Concern over Caprivi returnees

Open letter to President Sam Nujoma.

Dear Mr. President I WANT to express concern at the forced return

of the following eight Namibian men who were returned from Botswana

to Namibia on December 10 last year: Manepola Manuala Makendano,

Progress Dikava Munuma, Alex Sinjabata Mushakwa, Samulandela Shien

Smulandela, Diamon Salufu Samunzala, Vincent Liswaniso Siliye,

Vincent Salishando Sinasi and Mosweu Mathew Tembwe.

On December 15 last year, the eight men appeared at Katima

Mulilo magistrate's court.

 

Mosweu Mathew Tembwe was released without being charged on

December 16, but the rest of the men were remanded in custody and

charged with treason in connection with the Caprivi uprising.

 

That now brings the total to 128 defendants on trial.

 

The eight men were deported without the knowledge of the United

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and were not given a

chance to have their cases reviewed by the Botswana Refugee

Advisory Committee (RAC).

 

They might be at risk of human rights violations.

 

Amnesty International has concerns about the Caprivi treason

trial and they are already documented in the public report;

"Namibia: Justice Delayed is Justice Denied".

 

Please refer to it.

 

All the defendants should have access to a lawyer, to medical

care and to their families.

 

Yours respectfully.

 

- N.Baron - Heathcote

 

On December 15 last year, the eight men appeared at Katima Mulilo

magistrate's court. Mosweu Mathew Tembwe was released without being

charged on December 16, but the rest of the men were remanded in

custody and charged with treason in connection with the Caprivi

uprising. That now brings the total to 128 defendants on trial. The

eight men were deported without the knowledge of the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and were not given a chance

to have their cases reviewed by the Botswana Refugee Advisory

Committee (RAC). They might be at risk of human rights violations.

Amnesty International has concerns about the Caprivi treason trial

and they are already documented in the public report; "Namibia:

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied". Please refer to it. All the

defendants should have access to a lawyer, to medical care and to

their families. Yours respectfully.- N.Baron - Heathcote

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