A massive crackdown on civilians suspected of supporting SWAPO has been reported in the Kavango region, with large numbers detained and further arrests threatened by the military throughout the whole of Namibia. Further evidence of the systematic torture of detainees and assaults on civilians has come to light in the course of inquests, trials and personal evidence from the victims.
The military and security clampdown in Kavango is part of a sustained campaign, begun in November 1982, against SWAPO guerillas who appear to have stepped up their activities in the region.
Among those detained in October 1983 were members of the police and army, senior civil servants and politicians. The head of the security police, Colonel Sarel Strydom, confirmed that an 'intensive investigation' was being carried out into allegations that the detainees had given aid to SWAPO combatants. He confirmed that a San (Bushman) member of the SWA Police (SWAP) had been detained on suspicion that he had helped guerillas to mine the tarred road between Rundu and Grootfontein. A member of 202 Battalion of the SWA Territory Force (SWATF), as well as several other members of the SWAP and the Special Constables had also been detained, as had officials of the Kavango administration.
In a subsequent statement reported on Namibian radio Colonel Strydom said no proof existed that SWAPO members were infiltrating the security forces.
The exact number of people detained in the police operation in October 1983 remains unclear. Several newspapers reported that more than 50 people had been arrested in the last two weeks of October, most of them on 19 October. The arrests were carried out by members of the Windhoek security police, assisted by police officers in Rundu, the main town in Kavango. Further arrests were reported in November 1983. Police claimed that a total of 29 were being held, and gave the names of 17 detainees in Kavango.
In addition, a number of people were reported arrested in Windhoek at the end of September 1983 and in early November. All are believed to be held under Proclamation AG 9. The following names of persons arrested in Kavango were given by the police – some had previously been held in detention, and in some cases their release had not been reported.
Arrested on 19.10.83:
Penty DE CELESTINO, male nurse Josef KANDJIMI, labourer at Department of Works, Rundu Romanus KANDJIMI, school inspector Jako KANGAJI, teacher from Nkurenkuru. Previously detained in December 1981 and tortured, released 12.1.82. Rearrested early November 1982, released 9.11.82 Lucas (second name not known); from Mupapama village. Arrest not confirmed by police. Paulus MANGUNDU SIKINDO, driver Malakia MUREMI, driver. Previously detained in early November 1982, released 19.11.82 Nimrod MUREMI, forestry officer. Previously arrested in March 1983, release not reported Gideon NESTOR, accountant. Previously arrested on 8.4.83, release not reported Gosberth SIKERETHE, clerk with ENOK. Previously arrested on 8.4.83, release not reported Rev Johannes SINDANO, priest of Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo Kavango (ELOC) church at Kasote village Remigius SIYAVE, paymaster. Previously arrested in November 1982, released 29.11.82.
Arrested at the beginning of November 1983 in Kavango:
Pastor Heikki HAUSIKU, from Nkurenkuru Kauko NAIRENGO, employed at Department of Education in Mupini Marcus NEKARO, employed at Department of Finance, Rundu Edward SHIKONGO (SIKONGO), cashier at Barclays Bank, Rundu. Previously detained in March 1983, release not reported. Engelberth SIKONGO, clerk at Rundu post office Nikodemus NAIRENGE, Dutch Reformed Church minister of Takwasa village. Arrested 7.11.83 under AG 9.
Arrests in Windhoek:
Seven people were reported to have been detained in Windhoek on 30 September 1983, though a police spokesman confirmed only two detentions. Rahimisa KAHIMISA and Gregor MAKGONE, both employees of the Council of Churches in Namibia, were being held under Proclamation AG 9. Rahimisa KAHIMISA was previously detained in 1978 and March 1982.
Joseph UJAHA, a SWAPO member who participated in the SWAPO demonstration in Windhoek during the visit of the United Nations Secretary General in August 1983, was reported to have been arrested on 28.10.83 under Proclamation AG 9.
Gideon SIWOMBE and Festus SIHEMBA, both from Katatura, were reported to have been arrested on 7 November 1983 under AG 9.
Still in detention:
A number of persons arrested since July 1983, whose names have not previously been recorded in FOCUS, were reported to be still in detention in mid-October 1983. They are: Saima NAIKUVA, a farmer from Osamanbo Johannes MUNDJIBALALI, a farmer from Ongobe Timoteus NAKAFINGO } both farmers from Sakeus NATANAEL } Oshikuni Johannes NAKALE } farmers from Ekonghola Maria MARTIN } Abed NGJIPANDULUA, teacher and ELOC lay preacher, arrested September 1983 Immanuel MOONGO, postal clerk, Oniipa, arrested September 1983 Aaron MUSATI, teacher, Onayena, arrested September 1983 Asser MARKUS, teacher, Rupara, arrested 16.9.83 Joseph POKATI
Releases
The release of people held in detention is in many instances not officially announced by the authorities, or reported in the press. In several cases during 1983, a person's release from detention only became publicly known when they appeared at a press conference describing their experiences in detention.
Police did announce in November 1983 the release from detention of three teachers, Alex SIREMO, Engelhard KAKORO and Andreas KANJINGA. They had all been arrested in November 1982 in the Kavango region. While Kanjinga appears to have spent the whole year in detention, Kakoro was reported to have been released and redetained in the course of the year since November 1982, and Siremo was reported to have been released on 29 November 1982 from his earlier detention; it was not clear when he had been rearrested prior to his release in November 1983.
Arnodus HANS, a worker at a steel manufacturing company in Windhoek, and the Secretary of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, was reported to have been arrested on 1 October 1983 and released on 28 October 1983. His house was searched by police officers, and some documents he had brought back from a Catholic conference in Johannesburg were confiscated. Hans told journalists that he had been held in Okahandja in a lice-infested cell, and had been given poor food. His back and kidney problems had been aggravated by sleeping on the floor. Police had questioned him about the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.
Three teachers and a farmer from the Tondoro area of western Kavango who had been in detention since July 1983 appeared at a press conference hosted by the leader of the Namibia Christian Democratic Party, Hans Röhr, and recounted their experiences in detention. Adam KABONO, H. HAUSIKU, C. HAIMBILI and J. KATEWA appeared to have been released in early October 1983. (H. Hausiku is likely to be the same person as N. Hasiku, arrested in July 1983 and described then as a teacher from Tondoro).
The four men told journalists how they had been rounded up by members of Koevoet after SWAPO guerillas had come to their village and apparently shot dead two Koevoet members
