Claims of repression grow in Caprivi

Allegations of torture, beatings and mass arrests by Namibian security forces have surfaced in the Caprivi Strip in the aftermath of an armed attack in the capital city of Katima Mulilo by a group linked to the secessionist movement led by exiled Mishake Muyongo. Officials of Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) told IRIN that they have received reports that at least 300 Caprivians have so far been arrested following a declaration of a state of emergency in the Caprivi by President Sam Nujoma. "The majority of the detainees are human rights activists, teachers, civil servants, schoolchildren and opposition politicans," Phil ya Nangoloh told IRIN. The reports remained to be independently verified. However, he added: "We also have information indicating that the detainees are being subjected to acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman treatment." Ya Nangoloh also said another worrying factor is that the whereabouts of the detainees are not known: "This not only makes it impossible for detainees to exercise their rights such as access to lawyers, but it also creates fertile ground for enforced disappearances." At the same time, unconfirmed reports said Godfrey Mwilima, a former opposition parliamentarian who was arrested last week, is in hospital after being allegedly assaulted by security forces during his arrest. "Mwilima was allegedly seriously assaulted with the butts of guns by Namibian Defence Force members and he now has a broken jaw occasioned by the beatings," Ya Nangoloh said. Ya Nangoloh added that the security forces are said to be searching for Moses Nasilele, NSHR's chief monitor for the Caprivi. "Two members of our monitoring team in the Caprivi, Joseph Muchali and Gabriel Mwilima, have already been arrested and their present whereabouts are unknown."