More war graves reported in Ohangwena

WHILE local and international forensic experts investigate the skeletal remains found in seven mass graves in the Ohangwena Region last year, people are still coming forward with information about more graves.

Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Armas Shivute could not say how many new graves have been reported. He referred The Namibian to the Governor of Ohangwena.Governor Usko Nghaamwa was not available for comment.According to Shivute, the skeletons from the first seven graves – five at Eenhana, one at Ongha and one at Epuku village near Ongha – were sent to Windhoek for forensic investigation towards the end of last year.He said no new graves would be exhumed before the Police were given the green light by the forensic investigators.”They have requested us to dig out those human remains in their presence in order to direct the diggers on how to handle those remains and not to handle them like those at Eenhana, which is making things difficult for them to conduct a proper investigation,” Shivute added.Shivute and his counterpart in the Oshana Region, Deputy Commissioner Josef Anghuwo, said earlier that international forensic experts, accompanied by the Namibian Forensic Unit, visited the North in November.The team included the chief of the Namibian Forensic Unit, Dr Paul Ludik, the chief of the Serious Crime Unit in South Africa, Anton Ackermann, the Chief of the South African Crime Prevention Unit, Madeleine Fullard, and a world-famous forensic anthropologist from Argentina, Luis Sondebrider.These experts came to Namibia after President Hifikepunye Pohamba asked South Africa to help with the investigation.According to Deputy Commissioner Shivute, the report of the forensic experts will be handed over to Government, which will decide on the next step.In the Omusati Region, Police spokesperson Constable Linekela Shikongo said yesterday that 12 mass graves had been reported in that region.”We tried to dig at one site that was pointed out to us by a villager, where probably more than 20 bodies were buried in the mid-80s, but could not find anything so far.We are still digging around that place, as the informant might have shown us the wrong spot,” Shikongo said.He said the Police in the region would dig at all 12 places pointed out to them if Government asked them to do so.Earlier, the Minister of Safety and Security, Peter Tshirumbu Tsheehama, and the Minister of Defence, Charles Namholo, said that once the forensic investigation had been completed, a proper burial would be held, probably in the North, where all the human remains would be buried in one mass grave.The remains are believed to be those of Swapo combatants who died in battle during the liberation struggle.He referred The Namibian to the Governor of Ohangwena.Governor Usko Nghaamwa was not available for comment.According to Shivute, the skeletons from the first seven graves – five at Eenhana, one at Ongha and one at Epuku village near Ongha – were sent to Windhoek for forensic investigation towards the end of last year.He said no new graves would be exhumed before the Police were given the green light by the forensic investigators.”They have requested us to dig out those human remains in their presence in order to direct the diggers on how to handle those remains and not to handle them like those at Eenhana, which is making things difficult for them to conduct a proper investigation,” Shivute added.Shivute and his counterpart in the Oshana Region, Deputy Commissioner Josef Anghuwo, said earlier that international forensic experts, accompanied by the Namibian Forensic Unit, visited the North in November.The team included the chief of the Namibian Forensic Unit, Dr Paul Ludik, the chief of the Serious Crime Unit in South Africa, Anton Ackermann, the Chief of the South African Crime Prevention Unit, Madeleine Fullard, and a world-famous forensic anthropologist from Argentina, Luis Sondebrider.These experts came to Namibia after President Hifikepunye Pohamba asked South Africa to help with the investigation. According to Deputy Commissioner Shivute, the report of the forensic experts will be handed over to Government, which will decide on the next step.In the Omusati Region, Police spokesperson Constable Linekela Shikongo said yesterday that 12 mass graves had been reported in that region.”We tried to dig at one site that was pointed out to us by a villager, where probably more than 20 bodies were buried in the mid-80s, but could not find anything so far.We are still digging around that place, as the informant might have shown us the wrong spot,” Shikongo said.He said the Police in the region would dig at all 12 places pointed out to them if Government asked them to do so.Earlier, the Minister of Safety and Security, Peter Tshirumbu Tsheehama, and the Minister of Defence, Charles Namholo, said that once the forensic investigation had been completed, a proper burial would be held, probably in the North, where all the human remains would be buried in one mass grave.The remains are believed to be those of Swapo combatants who died in battle during the liberation struggle.