LILONGWE, Malawi -- The father of the 13-month-old Malawian boy Madonna is trying to adopt said he is afraid criticism of her plans would persuade the pop star to drop her efforts. ''I am afraid Madonna may get angry and frustrated and decide to dump my son because of these people,'' said Yohane Banda, referring to criticism from human rights activists in Malawi that officials had bent the law to speed David Banda's adoption. ''These so-called human rights activists are harassing me every day, threatening me that I am not aware of what I am doing,'' Banda said Thursday.
''I'm afraid David may be sent back, and the orphanage may not even accept him back. So where will he end up? Here?
He will certainly die.'' The Human Rights Consultative Committee, a group of human rights groups in Malawi, has asked a judge to review the adoption process to make sure all of the laws have been followed. A hearing is scheduled today.
Banda said activists tried to visit him: ''I hid from them. I didn't want to see them. They want me to support their court case, a thing I cannot do, for I know what I agreed with Madonna and her husband.
'' Banda was reacting to Madonna's appearance on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show,'' in which the 48-year-old singer said she had done nothing wrong, had not used her celebrity to influence Malawian officials, and wanted to give David, who had been in an orphanage, a better life. Banda said he was not angry with journalists but added he was spending more time with reporters than tending ''to my onions and tomatoes.
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