A GOOD WEEK FOR ASH IN THE LOCAL PRESS

WITCHCRAFT APPEAL FOR COMPENSATION/CHALLENGE TO WITCHDOCTORS

Publicity seeker George Thindwa does it again by making sure that the press are fully informed of ASH's developments and activities. The Malawi News of 2nd April reported that ASH was assisting the 'witch' recently freed on appeal to sue the government for wrongful arrest and imprisonment. They also reported  that ASH would be seeking to obtain compensation for all such cases.
Additionally, the newspaper reported that ASH's open challenge to witchdoctors (asing'anga) to demonstrate their powers on him is yet to produce a challenger even thouigh the cash prize has been raised to K 500, 000 ($3,500) - a large sum in Malawi where the annual GDP per person is less than US150!


BIBLE DISCREPANCIES AND THE QUESTION OF FAITH

On 3rd April 2011, the Sunday Times in its regular and light-hearted 'Paparazzi' column highlighted the discrepancies in both the Old and New Testaments. Tongue-in-cheek, the columnist proclaimed himself to be a believer whilst highlighting the problems gaced by believers.
This is the first ocasion on which we have noted any public challenge to biblical authority in the local press. We surmise that the close relationship with the reporting and editorial staff of this newspaper group is helping to widen the debate.

ASH's HAROLD WILLIAMS CHALLENGES FACEBOOK 'FRIENDS'

 As an indication of what ASH in Malawi has to contend with here are samples of the material being posted on Facebook by some of Harold's new-found friends:

Benson Nkhoma Somba Your unbelief exposes your emerse lack of knowledge on christian faith. its easy to mock God when u still have life. by the way who provides the air u breath? that little unbelieving heart of yours who sustains it? know that there is no repetance after death! 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness: but is longsufferng to us-ward, not willing that all should perish, but that all should come to repentance' 2 Peter 3:9Saturday at 18:33 ·

Felix Millowa Drama Conservatory A person needs divine revelation to know God. But one must be extra careful: Lucifer does provide revelation too, a contrast and adversary of God's commandment of love. It is a revelation based on greed and personal aggrandizement. With Lucifer's revelation, anything about God is inconclusive and arguable.

Enough said!

Science & Critical Thinking Published in Sunday Times 3rd April 2011

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

By George Thindwa

Quote: Barring that natural expression of villainy which we all have, the man looked honest enough. Mark Twain

For believers, the existence of evil/sufferings poses a big problem. It is inconsistent with their loving, omnipotent, and omniscient God. He cannot be loving in presence of evil. Since, he cannot eliminate evil, he cannot be all-powerful.

Believers trace evil to the misuse of free will; that God gave man the power of free will and men have misused it. (Christian) Believers also assert that evil is because Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. These claims create difficulties because dubious concepts such as free will, Garden of Eden, do not adequately explain the existence of evil vis-a-vis an essentially good and omnipotent creator.

Being omnipotent, he could have prevented the snake from cheating the innocent Adam and Eve. And being perfect forecaster, he could have chosen to create a world without evil. A perfect deity would surely be content with a world free of suffering and could have created a world where free will would not be misused. Free will does not also account for the suffering occasioned by natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, famine and floods where there is tremendous suffering and destruction of living things.

Evil is also traced to the influence of devils, evil spirits and Satan. Tracing evil to these entities is not compatible with the alleged perfection of the deity. Furthermore, the existence of these entities has not yet been convincingly demonstrated. They are assumed to be non physical; their mode of acting in affairs and human minds is vague. These are merely figments of people’s imagination.

The problem of evil is insoluble to believers. In contrast, for Science the problem of evil does not arise. Suffering does not create a theological dilemma. Evil is part of our existence and natural phenomenon; a result of human wrong-doing and processes within nature. It must be studied and understood by scientist to eliminate or reduce it. Scientists have the skills and abilities to do this. Science is called to discover the causes of diseases; geologists to study floods and earthquakes and their consequences and warn us against them while social sciences study and advise on the causes of poverty and its reduction and crimes. We are waiting for discoveries on the Aids cure. Much of science is concerned with coping with the causes of suffering.

