Condemnation of new policy on UNITA "collaborators"

Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has condemned a warning by Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina that anybody found "collaborating" with Angolan UNITA rebels would be shot on sight. In a statement released on Wednesday, NSHR condemned as unconstitutional "the pronounced policy of shoot-on-sight anyone perceived to be collaborating with the alleged enemies". Nghimtina reportedly made the remarks at the weekend in the insecure northern Kavango region, which borders Angola. According to Namibian national radio, Nghimtina issued the warning that "enemies" would be shot when addressing a consultative meeting of government officials, representatives of the private sector, and regional and traditional leaders, the NSHR statement said. According to the NSHR, the minister's comments have provided credence to the human rights group's allegations that Namibian forces in southeast Angola had carried out "massacres, enforced disappearances and summary executions" of civilians suspected of siding with UNITA. Namibian troops operate inside Angola in a bid to prevent the rebels from crossing into Kavango. As a result of Windhoek's support for the Angolan government, UNITA has stepped up raids across the porous border, which have included the laying of landmines. Angola's southeastern Cuando Cubango province bordering Namibia has historically been a key base for the UNITA movement. The Namibian government has long suspected that UNITA raids are assisted by "collaborators" in the Kavango, a region in which kinship ties straddle the border.