Ida JIMMY (35) was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Windhoek Regional Court on 15 October 1980. The trial lasted only one day. She was convicted for a speech she made at a SWAPO rally in Lüderitz on 15 August 1980, in celebration by SWAPO of Namibia Day. Her speech was taped at the rally by the SA Police.
In his summing up, the magistrate said the speech had to be seen 'in the context of the conflict situation in the territory at the moment'. Ms Jimmy was found guilty of 'inciting or encouraging people to harbour or aid terrorists', which carries a minimum sentence of five years. Ms Jimmy was seven months pregnant at the time of her trial.
Ms Jimmy was previously arrested in Lüderitz in April-May 1979 during a nationwide police purge of the SWAPO leadership. She was detained under Proclamation AG 26, on that occasion together with her nine month old baby. The two were held in solitary confinement. She underwent a hunger strike.
A document has been smuggled out of Windhoek Central Prison which contains allegations of cruelty and maltreatment of inmates. The document was sent to the Windhoek Observer. It apparently gives the names of prison officers who are involved in attacks on prisoners, and appeals to the press to take action.
Assaults on prisoners, giving names and dates, are cited in the document and a 'cold-blooded' attack on a prisoner who died is mentioned. According to the document, prisoners who support SWAPO are particularly subject to harassment. It tells of an extensive search having been carried out in the prison, during which the few meagre possessions of some prisoners were destroyed. The document states that conditions have deteriorated considerably since the former Officer Commanding the Prison, Lt. Col. Venter, left. It asks the general public to take note of these wrongs and atrocities.
Rauna NAMBINGA, a nurse who has been in detention without trial since May 1980, is reported to be seriously ill as a result of being tortured by the police. People who were held with her and have since been released report that her body is enormously swollen.
Ms. Nambinga was one of the accused at the Terrorism Act trial in 1976 at which two Namibians were sentenced to death. She received a seven year prison sentence but was later released following the exposure of gross irregularities in the trial proceedings.
An unsigned communication quoted in the Windhoek Observer gives details of the detention and maltreatment of Dr. Nafta HAMATA, superintendent of the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, over a period of two months.
According to the document, Dr. Hamata was arrested at the hospital by Security Police and held in solitary confinement near Windhoek. He was allegedly held under very bad conditions, without access to running water or a change of clothes, and had his head covered in blankets during interrogation. He reportedly often heard screams but believed that these emanated from a tape recorder. He was taken back to Onandjokwe after two months. While the arrest and detention of Dr. Hamata were confirmed by the Chief of the Security Police, the latter denied allegations of bad treatment.