Scientific concerns are not like those involved in the theological problem of evil. Science does not fix responsibility for suffering in terms of mysterious purposes nor attributes suffering to some transcendent cosmic person.

But some scientists are also supernaturalists, for whom suffering is both a natural and theological problem.  The fact is, they cannot consistently adopt both viewpoints as scientists because scientists cannot assume the reality of causes that are inaccessible to scientific methods. A scientist who tries to accept both perspective must shift from one to the other; being scientific one moment and metaphysical the next or vice versa. It is logically impossible to accept both perspectives simultaneously.

Feedback: georgethindwa@yahoo.com

GEORGE THINDWA & GIFT TRAPENCE INVITED TO BRITISH ROYAL WEDDING

AN APRIL FOOL JOKE - AN  INDICATION OF ASH'S GROWING PUBLIC PROFILE

Friday Masese Gossip


George Thindwa, as ASH's Executive Secretary, needs no introduction to readers of this blog. Gift Trapence heads CEDEP, a local NGO dealing with 'minority' (for which read 'LGBT') rights.


We are happy that their selection reflects the higher nationalk profile that our respective organisations now have.

WITCHCRAFT CAMPAIGNER WINS AGAIN !

FIVE 'WITCHES' - NO CASE TO ANSWER

When ASH’s George Thindwa gets his teeth into something he’s like a terrier with a rat. He’ll hang on to the end. His favourite quarry? Those who accuse others of witchcraft. Such cases, as we have documented before in this blog, are generally mishandled by Police and magistrates resulting in the unjust conviction of the unfortunate ‘witches’ and long spells of imprisonment.

Another strange case came up in February on George’s home turf – Lilongwe. Mercy Chikwatula (age 8) and  Grace Witness accused Jimu Ali (58) and wife Grace Macheso (47), Ms. Ida Samuel (20), Lucy Kudzawe (40) and Ellen Kasabola (36) of practicing witchcraft. In particular they alleged that they were taking the child on a magic ‘plane to Blantyre some 330 kilometers away and causing the illness of her mother and Grace and by witchcraft. Normally the ‘plane is considered to be a lichero or winnowing basket seen here in one of its correct uses holding a selection of boa or edible fungi

The case was taken to the Police who charged the five with practicing witchcraft which all denied.

When the case went to court the Police changed the charge to one of pretending to be a witch.

Seeing the weakness in the Police case George drew up a list of questions for the accused to put to the witnesses, including the Police officer. These questions and the unsatisfactory answers convinced the magistrate and, on March 25, she ruled that the accused had no case to answer. They were consequently acquitted.

However, the affair did not finish there. The accusers were unhappy with the magistrate’s decision and they and their supporters harassed the newly-freed ‘witches’ after they left the court, accusing them anew of witchcraft. This is an offence under the current law. In fact, it is they who the Police should have charged when the matter first came to their attention. The Police arrested eight people and charged them with the correct offence of accusing people of being a witch.

It appears that the Police at that particular location have been given a lesson in the law by our ‘terrier’, George, and are now intent on applying it.

Another great victory for Humanism in Malawi.

In the recent case, reported here, of Bertha Yohane who was freed by the High Court on appeal after two years in prison, ASH has instructed lawyers to claim compensation for wrongful imprisonment. It is ASH’s intention to help all those unjustly imprisoned for witchcraft to make similar claims.

RELEASED 'WITCH' REUNITED WITH HER FAMILY

When in 2009 ASH Executive Secretary George Thindwa saw the original report of the conviction of Bertha Yohane and her sentencing to four years imprisonment on charges of witchcraft he swore to himeself that he would work to have her released.
She is now released after successful appeal and back with her family as the photo taken at Thindwa's home clearly shows.

