amnesty international UA office • 3618 Sacramento Street • San Francisco, CA 94118 • 415 563 3733 International Secretariat • 10 Southampton Street • London WC2E 7HF England November 26, 1982 Torture and Legal Concern UA 268/82 Namibia: About 25 Arrests 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 the extreme north of Namibia. The names of eight of those detained 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 administratl.on, 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 *Jona Hamukwaya , teacher from Namuntuntu Village The first four people listed above were among at least 15 people detained during the first two weeks of November, 1982: the other four are reported to have been detained with at least six other people around November 18, 1982. According to reports received by Amnesty International, at least one man - Jona Hamukwaya - has died in detention and another - Frans Mayira - was badly beaten after his arrest. Little information is available as yet concerned the reasons for these deten­ tions but it is likely that those arrested are suspected by the South African authorities of supporting or sympathising with the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO). SWAPO's military wing is currently engaged in guerrilla warfare against South African forces in Namibia. However, there is also an internal wing which remains legal in Namibia. SWAPO has considerable popular support, particularly in the northern districts of Ovambo and Kavango, and has been recognised by the United Nations General Assembly as the "sole, authentic representative of the Namibian people". All those detained are believed to be held under Proclamation Ag. 9 of 1977, a decree issued by the South African Administrator-General in Nambia. It empow• ers members of the security forces - police and military - to detain any person without charge for an initial 30 days after which further detention can be authorized by the Administrator-General. Detainees are held incommunicado throughout their detention. The authorities are not required to notify rela­ tives of their arrest and often will not disclose where detainees are held. TortQ_r:e of detainees is believed to be common. Background Information: Namibia has been under South African administration since 1915, despite demands by the United Nations since 1966 for South Africa to withdraw from Namibia. While the South African government is engaged in armed conflict with Amnesty International is an independent worldwide movement working for the international protection of human rights. It seeks the release of men and women detained anywhere because of their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not used or advocated violence, These are termed prisoners of conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty and tonure or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation. SWAPO in Namiqia and southern Angola, international negotiations for a constitutional ~ettlement in Namibia continue without success. Within Namiba, the South African government has delegated some powers to an internal administration consisting of, at the national level, a council of ministers led by Dirk Mudge, leader of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, and by the ten so-called "second tier" authorities with exercise limited control over matters relating to the officially-designated ethnic groups in Namibia. However, South Africa maintains direct control of foreign affairs, defense and security matters, and negotiations over Nambia's future: its Administrator-General in Namibia can veto all decisions of the Council of Ministers. Recommended Action: Telegrams/airmail letters expressing concern about reports of recent deten­ tions under Proclamation Ag.9 in Kavango; expressing concern about reports that these detainees may have been assaulted and that one man has died in detention; urging an immediate and independent inquiry into the reported death in detention of Jona Hamukwaya and allegations of ill-treatment of detainees; urging the publication of the names and places of detention of all those detained under Proclamation Ag.6 in Kavango, ana that they be allowed access to relatives and legal counsel; urging that all detainees be either charged ana promptly brought to trial or released. Appeals to: (please send to one or more of the below named officials) His Excellency Danie Hough, Administrator-General for the Territory of South West Africa, Berg Hotel, Private Bag 1327/8, Windhoek, Namibia Hon. P.W. Botha, Prime