la falta de revisi¨®n constitucional
| ID: | 250229 |
| Date: | 2010-02-23 13:39:00 |
| Origin: | 10LILONGWE59 |
| Source: | Embassy Lilongwe |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Dunno: | 10LILONGWE152 |
| Destination: | VZCZCXRO0915 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHLG #0059 0541339 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231339Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0135 INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE |
C O N F I D E N T I A L LILONGWE 000059 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/23 TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, MI SUBJECT: MALAWI: SAME-SEX COUPLE TRIAL: NO CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW REF: 10 LILONGWE 152 CLASSIFIED BY: Bodde Peter, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B) SUMMARY 1. (U) The Chief Justice of the Malawi High Court has denied the application for a review of the constitutionality of the sections of the Malawi Penal Code under which same-sex couple Steve Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were charged. The defense attorney can appeal the denial to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeals, but this appears unlikely to be successful. Both Monjeza and Chimbalanga remain in jail without bail. The Blantyre Magistrate Court's verdict is scheduled to be announced March 22. End summary. APPLICATION FOR REVIEW DENIED 2. (U) In a written ruling dated January 28 but only made public February 22, Malawi High Court Chief Justice L. G. Munlo denied the Application for Certification of Proceedings brought by same-sex couple Steve Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga. The motion asked that a Constitutional Court be convened to rule on the constitutionality of Malawi Penal Code Chapter 15, Sections 153 and 156, under which the couple has been charged with "carnal knowledge against the order of nature" and "gross indecency." 3. (U) In his ruling, Chief Justice Munlo wrote, "From the totality of the documents that are before me, I have come to the conclusion that the criminal proceedings that are before the Chief Resident Magistrate Court do not expressly and substantially relate to or concern the interpretation or application of the Constitution." APPEAL UNLIKELY 4. (C) University of Malawi Dean of Law Dr. Edge Kanyongolo (protect) told us that an appeal of the denial to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeals would be problematic, as Chief Justice Munlo sits at the head of that court as well. Dr. Kanyongolo stated, "An appeal, not to mention a successful one, is very, unlikely. He (the Chief Justice) is not likely to reverse his own ruling." Kanyongolo did hold out the possibility that a second Application for Certification, asking for a review of the penal code vis-a-vis another section of the Constitution, could be entered by the defense, but did not believe this likely. CRIMINAL TRIAL VERDICT EXPECTED MARCH 22 5. (U) Monjeza and Chimbalanga remain in jail pending a verdict on the criminal charges from the Blantyre Magistrate Court. While the trial phase of the case has ended, the defense attorney and the prosecution indicated they will present further written arguments to the Magistrate in the coming weeks. The Magistrate stated he will rule on the case on March 22. COMMENT 6. (SBU) Chief Justice Munlo's ruling represents an important milestone in this case, as it effectively stops a constitutional review of the sections of Malawi's Penal Code that criminalize homosexual behavior. Munlo's ruling establishes that sexual orientation is not a protected status under Malawi's constitution. BODDE |
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