In January the armed forces in northern Namibia carried out a series of mass detentions, allegedly of people involved in the activities of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), SWAPO's armed wing. Detentions continued into the following month and many of those held remained in custody in March. As is usually the case in Namibia it was difficult to get confirmation of the details - either as to where the detainees were being held, under what law they were detained or whether they were being held by police or army. Church sources provided the most comprehensive information, from which, together with press reports, the list below has been compiled. It is essential to stress that the list is only partial. The situation in Namibia is such that detainees can be held for years without any confirmation of their fate. A report in the February issue of CCN Information the bulletin of the Council of Churches in Namibia bulletin, included a list of current detainees some of whom had been held since 1978.
At least 45 people were picked up in what officials of the regime described as a 'joint operation' by police and army. The detainees were held under various regulations including Proclamation AG9 of 1977. Some reports linked those held with acts of sabotage and the Attorney-General was said to be considering at least four dossiers with a view to prosecution. However, by early April no-one had been charged.
A number of organisations protesting about the detentions expressed concern for the safety of the detainees. Their fears were confirmed with the news that a youth worker had died while in custody. Again, information on conditions was sketchy but a compilation of reports from official sources as well as the experiences of former detainees gives some idea of conditions.
A former detainee, Thomas IPITO, who was held at the Osire detention camp, described the regime there as 'tough' and 'designed to break down the detainee psychologically'. Ipito seems to have been held in connection with a common-law offence but was detained under Proclamation AG9 and questioned about meetings at the Katutura compound which was demolished in October 1987. It was alleged that he had helped people leave the country illegally. He was held in a 'zinc cage', deprived of all reading matter, even the Bible, and allowed no clothes other than underpants. At times food was also withheld in an attempt to get him to give information. All meals were eaten by the detainees in their cells - beginning with a bowl of water at 6am and the final meal of the day at 5pm. They were allowed no exercise but were taken out daily at 3pm for a shower. He reported suffering from intense heat in the cage and from a lack of exercise during his two-month detention. While at Osire he saw a number of detainees including Jason ANGULA, the SWAPO Secretary for Labour, who was detained in October. Also there was Nathaniel SHIKONGO who was abducted from Onandjokwe Hospital in March 1987.
Conditions at Oniimwandi Prison, Oskakati, were exposed in a statement issued by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia in early March. Released detainees reported having been held initially in a tent before being put into solitary confinement. A loudspeaker installed in the tent broadcast the sound of detainees being interrogated and tortured. A staff officer at Sector 10 headquarters in Oskakati confirmed in February that the SADF had 'cages for SWAPO terrorists' at Oshakati.
When last heard of, Joseph DUMENI was detained at the Koevoet base at Oniimwandi. Dumeni was badly assaulted and taken from his home by Koevoet police on 17 December. His captors accused him of being a SWAPO combatant. On 24 December his wife was told at Oniimwandi that he was 'all right' but that she could not see him. Since then the authorities have denied they were holding him.
At least four detainees were held at the Ondangua Police Station, as confirmed by a reporter on The Namibian newspaper who was detained briefly on 14/15 March.
Fears for the safety of all detainees rose in early March with the announcement that Ignatius NAMBONDI (29) of Oshikushashipya had died in custody on 24 February. Namboni, a teacher by profession, was employed as a youth worker at the Roman Catholic mission at Oshikuku and was a member of the Namibian Catholic Youth League (NACAYUL).
A lawyer for Namboni's family stated that he had been detained on 9 February under Proclamation AG9. He was said to have been severely assaulted by Koevoet before being taken away. On 24 February, according to police sources, he was found hanging in his cell at Oshakati police station. The following Tuesday, 1 March, a post mortem was carried out in the presence of Professor Schwar of Cape Town, who observed it on behalf of Nambondi's family. No immediate results were available, nor was a date set for an inquest.
Police declined to give any further details but the official appointed as 'Minister for Justice' in the South African administration in Namibia said that according to his information Namboni had first cut his trousers into strips and then hanged himself. He attempted to link what he called Namboni's 'suicide' to his having heard about the bomb blast at the Oshakati bank on 19 February.
