Malawi row over whether new law bans farting (4 Viewers)

[Fake Melo]

Two of Malawi's most senior judicial officials are arguing over whether a new bill includes a provision that outlaws breaking wind in public.
Justice Minister George Chaponda says the new bill would criminalise flatulence to promote "public decency".

"Just go to the toilet when you feel like farting," he told local radio.
However, he was directly contradicted by Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga, who says the reference to "fouling the air" means pollution.
"How any reasonable or sensible person can construe the provision to criminalising farting in public is beyond me," he said, adding that the prohibition contained in the new law has been in place since 1929.

The Local Courts Bill, to be introduced next week reads: "Any person who vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the public to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way shall be guilty of a misdemeanour."
Mr Chaponda, a trained lawyer, insists that this includes farting.
"Would you be happy to see people farting anyhow?" he asked on the popular "Straight Talk" programme on Malawi's Capital Radio.
He said that local chiefs would deal with any offenders.
When asked whether it could be enforced, he said it would be similar to laws banning urinating in public.

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Byrone]

Malawian lawmakers will next week debate a law change to criminalise public farting, which a Cabinet minister said had been encouraged by democracy.

"The government has a right to ensure public decency. We are entitled to introduce order in the country," Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister George Chaponda told independent radio station Capital Radio.

"Would you like to see people farting in public anywhere?"

Since the country embraced multiparty politics 16 years ago people had felt free to fart anywhere, said Chaponda.

"It was not there during the time of dictatorship because people were afraid of the consequences. Now because of multipartism or freedom, people would like to fart anywhere, he said.

Chaponda, a key figure in President Bingu wa Mutharika's government, said that if Malawians cannot control their farting "they should go to the toilet instead of farting in public".

"Nature can be controlled ... it becomes a nuisance if people fart anywhere."

Minor offence
A lawyer himself, Chaponda said that under the amended law farting will be considered a minor offence.

Chaponda's Democratic Progressive Party will bank on its majority to pass the amendment to a law, which was first introduced in 1929.

The amendment, which will make farting in public an offence, is not yet public and it will be presented to Parliament for debate as part of a review by the state-sponsored Law Commission of the country's penal code.

Nobody in Malawi has been arrested or convicted for farting under the old law, as police did not enforce it.

The old law states: "Any person who voluntarily vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour."

The Southern African state is a conservative society with punishable previous bans on long hair for men and trouser-wearing for women. -- Sapa-AFP

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-02-04-malawi-to-debate-ban-on-public-farting

------



There's rampant poverty, crime, hunger & all sorts of serious issues that need to be addressed there but public farting is far more important.

 

[Azzurri7]

 

[WΏΏdy?]

Of all the things a government should be worried about,they decide to ban public farting

 

[ALC]

Haha, most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I wonder if they'll make fart booths.

 

[Snoop]

What about brain farting? Is that banned too?

 

[rounder]

If they are at least going to be consistent; they need to ban other forms of indecent behavior, like 'no touching penis in public', or 'no sensual scratching of the ball sack'.

Idiots.

 

[swag]

You know, "kamikaze" in Japanese means "divine wind".

 

[Fake Melo]

You know, "kamikaze" in Japanese means "divine wind".

I know.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

 

[Yamen]

 

[Del Piero Style]

Wow...I don't know what to say...

But I wonder, how can they enforce such law?

Fart? Me?! Prove it!

 

[Snoop]

Wow...I don't know what to say...

But I wonder, how can they enforce such law?

Fart? Me?! Prove it!

They will smell it I guess

 

[Fake Melo]

Special doctors who will sniff your asshole

 

[Del Piero Style]

They will smell it I guess

They still can't prove it's you...unless they use really talented dogs as cops

 

[Del Piero Style]

"Can you point that man?"

"Yes, he sits right over there, with the black shirt".

"What do you remember from that incident?"

"I remember I enjoyed great meal, while all of a sudden I felt like I'm falling. It was all dark, it was the worst smell in history".

"How do you know it's him?"

"I looked around to see who it is, and he was the only one smiling. Plus, he ate a spicy Mexican food".

"Sound guilty to me...and i'm the judge. Which means... So long, fucker! Give him the electric chair! Or fire squad, whatever he choose. After all it's not a jungle, we're are a civilized nation. God bless Malawi".

 

[Snoop]

So what is the punishment? death sentence?

 

[Christina]

Whoever smelt it dealt it.

 

[swag]

All I know is that if the nation rises up in civil disobedience of the law, I want to be in Polynesia.

 

[Christina]

Better stock up on those gas masks and air fresheners.