The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson, Timothy Mtambo, has asked the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) to provide security at the next scheduled meeting with the Attorney General, Kalekemi Kaphale, over matters regarding the anti-Jane Ansah demonstrations.

HRDC said this following Friday’s incident at Crossroads hotel in Lilongwe, whereby unidentified man was allegedly attempted to launch a hand grenade aimed at bombing a car belonging to one the coalition members before the group’s security personnel chased him.

The meeting was organized following recommendation from the Supreme Court of Appeal which ordered the two parties to hold negotiations aimed at determining a manner in which incidents of violence and crime during the anti-Jane Ansah demonstrations can be prevented.

But following the attempted criminal act, Mtambo said the coalition has lost trust in the police personnel and has therefore called on intervention of the military men.

Mtambo said: “The question we are asking is that do we have security? Because the police were in that compound when this happened and it’s disturbing to learn that the civilians were able to detect the attempted criminal act while the police couldn’t.”

Mtambo further said the security of HRDC members is at risk and he is of the view that “the government is playing double standards.”

Uncertainties started earlier in the morning as the venue for the meeting kept changing from civic offices to Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) and then to  Crossroads hotel due to security concerns from HRDC members.

Meanwhile the Attorney General, Kalekeni Kaphale and HRDC lawyer, Khwima Chizi, have agreed to start their discussions on Wednesday, September 4, to allow the two sides to share notes on what has to be discussed.