Minister, Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa Major-General Charles Lloyd, Comander-in-Chief, South African Defense Force Headquarters, Windhoekrn, Namibia Brigadier Johan Van Der Merwe, Head of Security Police, Police Headquarters, Windhoek, Namiba Mr. Dirk Mudge, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers of South West Africa, Private Bag 12389, Windhoek, Namibia Chief Minister s Kamwanga, Government of Kavango, Rundu, Namibia copies to: - The editor, Windhoek Advertiser, POB 56, Windhoek 9100, Namibia - The editor, Windhoek Observer, POB 3717, Windhoek 9100, Namibia - ·The editor, Die Suidwester, POB 2196, Windhoek, Namibia - 'I'he editor, Allgemeine Zei tung, POB 56, Windhoek 9100, Namibia - The editor, The Star, 47 Sauer Street, Johannesburg, South Africa - s·ohth African Press Association, POB 7766, Mutual Buildings, Harrison Street, Johannesburg, South Africa - The Embassy of South Africa, 3051 Massachusetts Ave NW, Wash. DC, 20008 Please send appeals as soon as possible. Check with the San Francisco office if sending after December 26, 1982. 2 [\ • ~· ""'." ,\ . , ·:·.I :'. v ·; .- -. ,,. ). .;.,. ·=· .,.. • • 1 .f" .... ~ .. .' ;. ' , i·· . , ··; . -, ·1·· ... li : ·; :i. j>.: :. i ·j f. ! ' '. 'l .. , ., I :"1 • .. ; ' ;I ; , ... /, J .- r \l •' ' I ··' <"; ' ;1.:-,. ;: ~ . : t' t• •. ",.,., . ! , " . :·. ' '~. .;j,'i. " ) ~ ~~.. /. : . .,. I~•:'. '<' ~ ' •; r ! , ' . , ' ". .: . !. .. ' .!1 • ]'•' ·., ;. '.)'ti: ., '.•· . ; . t '• " ,.,, .'~· .1. 'I "I ... ~; -.. .. 'I''.,, : ' .. ' ~ " . ; : ; ! · ~ '• D Please take aca~n ' ~s soon {s · yeu ' receive this· Urgent Action appeal. Cate;» ,,. infoimatlon. ' ':. fully read the recommended action. If possible, send a telegram or airmail letter '··; l ' : immediately to one or more of the addresses given. Other letters can be sent D Information about the alleged connection of any person with an organization afterwards . which_is bru:m,eq in their country ,is, p10,vided as infoffi\atiqn ,only and should ..:; .. -~ ' not'b~ lndu'd ~d in appeals. · · · · · -~·· ;-:, . ~.} . '·' D Teleg~ms aiid· Ifoer5 :§houIC:f be bftef'and courteoi:ls'. Srres5' that ydur-con~em'· ' -· . for human rights .is not.in any way p0litically partiSa.n. Refer to relevant pro:­ · l ·GJ , Correct salutaticJns· include: Dear' Sir - for local authorities, prison com­ visions,in internationaL __la}Y. d uch ,ru; fhe United Natie~s \)nive~sa,I I;:>eclaration manders, 4J0lice c,9iefS; .Yo'!r , Hopor -.. for judg~s; . pear Admiral, General, of Hµ!'!'an Rights: .,, ., . ..,. ,., , .. , . ; ... , . , 1 1 • , yapi;ain, ~tc;,. ~.[or mili\ary , offl~e~; Your ~c::U1~fY - for , most minister­ . Articfe 3-"Everyo~e· has ~he right io 'life, libe~ ~ nd the securiry 'of level pffic1als; m . closing , you can use Yours Sinc~rely and Respectfully for ' .•·· ' ) .f ...: . ' r • ·~.>' ' ' • '• -."!) -~. ; •• 1 · per5on." ~) any iUrhority. 1' • •• .! '-~ ~ 1 • i ~;. '_;,. ~ ,. · Article 5-"No one shall be subje~i'ed to torrurelor r'o cruel,.inhum:in , · ' .' . ~ . or degradi_ng_treatment or punishment." . < • • ···:. D; Send your appeals ~ Eng(i,sh ·unless· you are fluent with the language. Article 9-"No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile." D Copies of any ~eplie.s recei~;? ,fr..f t:i:1 -;&ov.envr!ept au.thp riti~s ~spould be sent immediately to the' Sa'n Fraridsco·' office. If appropriate, thank the official D The name of A.mnesty · 1n~e mational>tnay • be used, altholigh letters written ' ' ·. !-:; who has' rep(ied anil' ask t'o be k'epdnforined ab0ot the .case' : : : ._ . in a private or professional _capacity _are ofter:1 1TI6r1;< effectiiye~· " ~· ., ' Postage, C:osts; a page (112 oz.) t.u most countries; ,. i . \ . i . ;' } : ' . ~ i.:- . { ..'· .,, (J,. a,ii;:rn~il letters_ 1 <;_~st 4() ~ D In Urgent Action cases, AI has to act rapidly to prevent the ill-treatment of aerogrammes are 30¢ each; airmail postcards cost 28¢ to most countries; letter prisoners. An appeal is issued when AI believes it has received reliable and telegram rate telegrams with a 12-word text cost approximately $5.00 accurate information in such cases. It is not always possible to verify all details depending on the country and word count; full-rate telegrams cost approxi· independently and in some instances the situation outlined in the appeal may mately 31¢ a word including address, text and signature. Mail with colotful change. j.Jrgent Action participants are always notified of any significant new stamps may not reach its destination. .