PRESS RELEASE

Namibia’s National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) is once again sounding an alarm to the Namibian Government and to the international community at large about a real possibility of the breaking out of widespread ethno-political violence, anarchy and mayhem in the country.

In the recent days and weeks NSHR has expressed grave concern about provocative posturing and incitement to violence through political hate speech and other forms of inflammatory remarks. Several disturbing incidents of provocative conduct and political violence in the northern parts of the country were reported by human rights monitors during the last three days.

These incidents are the result of political hate speech and other incendiary remarks, which certain political leaders of this country are making during political rallies. During the weekend human rights monitors have themselves witnessed or have received disturbing reports about the following incidents:

1. On February 24 2008 at approximately 19h40 a large group of SWAPO Party supporters blocked a convoy of RDP supporters on the main road adjacent to ABC complex at Ondangwa. Some of the highly provocative members of the group sprayed mud on the vehicle belonging to an RDP supporter, a certain Kabila and threatened to physically harm him and other RDP supporters. The vehicle’s windscreen was also struck with bottles and has cracked. Sensing the life-threatening danger, Kabila, armed with a firearm allegedly fired several warning shots in the air before members of the Namibian Police intervened and dispersed the riotous crowd of SWAPO Party supporters. A criminal charge has been laid with the Ondangwa Police precinct.

The Police were allegedly under the command of Chief Inspector Kapule of the Ondangwa Police precinct. Shortly before the incident, the same aggressive group of SWAPO Party supporters attended a political rally addressed by SWAPO Party Secretary General, Ms. Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana at Ongwediva, some 33 kilometers northwest of Ondangwa.

Kabila and many other RDP supporters were traveling in a convoy along the B1 highway between Omuthiya and Ondangwa. They were returning from Omuthiya where they attended an RDP rally on February 24 2008.

It is significant to point out that Ms. Ithana and several SWAPO Party leaders have on several occasions in the recent past used the political rallies to engage in political hate speech and other forms of inflammatory remarks. According to human rights monitors, at another SWAPO Party rally held at HA-NA-HE butchery on February 23 2008 at the town of Omuthiya, Ms. Ithana allegedly also made incendiary remarks about human rights defenders and other critics.

2. On February 24 2008 at approximately 19h00 between Onethindi and Ondangwa in the Oshikoto Region, a group of some 30 SWAPO Party supporters allegedly threatened journalist Placido Hilukilua. At least one of the members of the group poked his finger into Hilukilua’s face as the group accused the former of being inter alia a “puppet of Phil ya Nangoloh” and an RDP supporter. The mob ran away after the journalist called members of the Namibian Police who then intervened.

3. On February 24 2008 between 17h00 and 18h00 a mob of SWAPO Party supporters chancing and chanting inflammatory slogans arrived at the premises of Guava Flats, which also house an RDP branch office, at Ongwediva. They attempted to forcible enter the said premises by inter alia kicking the doors. The target of this provocation was Mr. Epafras Penda Nangolo (32), the owner of the premises. They then threatened to close down Nangolo’s business by closing its doors and by intimidating other residents into boycotting his business. They only left the premises after members of the Namibian Police intervened to enforce law and order.

Addressing a rally of SWAPO Party supporters on February 23 2008, Namibian President Lucas Hifikepunye Pohamba branded those former SWAPO Party members who joined the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) party as ‘traitors like Judas who betrayed Jesus and misled people’. Other SWAPO Party leaders who also addressed the said rally inter alia urged SWAPO Party supporters to deprive RDP members of economic opportunities and to deny them access to water as well as to boycott businesses owned by the RDP supporters.

4. On February 24 2008 at approximately 18h00 a group of SWAPO Party supporters allegedly blocked the movements of RDP supporters on the B1 highway between Oshivelo and Omuthiya. The RDP supporters were traveling from Omuthiya where they attended a rally addressed by the party’s Interim Secretary General Jesaya Nyamu and other party leaders.

The provocative SWAPO Party mob, on the other hand, came from the nearby shebeen allegedly belonging to firebrand Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda ya Ndakolo at Omutsegwonime village, some 30 kilometers east of Omuthiya. Like SWAPO Party Secretary General Pendukeni Ithana, Governor ya Ndakolo has been reported on numerous occasions to have engaged in political hate speech and other incendiary remarks aimed at human rights defenders and RPD members. During a SWAPO Party rally held at Omuthiya on February 23 2008, Governor ya Ndakolo allegedly referred to human rights defenders and RDP leaders and supporters inter alia as “house geckos” and “cockroaches”.

5. On February 24 2008 at approximately 17h00 at the town of Omuthiya, Namibian Police members arrested a certain Shigolo, resident of Indongo ya Keelu village, south of the town. The drastic Police action came immediately after Shingolo provoked RDP members at their rally by violently circling and recklessly endangering the safety of RDP members in his dark maroon Citi Golf VW sedan fitted with SWAPO Party regalia.

