Tag: Democratic Progressive Party

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon - Malawi’s bishops have urged the country’s politicians to keep Pope Francis out of “petty politics.” The statement from the bishops’ conference came after Hophmally Makande, an official of the ruling Democratic Progressive Part, said those urging 79 -year-old President Peter Mutharika to resign should also ask Pope Francis, who is 81, to step down. Isn’t it the pope … why does he not resign then? I am not despising the Church. But leave our president alone,” Makande told a campaign rally in Blantyre. I am surprised no one condemned him right there and then considering that there were Catholics in attendance at the same podium,” he wrote. “Religion is a line you don’t cross regardless of how desperate you want to seek to appease the appointing authority…If you want to resuscitate your career, find other means but this one is a no-go zone,” he said. “We are of the opinion that Malawi as a nation needs a change of direction if we are to reverse the situation. “This entails a change of mindset leading to a new era of fairness and justice for all.” Mutharika only came to power in 2014, but has since come under fire for alleged corruption. “We wish to reiterate that while the Church encourages Catholics to take an active role in politics, we the Catholic bishops in Malawi cannot and shall not support or endorse any particular politician or political party,” the bishops wrote in their Sept. statement. They urged Malawians to register and vote in next year’s elections, noting that “voting in such elections is not only a right but also an obligation of every eligible Malawian.” The bishops called for political and religious tolerance, saying that should prevent politicians from dragging the Church into petty politics.

Taiwan accused mainland China of dragging sport into politics on Tuesday after a multimillion-dollar international youth event due to be held on the island next year was suspended. According to Taiwan sports officials, members of the East Asian Olympic Committee (EAOC) voted in a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday to revoke Taichung city’s right to host the first-ever East Asian Youth Games in 2019. Taiwan voted for the games to continue as planned, while Japan abstained. Taiwan’s presidential office said the EAOC had made the “wrong decision” and accused Beijing of bullying. The decision comes a day after gay rights activists in Taiwan accused Beijing of pressuring organisers of the Gay Games to bar the island’s national flag at next month’s competition in Paris. These sensitivities – backed up by Beijing’s clout on the world stage – mean Taiwan is forced to compete as “Chinese Taipei” at the Olympics and a host of other international sports competitions. Taiwan’s Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee said on Tuesday it believed the axing of the youth games was linked to Beijing’s anger over a campaign by NGOs and some leading local athletes for a referendum on whether the island should join the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under the name “Taiwan”, not “Chinese Taipei”. The EAOC and the Olympic Council of Asia were not immediately reachable for comment. Relations between Taipei and Beijing have deteriorated since President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party took office two years ago, as her government refuses to recognise the island as a part of “one China”. Beijing has cut off official communication with Tsai’s government.