Getting Away With Murder

WHEN considering how criminals are treated in Namibia, it should come as no surprise that the killings are just escalating.

The Namibian justice system has little or no effect on them. The protection of human rights is taken way too far.So far that it exceeds the right of an ordinary citizen who actually stays out of trouble.It is extremely upsetting when these people are acquitted because of temporary insanity.Absolutely very convenient, is it not? The light sentences that they give to these horrible killers come as a blow to the innocent.As a woman and child of Namibia, I take it as an insult and I am convinced that the rights of women carry no or very little weight in the judicial chambers of our country.When you have no money to take steps your grief will remain, and for your family there is no chance that justice will be served.We are such a small and rather close nation and yet we are so far removed from the systems that are supposed to protect us from those who prey on our women and children.How many of the people who are employed as the ones to serve our communities are correctly orientated? It helps not much to hold a certificate and you cannot do the practical thing.Remember these are people, not machines or objects.These are human beings with a psychological construction which should not be distorted.The scars will remain forever.In Rehoboth particularly, I have been witness to a woman who wished to lay a charge.The Police officer, with much confidence, told her to go home and sober up because according to his judgment she was drunk.Having being witness to this incident, I know she was not drunk, only underdressed, and her face was bruised because she had been repeatedly beaten up by her husband and elder son.So now you tell me how on earth you expect any already fragile women or girls to go the Police again if they have to face such cruel remarks.Coming out of a broken home myself, I know how helpless you feel when the Police officers are scared to help you because they are afraid they may be taken to court because they feel intimidated by somebody who evidently knows more of the law than they do.Knowledge of the law should be a top priority for a Police officer.But evidently in Namibia it seems to be lacking.A Police officer’s personal friendships should not affect their decision making.Gone are the days when you stood rigid and ice cold when you saw that Police van approaching.As they are not the “law” and not to be trusted any more, one wonders if it is prudent to run away instead? The sentences for crimes against our vulnerable women and children make a mockery of justice.The level of education of our esteemed Police force adds insult.I do not have a solution today, but what I maintain is that our lawmakers should pay attention to the fine print of their actions.We know by now that as women and children, we are not valued in this country.Jemima Beukes Via e-mailThe protection of human rights is taken way too far.So far that it exceeds the right of an ordinary citizen who actually stays out of trouble.It is extremely upsetting when these people are acquitted because of temporary insanity.Absolutely very convenient, is it not? The light sentences that they give to these horrible killers come as a blow to the innocent.As a woman and child of Namibia, I take it as an insult and I am convinced that the rights of women carry no or very little weight in the judicial chambers of our country.When you have no money to take steps your grief will remain, and for your family there is no chance that justice will be served.We are such a small and rather close nation and yet we are so far removed from the systems that are supposed to protect us from those who prey on our women and children.How many of the people who are employed as the ones to serve our communities are correctly orientated? It helps not much to hold a certificate and you cannot do the practical thing.Remember these are people, not machines or objects.These are human beings with a psychological construction which should not be distorted.The scars will remain forever.In Rehoboth particularly, I have been witness to a woman who wished to lay a charge.The Police officer, with much confidence, told her to go home and sober up because according to his judgment she was drunk.Having being witness to this incident, I know she was not drunk, only underdressed, and her face was bruised because she had been repeatedly beaten up by her husband and elder son.So now you tell me how on earth you expect any already fragile women or girls to go the Police again if they have to face such cruel remarks.Coming out of a broken home myself, I know how helpless you feel when the Police officers are scared to help you because they are afraid they may be taken to court because they feel intimidated by somebody who evidently knows more of the law than they do.Knowledge of the law should be a top priority for a Police officer.But evidently in Namibia it seems to be lacking.A Police officer’s personal friendships should not affect their decision making.Gone are the days when you stood rigid and ice cold when you saw that Police van approaching.As they are not the “law” and not to be trusted any more, one wonders if it is prudent to run away instead? The sentences for crimes against our vulnerable women and children make a mockery of justice.The level of education of our esteemed Police force adds insult.I do not have a solution today, but what I maintain is that our lawmakers should pay attention to the fine print of their actions.We know by now that as women and children, we are not valued in this country.Jemima Beukes Via e-mail