Ruling party's reprehensible conduct at Outapi evokes strong reactions
PRESS RELEASEVIOLENCE AT OUTAPI ON 22/11/2008
MUCH has been said and printed in the news media about the incidence of violence at Outapi, Omusati Region, on Saturday, 22nd November 2008. The Namibian Police Force would like, hereby, to sketch the background on the events leading up to the incident and make a statement thereon.
Prior to the events of last weekend at Outapi, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) had notified both the Namibian Police and the Outapi Town Council about their intention to hold a “Public Meeting for Outapi” on 22nd November 2008.
As a result, the Outapi Town Council had allocated for this purpose a place situated some 300 meters south-east of Ombalantu Baobab Heritage Centre. The latter is a tourist site in Outapi on 14th November 2008. However, on 18th November 2008, the RDP notified the Police at Outapi that “for the safety and security” of their people they have changed from the allocated venue to a local Lodge, and expected more than two hundred (200) people to turn up for the “RDP Youth Meeting”.
Notwithstanding the projected number of participants (quoted in 3 hereinabove), the local lodge confirmed that a booking for a hall had been done, but only for 10 – 20 participants. In view of these arrangements, on 22nd November 2008 the Namibian Police at Outapi prepared an operational plan, which led to the deployment of some 40 members of the Force at both the Lodge and some strategic junctions, in conformity with the anticipated possible scenarios on.
It is important to note that, once the Police Regional Command got the notification for the RDP meeting on 6th November 2008, it notified both the Outapi Regional Councillor and the Governor of Omusati Region. The two public office-bearers assured the Police that they would inform the public accordingly, not to interfere with envisaged RDP meeting.
The Outapi Regional Councillor later made an announcement to that effect over the NBCOshiwambo Radio service. Unfortunately, and in spite of the earlier understanding between the parties involved in securing the event, Namibian Police Force officers were only informed by an RDP organizer that his party was to use the originally-allocated venue for the meeting when they met an RDP convoy on the outskirts of Outapi town, for escort purposes, on Saturday 22nd November 2008.
Apparently they were no longer welcome to use the lodge. It is also worth noting that while the Police were escorting the RDP convoy, after meeting them about 15 km outside Outapi, a crowd, largely in SWAPO Party colours, had gathered along the main road, some on foot while others were in convoys of motor vehicles. Violence started when some SWAPO Party supporters and members blocked the road, encircled the RDP members in the convoy, shouting anti-RDP slogans and started throwing sand and stones onto them.
Some RDP members also responded in a similar fashion. This situation prompted the police to intervene and set up a cordon between the two groups; but the officers on the scene were overwhelmed by the crowd and had no other option but to escort the RDP convoy out of the town after the latter had agreed to cancel the meeting. However, a convoy of about 200 vehicles of SWAPO Party members or supporters pursued them, occupying both carriageways of the road.
The chase continued up to some 50 km from Outapi, i.e. at Oshipanda village, about 10 km to Oshikuku. It only halted thanks to Police reinforcements form Oshakati, Oshana Region. This provided for the separation of the two groups and the eventual safe escort of the RDP convoy to Ongwediva. This violent incident led to injuries to persons and damage to properties.
As a result, 10 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (G.B.H.) and four of malicious damage to property were registered and are being investigated. Even three Police officers were assaulted and a Police vehicle was damaged. The incident has clearly reflected the complete disregard and/or utter ignorance of the Code governing the conduct of political activities in the country, signed by all registered political parties.
Similarly, the crowd that partook in this incident were either ignorant on the powers and duties of Police officers or they simply have no respect for the rule of law and, therefore, do not care about the consequences of their actions. It is also disheartening to note that, instead of calling their members/ followers to order, some seemingly very enlightened political leaders are blaming it all on the Namibian Police Force.
Were it not for the intervention of the Police Regional Commander of Omusati and his counterpart at Oshana Region, the consequences of the incident would in all probability have been too ghastly to contemplate. In view of the case in point the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force, Lt-Gen S.H. Ndeitunga, has appealed once more to leaders of all political parties in Namibia to educate their members and ensure that they adhere to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
He stressed that it is important that we, as Namibians, refrain from and condemn all acts of violence, including those that are politically motivated. He added that political parties should conduct their business in a mature and responsible manner. Needless to say, peace and stability are national interests that should be protected zealously by each and every citizen, irrespective of their political inclinations, because without them no development can take place.
On the other hand, Namibia is one and the fundamental freedoms conferred by Article 21 of the Namibian Constitution are for all citizens. The Namibian Police Force shall, therefore, enforce the letter and spirit of all the laws of our land, including the protection of the fundamental freedoms referred to in 17 hereinabove and also contemplated in Article 17 (1) of the Namibian Constitution. And we expect the full co-operation from everyone in this regard, because, in the final analysis, it is for the good of all our citizens. Those who make themselves guilty of committing violence must be ready to face the consequences.
