The Urgent Action says Amnesty International has received reports of at least 25 arrests by the South African Security Police or Military Forces operating in the Kavongo area in northern Namibia. Eight detainees are so far known: Asser Lihongo, aged 50, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church from Rupara Village; Malakia Mureni, aged 30, former personnel officer employed by the Kavango administration, from Rundu; Immanuel Silas, aged 45, businessman from Nkurenkuru Village; Jaakko Kangaji, aged 30, teacher from Nkurenkuru Village; Kleopas Siyamba , teacher from Nkutu Village; Gerhard Kasama, student; Frans Mayira, teacher from Shamatjira Village; and Jona Hamukwaya, teacher...
The Urgent Action says Amnesty International has received reports of at least 25 arrests by the South African Security Police or Military Forces operating in the Kavongo area in northern Namibia. Eight detainees are so far known: Asser Lihongo, aged 50, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church from Rupara Village; Malakia Mureni, aged 30, former personnel officer employed by the Kavango administration, from Rundu; Immanuel Silas, aged 45, businessman from Nkurenkuru Village; Jaakko Kangaji, aged 30, teacher from Nkurenkuru Village; Kleopas Siyamba , teacher from Nkutu Village; Gerhard Kasama, student; Frans Mayira, teacher from Shamatjira Village; and Jona Hamukwaya, teacher from Namuntuntu Village. These people likely were suspected of supporting or sympathizing with the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), whose military wing is engaged in guerrilla warfare against South African forces in Namibia. However, there is also an internal wing which remains legal in Namibia. The detained people are believed to be held under Proclamation Ag. 9 of 1977. This decree, issued by the South African Administrator-General in Namibia, empowers members of the police and military to detain persons without charge for an initial 30 days, which can be renewed. People are asked to send telegrams expressing concern about reports of recent detentions in Kavango and of allegations of ill-treatment of detainees. Also, urge (1) an independent inquiry into the reported death in detention of Jona Hamukwaya, (2) publication of the names and places of detention of all those detained under Proclamation Ag.6 in Kavango, (3) that detainees be allowed access to relatives and legal counsel, and (4) that all detainees be either charged and promptly brought to trial or released. The Urgent Action mentions incommunicado detention, the United Nations General Assembly, international negotiations for a constitutional settlement, an internal administration, Dirk Mudge, the Democratic Trunhalle Alliance (DTA), Administrator General Danie Hough, Prime Minister P.W. Botha, Major-General Charles Lloyd, the South African Defense Force (SADF, South African Defence Force), Brigadier Johan Van Der Merwe, the Security Police, Chief Minister S. Kamwanga, the Government of Kavango, the Windhoek Advertiser, the Windhoek Observer, Die Suidwester, Allgemeine Zeitung, The Star, the South African Press Association (SAPA), and the Embassy of South Africa.
