Pan African Civic Educators Network (PACENET) has call for an immediate and unconditional release for protesters arrested during violent demonstrations in Lilongwe on Wednesday.

According to a statement released by PACENET, they are dismayed by the arrest made by police on what they call peaceful demonstrations in the capital city yesterday July 20th, 2022.

“We consider the action by the police as erroneous, unfounded, unwarranted and unprofessional and it is in the same vein that the charges levelled against the demonstrators are unreasonable and border on infringing their constitutional rights and freedoms,” reads part of the statement.

The organization has further condemned the concerned individuals who sought the injunction at the 11th hour when they said had enough time to seek the court action days before.

“We look at their actions as signs of cowardice and desperation and we condemn police actions by arresting these peaceful demonstrators knowing very well that the injunction was served at 11th hour,” the statement explained.

Below is the statement;