Garoes Was Treated Unfairly

LAST week Belinda Garoes caused a disturbance at the National Assembly.

Though she misused the platform and did not follow the right procedures, she was not to be blamed, and not to be humiliated as she was. She might have voted in those who were in the chambers, mind you.She was treated like a menace to society, like a criminal, and to label her as mentally unstable was uncalled for.The newspapers had no proof that she had a mental problem at that time, and I think an apology should be made to her as such.Also, the way she was manhandled was uncalled for.Here was a defenceless woman being bullied by the very same people who had to protect her.Wasn’t there a better way to handle the situation, instead of well-built policemen dragging the poor woman out of the chambers? At no point did Ms Garoes show any form of violence; resistance does not equate violence.Shouldn’t female Police officers deal with a female if she is not showing any form of violence? What ensued after she was put in a Police van? And was it necessary to put her in a van since she has had at no point broken any law? Couldn’t the Police who are standing idle all day see to it that she did not re-enter the building, instead of driving her away? Were any criminal charges laid against her and on what grounds? There is so much hypocrisy – not long ago shebeen owners camped outside Parliament, defecated where they liked, urinated where they liked, slept and barbecued a whole cow, and they didn’t get such treatment.This group was allowed to camp out there longer than the five minutes Ms Garoes caused mayhem.These shebeen owners shamed the whole of Namibia, and they were a menace to society as they were arrogant and indicated that they have no respect for our current leaders, let alone the President.And to top it all, why are the women MPs, Councillors and women’s groups so quiet on this issue? They are the ones talking about women’s rights.It shows you that all they are there for is to promote their own interests.Disturbed Via e-mailShe might have voted in those who were in the chambers, mind you.She was treated like a menace to society, like a criminal, and to label her as mentally unstable was uncalled for.The newspapers had no proof that she had a mental problem at that time, and I think an apology should be made to her as such.Also, the way she was manhandled was uncalled for.Here was a defenceless woman being bullied by the very same people who had to protect her.Wasn’t there a better way to handle the situation, instead of well-built policemen dragging the poor woman out of the chambers? At no point did Ms Garoes show any form of violence; resistance does not equate violence.Shouldn’t female Police officers deal with a female if she is not showing any form of violence? What ensued after she was put in a Police van? And was it necessary to put her in a van since she has had at no point broken any law? Couldn’t the Police who are standing idle all day see to it that she did not re-enter the building, instead of driving her away? Were any criminal charges laid against her and on what grounds? There is so much hypocrisy – not long ago shebeen owners camped outside Parliament, defecated where they liked, urinated where they liked, slept and barbecued a whole cow, and they didn’t get such treatment.This group was allowed to camp out there longer than the five minutes Ms Garoes caused mayhem.These shebeen owners shamed the whole of Namibia, and they were a menace to society as they were arrogant and indicated that they have no respect for our current leaders, let alone the President.And to top it all, why are the women MPs, Councillors and women’s groups so quiet on this issue? They are the ones talking about women’s rights.It shows you that all they are there for is to promote their own interests.Disturbed Via e-mail