The regime intensified attacks on meetings organised by SWAPO when three of the liberation movement's office-bearers were charged under the Prohibition and Notification of Meetings Act.
During 1985 SWAPO's defiant demonstrations of mass support brought it into conflict with the authorities on a number of occasions: their twenty-fifth anniversary rally, Kassinga Day Commemoration, a protest against installation of the MPC administration and the Namibia Day rally.
In November charges were laid against Nathaniel MAXUILILI, Frans KAMBANGULA and Jerry EKANDJO in connection with SWAPO's anniversary rally in April 1985. The rally drew an attendance of over 5,000. Maxuilili is SWAPO's Acting President, Kambangula, the Secretary for Transport and Ekandjo, National Secretary of the SWAPO Youth League.
The men appeared in court on 13 December when the case was postponed to 13 March. Defence lawyers challenged the validity of the Prohibition and Notification of Meetings Act and the matter was referred to the Windhoek Supreme Court. None of the men was asked to plead.
It was reported in December that 34 people have issued summonses against the MPC administration claiming damages for alleged police assault. The claims relate to injuries suffered after an anti-MPC rally in Katutura on 17 June was dispersed by police using teargas and batons. The total being claimed is R170,000. Twenty-six of the claimants are women and two are minors.
On 26 January an open air festival organised in Katutura by the SWAPO Youth League was broken up by police using teargas and wielding quirts and batons. At least five people were injured and almost sixty arrested as the crowd regrouped in spite of police intimidation and brutality. The event was to mark the United Nations International Year of Peace.
The following day 58 people appeared in the Windhoek Magistrates' Court charged under the Riotous Assemblies Act. They were released on bail of R100 and the case postponed to 5 May. It was then reported that the two cases arising from the Namibia Day rally had been postponed to the same date. They were due to come to court on 20 February.
