Human rights activist expelled

A Zambian-born human rights activist who has lived in Namibia for the last 16 years has been expelled by immigration officials because of his alleged support for Caprivi secessionists, the
Namibian Society for Human Rights (NSHR) told IRIN on Monday.

The expelled activist, Moses Nasilele, a founder member and executive of NSHR told IRIN on Monday he was ordered to leave Namibia on 21 February by an immigration officer in the northern town of Katima Mulilo, the Caprivi district capital. "I was taken from the office of NSHR in Katima Mulilo to the immigration office, where I was accused of supporting the activities of Caprivi secessionists. An immigration officer there ordered me to leave the country in 30 minutes," Nasilele said. He spoke to IRIN from a third country after travelling from Zambia last weekend.

Phil ya Nangoloh, the director of NSHR, said that Nasilele had been living legally in Namibia for the past 16 years and has married a Namibian woman, with whom he has six children, including a two-month old baby whom he has not yet seen.

Said Ya Nangoloh: "The NSHR was first alarmed by the sudden disappearance of Nasilele during the month of February. Lack of communication facilities in Zambia's Western province prevented him from contacting us. Such contact became only possible after he travelled to a third country."

"The action taken against Nasilele is part of an orchestrated campaign on the part of the authorities to suppress NSHR exposure of the deliberate and systematic human rights abuses committed by Angolan and Namibian security forces in the Kavango and Caprivi regions," Ya Nangoloh said.