Torture allegations an “internal” matter

The Namibian defence ministry said it would not disclose the findings of a probe into allegations that police had tortured suspects rounded up in the wake of a separatist attack in the northeast Caprivi Strip last year.

Instead, ‘The Namibian’ newspaper reported on Wednesday that the ministry had decided to deal with the matter “internally”. It said at least five police officers had been implicated in the widely publicised case. Dozens of suspects rounded up in the wake of the separatist attack on Katima Mulilo and the Mpacha military base have sought damages for torture. They claimed in affidavits they had been whipped, kicked and beaten, allegedly by police officers. Graphic photos of injuries sustained by some suspects, including former opposition member of parliament, Geoffrey Mwilima, were published in the Namibian media last year.

“Defence has its own jurisdiction, its own type of courts and its own way of handling disciplinary matters. We don’t need to send our cases to the Prosecutor General,” a defence ministry legal official was quoted as saying. The torture allegations featured in a report last week by Amnesty International which said any findings should be made public and the suspects brought to justice.