PRESS RELEASE

The alleged assailant of Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) activist Frans “Chakolona” Mateus (37) is still at large, NSHR has established. The male suspect has allegedly even threatened to stab Mateus with a knife with impunity.

In a Press Release issued on March 16 2008, NSHR reported that the Omuthiya Police Station Commander Sergeant Kanenguni faced “ugly accusation of refusing to allow” Mateus to lay a criminal charge against a certain Timo. Timo is said to be a SWAPO Party activist who had allegedly assaulted Mateus on the account that the latter is an RDP supporter.

Citing human rights and Police sources, the human rights monitoring and advocacy organization stated in the aforesaid Press Release that Timo had hit Mateus to the head with a stick inflicting serious injuries to Mateus’ right ear (see color pictures elsewhere at: National Society for Human Rights :: Tolerance - Liberty - Happiness). The alleged political violence incident occurred at the political violence-stricken town of Omuthiya on March 11 2008. The town has been a ground zero of political violence directed at RDP supporters and members in recent weeks and months.

On March 24 2008 Mateus once again confirmed to NSHR that he was assaulted merely because he was an RDP supporter and that he was wearing an RDP T-shirt at the time. His assailant allegedly even remarked:

“We SWAPO Party members here have already said that you, RDP members, will be made to eat up your T-shirts. Take note also that SWAPO Party is armed with guns”.

NSHR once again calls upon the Inspector General of the Namibian Police to investigate the allegations against Timo and that disciplinary measures are instituted against Sergeant Kanenguni without further delay and with the view to ensure that drastic corrective measures are instituted at the Omuthiya Police precinct.

Meanwhile, NSHR welcomes the statements in which the country’s venerated spiritual leaders have expressed concern about escalating politically motivated violence and intolerance in and around Omuthiya as well as other areas in the country. In an Open Pastoral Letter addressed to their congregations on March 13 2008, five Evangelical bishops strongly denounced “intolerance, verbal and physical attacks and counter-attacks” describing the current political situation in the country as “untenable”.

“Looking at what is happening amongst us now is a clear indication that we are not moving forward on the road of freedom and democracy, but that we are going backwards […] What we say as leaders is taken seriously in society and is the seed, which bears the consequential hebaviour for violence or peace. Therefore, we must take responsibility as leaders for what we are saying and doing. We also should have in mind that political opponents are not enemies, but participants in a democratic set-up”, reads the Pastoral Letter in part.

In a separate but similar statement which appeared in The Namibian newspaper last Thursday, respected former Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) Secretary General Dr. Abisai Shejavali also strongly warned against escalating political violence and intolerance especially in the northwestern parts of the country.

“If there is anyone of the leaders of the political parties or in the Government inciting you or telling you to deny water to another person or telling you to boycott another person’s business, simply because that person is a member of a different political party, bear in mind that the one who incites you does not want our nation to have peace and harmony. Such a leader is not fit to lead people”, notes Dr. Shejavali.

For further information please call: Dorkas Phillemon or Phil ya Nangoloh at Tel: +264 61 236 183 or +264 61 253 447 (during office hours) or Mobile: +264 811 299 886 (Phil) or +264 811 299 641 (Dorkas)