6. On February 23 2008 at Omulondo, Omulonga wa Ndevahoma and or Omakangha villages, some 60 kilometers east of Eenhana town in the Ohangwena Region, group of about 200 SWAPO Party supporters allegedly either physically assaulted and or threatened to physically assault RDP supporters, Peter Naholo (age unknown), Liina ya Shikesho (43) and Paulina Ndeutema Nathaniel (33). The group attempted to enter the house of Peter Naholo but members of the Namibian Police prevented them from doing so. The incident occurred between 13h00 and 14h00.

Some of the members of the hateful and provocative SWAPO Party group then allegedly physically assaulted Shikesho and Nathaniel by kicking them, grabbing them and dragging them for wearing RDP T-shirts. They also hurled vulgar epithets at both Shikesho and Nathaniel. The assailants of Shikesho and Nathaniel were SWAPO Party supporters who had attended a rally at the said villages. SWAPO Party leaders, including Ohangwena Regional Councilors Mandume Pohamba, Festus Ikanda and J. Nakwafila for the Ondobe, Omundaungilo and Epembe Constituencies, respectively, as well as a certain Daniel Kashikola and Thomas Nanghambe addressed the said rally characterized by political hate speech.

7. On February 23 2008 at or near Osho shebeen at Okongo village, some 100 kilometers east of Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region, an alleged SWAPO Party supporter, a certain Hakuna or Akuna stabbed an RDP supporter Hophine Chombo Simasiku (27) four times to the head, shoulder, near the eye and in the back. Simasiku was admitted to a health center at the village with life-threatening injuries. His health condition was unknown, but unconfirmed reports say that he was in a critical condition.

8. On February 23 2008 also at the said Okongo village, members of a mob of alleged SWAPO Party supporters physically assaulted and stabbed Johannes Lucas (age unknown) of Okongo village near the eye. Lucas sustained serious injuries and was admitted to a local health center with a badly swollen face.

9. On February 22 2008 at approximately 01h40 at Omundaungilo village, some 55 kilometers northeast of the town of Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region, a group of SWAPO Party supporters led by a certain Joseph Shileka allegedly assaulted two RDP supporters at a shebeen belonging to a certain Naemi Ndafelai at the village. The two RDP supporters, viz. Simeon Martin (21) and Johannes Jacob (30) sustained bodily injuries. The two victims identified some of their assailants as Martin Kudumo, Vinia Kakololo, Hangula Haimbodi, Ndahekelekwa Kandadi and the abovementioned Shileka. The incident has been reported to the Police at Eenhana after the victims received medical treatment at a local hospital where a certain Ms. Mwandingi, a medical nurse, allegedly reprimanded Martin and Jacob for being RDP members.

10. On February 17 2008 at Okahupi village, less than 5 kilometers northwest of the newly proclaimed town of Omuthiya, several SWAPO Party activists allegedly held a rally where political hate speech and vulgar language were directed at RDP Interim President Hidipo Hamutenya (HH). During the rally, HH is accused of plotting to assassinate former Namibian President Sam Nujoma. The meeting was allegedly addressed by, among others, a certain Samwel Shivute, Toivo Nghilalulwa and Rosa Wakuwile.

Furthermore, NSHR is seriously disturbed at allegations that certain high-ranking political figures in this country are deliberately fomenting intra-tribal divisions and conflict in the Ohangwena Region. According to the allegations, such intra-tribal conflict is being “engineered” by political leaders outside the Ohangwena Region. The said leaders are “fronting” certain SWAPO Party supporters who are Oshikwanyama-speaking people to attack those other Oshikwanyama-speaking people who are members and supporters of RDP. The short-term objective of this KwaZulu/Natal type of ‘Kwanyama-on-Kwanyama’ violence is apparently to give credence to certain notions that RDP is a tribal party and that the Oshikwanyama-speaking people are trouble-makers who are hell-bent on bringing civil war in the country, while the real objective is to render RDP ineffective as political party.

While immensely commending the Namibian Police for having so far intervened timely and efficiently in most of the acts of provocations by SWAPO Party supporters, NSHR calls upon the Inspector General of the Namibian Police to be extra-vigilant and put an end to any further provocations. This is necessary in order to ensure that the said provocations do not result into RDP members losing trust in the Police. This state of affairs might trigger RDP members into responding to such provocations with undesirable consequences to the stability and peace in the country.

The human rights organization is calling upon the Namibian Police to thoroughly investigate the above incidents and to ensure that those responsible for them are brought to book as soon as possible.

For additional comment, please contact: Dorkas Phillemon at Tel: 061 253 447 or 061 236 183 (office hours only) or Phil ya Nangoloh at Cell: 0811 299 886