Yohane expressed her gratitude:

"I had no idea that any people or organisation that did not know me personally could be so kind as to help me."

A report on the outline of the case appears under the heading "Another witch freed" in the blog of March 17, below.

ANOTHER 'WITCH' FREED

Another victory for ASH

Yohane Belita has been released by the High Court in Zomba today, 17th March. She is on her way to Lilongwe from Zomba. She will be a visitor to ASH Executive Secretary George Thindwa's home on Sunday. The appeal case had been dragging. ASH assisted by ensuring that the lawyer quickly deposited the documents of appeal and also paid travel costs for the son to be at the High Court in Zomba..

This is Yohane Belita's story:

Belita Yohane; Balaka Court.Case No. 427/2009, Balaka District.  Age 63; Offence:  Witchcraft; Sentence- 4 years imprisonment.

Belita was accused of teaching children witchcraft in November 2009. It is alleged that she was transforming them into pigs, chickens and ducks before taking them to a graveyard. Yohane denied the charge.  Modetsa Petro and Alice Umali and their children are the ones that accused her of being a witch and practicing witchcraft. These ladies organized people to beat Belita Yohane. Well wishers took Yohane to Balaka Police.

Rather than helping her, the police charged her with pretending witchcraft. Her accusers who committed an offence in line with section 4 of Malawi's Witchcraft Act were not prosecuted. Her accusers were instead used as state witnesses. The children and their mothers testified against her. At her trial, the Magistrate commented that her sister was also a witch. Clearly, Yohane could not get a fair hearing under the circumstance. She was found guilty and was convicted to 4 years imprisonment with effect from 25 November 2009. She was serving her sentence at Zomba Central Prison.

NORDIC RAINBOW HUMANIST AWARD TO MALAWI'S ASH

   AWARDED TO AFRICAN HUMANISTS FOR THE SECOND TIME

 Stockholm -- The 2010 Nordic Rainbow Humanist Award has gone to secretary general George Thindwa and his colleagues at the Association for Secular Humanism of Malawi for their "courageous public stand for LGBT rights and identity in this African nation -- taking great risks of retaliation from homophobic politicians, religious leaders, a hostile mass media and violence-prone critics."

    "We are happy to receive the award," says George Thindwa.  "At first we thought this was a joke!"

   " This is the second time our annual Nordic award goes to Africa,"  says Nordic Rainbow Humanists' international secretary Bill Schiller in Stockholm "And we were very pleased to have this recommendation from earlier prize winner and outspoken supporter of LGBT rights, Leo Igwe of the Nigerian humanists."

   The award motivation also states that the Malawians are being honored for "adding a voice in a continent where tolerance towards the LGBT communities is a rare exception and where even former African freedom fights and anti-colonialist leaders now in power openly call for the imprisonment and punishment for LGBT people."

    " ... and for  illustrating that the path to liberation, tolerance and knowledge  must be taken by all of us joining together on the rainbow barricades -- flying those flags of cultural identity, visibility and human dignity -- stretching hands of friendship over national borders."

     Earlier winners of the  Nordic Rainbow Humanist  award  include George Broadhead (founder of the international, London-based GALHA (Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association), pioneering Norwegian LGBT activist Kim Friele,  Carl-Johan Kleberg (former chairman of the Swedish Humanists  as well as long-time member of  Tupilak - Nordic rainbow cultural workers  and the Nordic Rainbow Humanist)  pioneering Dutch LGBT activist Rob Tieleman  (former chairman of the global International Humanist &  Ethical Union) Leo Igwe and his Nigerian Humanist Movement, and Remyus Cernea and colleagues of the Romanian Humanist Association.

   "We hope to hand the diploma over in person at the first possible opportunity as is our tradition instead of just sending it off in the mail -- although this sometimes takes time and is not easy for a 0-budget organization as ours, Schiller concludes.  "We are very grateful to GALHA for bringing Leo Igwe to London when he could receive his diploma in person, even though it took a few years after he and his Nigerian colleagues received the award." 

