Debating The Hijacking

ON Sunday, May 14 2006 at about 14h00 the horror of being hijacked, the surreal unprovoked violence one reads about, hears about, happened to my brother visiting from Germany, Ottmar, and myself.

We survived. Both Kea and Odin, my dogs, were found two days later, both well.The stitches in our heads have been pulled, my leg is mending.Thereby our story seemingly ends.But does it? We have had the kindest caring by people who stopped for us.Not only were we given free access to cellphones, were provided with towels to rest on and bandages to patch wounds, these strangers offered to stay, to look for the missing dogs, to retrieve – whatever was required.And that while all, of course, had their own destinations to go to.I’d like to use this medium to thank you.After what we had just experienced, your kindness was the counterpoint needed to give us balance.SOS International, your asking after our health during later days shows that yours was not just a job.Lara, Marieta, Sally and many others who gave up their working time to bring the dogs back home – I do not have the words to express my thanks to you! Our story has been one that was made to end well.So many other Namibians phoned, send flowers, rendered support (for example, I was given a lasagna with exact instructions on how to cook it).Last – and working, working – are the detectives from the Okahandja Police.Thank you for your enormous efforts and many sleepless nights.Again, does our story end here? Yes, mine does, gratefully so.I am wondering though, if we, as Namibians, should leave a story like this to end.When asked, people living in the vicinity of our hijacking (some 18 kilometres west of Okahandja, on the main road to Swakopmund), commented that this is not the first violent attack on passers-by in the Okahandja area.Just the week prior to the attack the Namibian Tourism Expo was held.We as a nation are canvassing for visitors to our country.Are we actively seeking to ensure their (and our) safety? Would it be useful to engage in a public debate on how to make Namibia a safer place? Should the authorities take a more pro-active stance by employing general prevention measures rather than pursuing the criminals of each occurrence every time? I believe so and I would be happy to play a role in this, if I can.Ulla von Holtz WindhoekBoth Kea and Odin, my dogs, were found two days later, both well.The stitches in our heads have been pulled, my leg is mending.Thereby our story seemingly ends.But does it? We have had the kindest caring by people who stopped for us.Not only were we given free access to cellphones, were provided with towels to rest on and bandages to patch wounds, these strangers offered to stay, to look for the missing dogs, to retrieve – whatever was required.And that while all, of course, had their own destinations to go to.I’d like to use this medium to thank you.After what we had just experienced, your kindness was the counterpoint needed to give us balance.SOS International, your asking after our health during later days shows that yours was not just a job.Lara, Marieta, Sally and many others who gave up their working time to bring the dogs back home – I do not have the words to express my thanks to you! Our story has been one that was made to end well.So many other Namibians phoned, send flowers, rendered support (for example, I was given a lasagna with exact instructions on how to cook it).Last – and working, working – are the detectives from the Okahandja Police.Thank you for your enormous efforts and many sleepless nights.Again, does our story end here? Yes, mine does, gratefully so.I am wondering though, if we, as Namibians, should leave a story like this to end.When asked, people living in the vicinity of our hijacking (some 18 kilometres west of Okahandja, on the main road to Swakopmund), commented that this is not the first violent attack on passers-by in the Okahandja area.Just the week prior to the attack the Namibian Tourism Expo was held.We as a nation are canvassing for visitors to our country.Are we actively seeking to ensure their (and our) safety? Would it be useful to engage in a public debate on how to make Namibia a safer place? Should the authorities take a more pro-active stance by employing general prevention measures rather than pursuing the criminals of each occurrence every time? I believe so and I would be happy to play a role in this, if I can. Ulla von Holtz Windhoek