By Suleman Chitera

Governance expert George Chaima says Malawi’s international reputation has been damaged following Thursday’s events in Lilongwe, where unknown thugs brutally attacked peaceful demonstrators.

Chaima said the conduct of police and military officers—watching without intervening as the protesters were being assaulted—has painted a negative image of the country abroad.

“It is disheartening to see some individuals violating democratic rights,” said Chaima.

He made the remarks following a joint letter from ambassadors of seven countries—United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Iceland, and Finland—expressing their dismay over the incident.

“It is frustrating that a few people are trying to destroy the democracy our forefathers struggled for, with some even dying for it,” added Chaima.

Although some reports accuse the police and army of inaction, Malawi Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya told a local media house that police used tear gas to rescue the attacked demonstrators.

Kalaya dismissed claims that the police merely stood by, saying without their intervention, the victims could have been killed.