More information via www.tupilak.org  

A SECULAR SABBATH!

When I opened my (Malawi Sunday Times yesterday I could have been forgiven for thinking that it was a Secular Sabbath edition!
The regular Science & Critical Thinking column had been moved from obscurity at the tail end of the Religion section and has been given a prominent position on the inside of the Letters page. Not only that, it had been highlighted and sits opposite several of the regular columnists. Promotion!
Next came a two opposing page debate on the criminalisation/decriminalisation issue of homosexuality. Executive Secretary, George Thindwa had a page on which to argue for decriminalisation.
On the front page of the Religion section and on the following page was an article expounding Bishop Tutu's pro-gay arguments. While we humanists may not agree with the religious sentiment, it is worth repeating the closing paragraphs:
Besides what he describes as intolerance from politicians, Tutu also described the largest offence as those doing it in the name of God. He challenged them to show himwhere Jesus Christ said "Love thy fellow man, except for the gay ones." Gay people, too, are made in my God's image. I would never worship a homophobic God."
"But they are sinners," I can hear the preachers and politicians say. "They are choosing a life of sin for which they must be punished." My scientist and medical friends have shared with me a reality that so many gay people have confirmed, I now know it in my heart to be true. No one chooses to be gay. Sexual orientation, like skin colour, is another feature of our diversity as a human family."
"Isn't it amazing that we are all made in God's image, and yet here is so much diversity among his people? Does God love his dark- or his light-skinned children less? The brave more than the timid? And does any of us know the mind of God so well that we can decide for him who is included, and who is excludd, from the circle of his love?," asked Tutu.
"Malawi is a god-fearing nation"
This is the trite phrase that is trotted out to stop all argument! And now - as a bonus - her regular column, This World Around Me,  Deborah Nyangulu-Chipofya cries ENOUGH! In a very well argued piece she says, amongst other things: "Simply put 'We are a god-fearing nation' has become a sort of verbal bogeyman to scare off people with alternat views. And for the most part God-fearing propogandists are intolerant people who want to oppress minorities."
She ends her article with: "I hope this article won't cost me my citizenship in this God-fearing nation. But the I just want to make sense of this god-fearing talk and help avoid a situation where we would wake up one morning to be told that we can't question the autority of the President because we are a God-fearing nation."
It looks as if ASH's efforts are paying off and the whole editorial staff have had a second look at balance. Perhaps, also, they have started to think a little more critically about these issues. This is a very big change from several months ago.
We are grateful to the Editorial staff of the Sunday Times for taking a more open approach.

ASH - CREATING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SECULAR HUMANISM IN MALAWI

Television debate - preaching the Gospel on inter-city buses

Pictured above, ASH's Vice Chairman, Harold Williams in TV debate with evangelical pastor on Sunday afternoon, 20th February. This is the third occasion on which Williams has  participated. Executive Secretary George Thindwa and former Blantyre Branch Chairman, Samuel Magombo, have also debated on this popular PDF Programme.
Evangelical preachers have taken to the main route inter-city buses where their captive audiences are harangued from the point of departure to some ten or more kilometers along the route when these mendicants solicit offerings from the god-fearing passengers before catching a return bus.
In a recent incident which featured in the national newspapers, ASH's Executive Secretary, George Thindwa, who objected to bejing subjected to this 'torture', was accused of Satanism. The bus driver and others, fearing his 'evil' influence, forced him off the bus at a Police road block after several hours of altercation.
The majority of the viewers  who phoned in during the programme were not in favour of preachers on board buses.

Free the Imprisoned Witches petition featured in on-line newspaper
The current on-line petition was featured in the popular on-line Malawi newspaper, Nyasa Times. The article expanded on the activities of ASH in relation to the campaign against witchcraft. The full article can be read at:
http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/humanism-group-plea-to-free-jailed-witches.html