INSIDE NAMIBIA'S PRISONS
In a period which has seen an increase in the number of political trials and political prisoners, there is still very little information available on prison conditions in Namibia. Interviews with former prisoners and occasional statements by the authorities indicate that life is very harsh for long-term political prisoners. In September political prisoners in Windhoek made their own protest by going on hunger strike. The vast majority of Namibia's political 'prisoners' are however-detained without trial, many of them held at secret interrogation centres and military bases with only a remote chance of their cases receiving publicity.
In March a spokesman for the Prisons Department confirmed that prisoners are divided into categories A-D. Class A prisoners, who are chosen for their 'behaviour and co-operation', receive rights which are denied to other prisoners. They are entitled to two 30-minute visits a month with two people and may spend R48 per month on toiletries, food and reading materials. They may also acquire a radio and get newspapers.
This statement came as the result of inquiries into the case of a SWAPO prisoner, Sam MUNDJINDJI, who is serving a twenty-four year sentence. He had subscribed to The Namibian newspaper but had not received any copies. Newspaper reports said convicted prisoners were forbidden to receive any items other than a bible and clothing for their release. No details were given of the visiting rights of Class B, C and D prisoners. (Nam 27.3.86)
NEWSLETTER BANNED
A further restriction on reading matter was announced in May when the Commissioner of Prisons announced that the Roman Catholic Church's monthly newsletter, Omukuni was no longer to be distributed in any of the country's prisons. This decision, conveyed to the church authorities by the chaplain at Windhoek prison, was made under the terms of the Prisons Act, which does not require reasons for the action to be publicised. The editor of the newsletter, Erasmus HANDUBA, who was recently charged in the South African courts with possessing banned literature, strongly condemned the ban.
Heinz Stegmann, Provincial of a major Roman Catholic order, declared, 'This proves that...they do not want people to know what is happening in Namibia.' Another protest came from the Namibian Catholic Youth League of the North. (FOCUS 66 p.10; Nam 23.5.86; 27.6.86)
Difficulties faced by those in custody trying to communicate with the outside world were highlighted in May when a Catholic priest appeared in court charged with smuggling letters out of Windhoek prison for a political detainee. Fr Adelino SHALOKANE was bailed to appear again on 18 July. Police searched his home in Katutura but were reportedly barred from entering his office at the church by church officials. (WA 6.5.86)
On 19 September twelve convicted political prisoners in Windhoek prison began a hunger strike, demanding an improvement in their conditions. They stated that they were allowed only one incoming and one outgoing letter per month plus one visit of 30 minutes. They demanded unlimited correspondence and visitation rights, access to radio and television, personal to purchase groceries and adequate exercise. Those participating in the action were known to include the seven men sentenced in February as well as Sam Mundjindji and Veriko Paulus NGHITEMA. On the thirteenth day of a water-only diet the men ended their strike after their grievances were referred to Windhoek's chief magistrate.
Although the prison statement implies that bibles should be available without restriction, different information was given by Ida Jimmy who was released in October 1985 after serving a five-year sentence. While in prison she completed a two year correspondence diploma in bible studies and was recommended by her college to teach fellow prisoners. However, the prison matron banned this and the women were forced to study in secret at night, using bibles which had been smuggled in by a sympathetic social worker.
Ida Jimmy revealed many other details of her life in prison when addressing a church conference in the Netherlands in May. It was clear that she remained defiant in spite of attempts by the authorities to break her spirit. At first she was held in solitary confinement but shortly before the birth of her son (two months after her prison sentence began) an intervention by the International Red Cross led to her sharing a cell with two other women. These non-political prisoners had been warned not to associate with her at the risk of receiving additional sentences.
Her labour began in the evening but as her cell-mates were too scared to call out and she had no means of attracting the warders' attention except by screaming, she remained without help until morning. In her own words, 'I could not beg for any help from them...they tried to inflict psychological torture on me.' After three days at a clinic for the birth of the child she returned to prison and prison work. Although still weak she was forced to perform her 'duties' without which she would not qualify to receive any food.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE
Further evidence of psychological torture was demonstrated throughout Jimmy's imprisonment. Although initially informed that her son, Konjeleni Richard, could stay with her until her release, when he was 18 months old she was told: 'Today the child has to leave the prison.' Jimmy asked the authorities to contact her mother, who lived some 800 km from Windhoek in Luderitz, but they lied, saying she had 'refused to take a child of a political prisoner.' After that she told them they would have to take child to them.' In fact, her sister paid her a visit at about that time and took the child away with her. He died a year later having been able to visit his mother only once.
The authorities told Jimmy that his son's funeral but it turned out that his son was conditional on her signing a letter to the Administrator General appointed to the South African regime to rule Namibia. She refused to compromise and was subsequently denied personal mission. She suffered a nervous breakdown the day of the funeral resulting in a partial paralysis of her left side. One of her first acts after her release was to visit her son's grave.
Jimmy stressed that all prisoners were allowed the political ones suffered by them. It was a point also emphasised by the UN General Assembly resolution on the release of political prisoners. It was stated that black prisoners were denied the washing for white inmates who were given better food, more favourable living conditions and different clothes. (WA 6.5.86)
RELEASED PRISONERS
Political prisoners continue to face the pressure as well as economic pressure, their release from prison in March 1986. Jimmy's house was raided in the middle of the night by a force of more than 40 police, counter insurgents, groups of members of the Security Branch of the Police, the Council of Churches in Namibia and a special programme to assist political prisoners and detainees within its Social Welfare Department. The members of the prison conditions committee, or Detainees' Union, are now meeting on the need for help a recent report said employment of former political prisoners or detainees is a very rare phenomenon. (Information May 1986)
Information on conditions prevailing in police cells came out following the arrest of a large number of SWAPO supporters in August and September 1985 and again in January 1986. Anton Lubowski, a prominent lawyer, was amongst those held and he denounced the shocking conditions faced by awaiting prisoners at Kaiser Street police station. (WO 9 10 85)
There were no beds or banks but a limited number of thin mats available on a first come, first served basis. Lubowski reported that some people held in the Katutura cells had only one blanket on a concrete floor. Sanitary facilities were grossly inadequate. (WO 9 10 85)
Fifty eight SWAPO members and supporters held for a day on 27 January 1986 after the police brutally broke up a SWAPO Youth Ray for Peace issued a press statement about the treatment. It stated 46 people were crowded into a cell measuring six metres by four metres. Lights were kept burning throughout the night but the prisoners were provided with no food or drink, no towels, toilet paper or washing facilities, no beds or mattresses but only a few rags for a covering. Their shoes, watches and spectacles were confiscated. Those who had been seriously assaulted and were in pain were only taken to hospital after protests. (Nam 31 1 86; WO 1 2 86)
