LAC launches booklet on use of force by law enforcement officers

WINDHOEK – The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, on Friday launched a booklet analysing the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers, which sometimes results in civilians losing their lives.

The booklet was launched at the House of Democracy in Windhoek by Dianne Hubbard, the coordinator for the Gender Research and Advocacy Project at LAC.

She said they were prompted to publish the booklet by events that have been happening in the country since the launch of Operation Hornkranz and Operation Kalahari Desert – which generated both positive and negative perceptions from the public.

Hubbard said when law enforcement agencies are conducting such operations, they sometimes bypass the Namibian Constitution, which is supposed to guide them in carrying out their duties.

It clearly stipulates Namibia’s armed forces law, which is divided into three categories – the Police Act 19 of 1990, Correctional Service Act 9 of 2012 and Defence Act 1 of 2002, she elaborated.

Hubbard said it was shocking to learn that members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) used lethal weapons on unarmed civilians during Operation Hornkranz and Operation Kalahari Desert, when some people were shot dead and others injured by people that were supposed to protect them, and it has now attracted international condemnation.

“There is no need to use lethal weapons on someone suspected of forgery, fraud or any other criminal activities that do not pose danger to a law enforcement officer or the public. International forums have criticised Namibia for using NDF to carry out police duties,” noted Hubbard.

Deputy Minister of Safety and Security Daniel Kashikola, who was also in attendance, said he is satisfied with the report compiled in the booklet because it is balanced, as it went to the extent of praising the police for its work, “something very rare in local media”.

“Normally, the media focuses only on negative reports even though there are lots of positive things to report on. So keep it up,” said Kashikola. – Nampa

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