In a move to further restrict political activities by opponents of the regime, the Administrator General announced on 26 January 1980 that political prisoners detained under AG26 could in future be released "under certain conditions". They will be: - restricted to a stipulated municipal town or area - prohibited from attending meetings of more than five people - restricted from receiving visitors - restricted in their movements from sunrise to sunset. In addition, restrictions on certain occupational activities are being considered.
The Administrator General warned that serious measures would be taken against political prisoners who abused these conditions or who were a security risk to the state.
Seven AG26 detainees were reported released on 26 January under these terms. Their names were not disclosed. Four SWAPO detainees held under AG26 were reported released in early February. The four men, Mr Philip TJERIJE, Mr Filemon ITULA, Mr Charles TJIJENDA, and Mr Christoph AUKONGO, are not permitted to attend any gathering of more than five people without written permission from the police; they are permitted no visitors at home and are not allowed to leave their home between 8 pm and 6 am. Mr. TJERIJE and Mr. TJIJENDA have been restricted to the Windhoek municipal area, and Mr. ITULA to Katutura. Another SWAPO member, Dr. Thomas IHUHUA, was reported released some days later. He has been restricted to the municipal area of Katutura.
While restriction and banning orders have occasionally been imposed on political opponents in the past, they were not widely used as a form of repression. The Acting President of SWAPO, Nathaniel MAXUILILI, was placed under house arrest in 1972 and had his banning order renewed in 1977 for another 5 years. The present move, together with the raid on SWAPO offices, seems to be intended to destroy SWAPO as an active political movement inside Namibia.