MUCH has been said and printed in the news media about the incidence of violence at Outapi, Omusati Region, on Saturday, 22nd November 2008. The Namibian Police Force would like, hereby, to sketch the background on the events leading up to the incident and make a statement thereon.
Prior to the events of last weekend at Outapi, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) had notified both the Namibian Police and the Outapi Town Council about their intention to hold a “Public Meeting for Outapi” on 22nd November 2008.
As a result, the Outapi Town Council had allocated for this purpose a place situated some 300 meters south-east of Ombalantu Baobab Heritage Centre. The latter is a tourist site in Outapi on 14th November 2008. However, on 18th November 2008, the RDP notified the Police at Outapi that “for the safety and security” of their people they have changed from the allocated venue to a local Lodge, and expected more than two hundred (200) people to turn up for the “RDP Youth Meeting”.
Notwithstanding the projected number of participants (quoted in 3 hereinabove), the local lodge confirmed that a booking for a hall had been done, but only for 10 – 20 participants. In view of these arrangements, on 22nd November 2008 the Namibian Police at Outapi prepared an operational plan, which led to the deployment of some 40 members of the Force at both the Lodge and some strategic junctions, in conformity with the anticipated possible scenarios on.
It is important to note that, once the Police Regional Command got the notification for the RDP meeting on 6th November 2008, it notified both the Outapi Regional Councillor and the Governor of Omusati Region. The two public office-bearers assured the Police that they would inform the public accordingly, not to interfere with envisaged RDP meeting.
The Outapi Regional Councillor later made an announcement to that effect over the NBCOshiwambo Radio service. Unfortunately, and in spite of the earlier understanding between the parties involved in securing the event, Namibian Police Force officers were only informed by an RDP organizer that his party was to use the originally-allocated venue for the meeting when they met an RDP convoy on the outskirts of Outapi town, for escort purposes, on Saturday 22nd November 2008.
Apparently they were no longer welcome to use the lodge. It is also worth noting that while the Police were escorting the RDP convoy, after meeting them about 15 km outside Outapi, a crowd, largely in SWAPO Party colours, had gathered along the main road, some on foot while others were in convoys of motor vehicles. Violence started when some SWAPO Party supporters and members blocked the road, encircled the RDP members in the convoy, shouting anti-RDP slogans and started throwing sand and stones onto them.
Some RDP members also responded in a similar fashion. This situation prompted the police to intervene and set up a cordon between the two groups; but the officers on the scene were overwhelmed by the crowd and had no other option but to escort the RDP convoy out of the town after the latter had agreed to cancel the meeting. However, a convoy of about 200 vehicles of SWAPO Party members or supporters pursued them, occupying both carriageways of the road.
The chase continued up to some 50 km from Outapi, i.e. at Oshipanda village, about 10 km to Oshikuku. It only halted thanks to Police reinforcements form Oshakati, Oshana Region. This provided for the separation of the two groups and the eventual safe escort of the RDP convoy to Ongwediva. This violent incident led to injuries to persons and damage to properties.
As a result, 10 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (G.B.H.) and four of malicious damage to property were registered and are being investigated. Even three Police officers were assaulted and a Police vehicle was damaged. The incident has clearly reflected the complete disregard and/or utter ignorance of the Code governing the conduct of political activities in the country, signed by all registered political parties.
Similarly, the crowd that partook in this incident were either ignorant on the powers and duties of Police officers or they simply have no respect for the rule of law and, therefore, do not care about the consequences of their actions. It is also disheartening to note that, instead of calling their members/ followers to order, some seemingly very enlightened political leaders are blaming it all on the Namibian Police Force.
Were it not for the intervention of the Police Regional Commander of Omusati and his counterpart at Oshana Region, the consequences of the incident would in all probability have been too ghastly to contemplate. In view of the case in point the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force, Lt-Gen S.H. Ndeitunga, has appealed once more to leaders of all political parties in Namibia to educate their members and ensure that they adhere to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
He stressed that it is important that we, as Namibians, refrain from and condemn all acts of violence, including those that are politically motivated. He added that political parties should conduct their business in a mature and responsible manner. Needless to say, peace and stability are national interests that should be protected zealously by each and every citizen, irrespective of their political inclinations, because without them no development can take place.
On the other hand, Namibia is one and the fundamental freedoms conferred by Article 21 of the Namibian Constitution are for all citizens. The Namibian Police Force shall, therefore, enforce the letter and spirit of all the laws of our land, including the protection of the fundamental freedoms referred to in 17 hereinabove and also contemplated in Article 17 (1) of the Namibian Constitution. And we expect the full co-operation from everyone in this regard, because, in the final analysis, it is for the good of all our citizens. Those who make themselves guilty of committing violence must be ready to face the consequences.
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