Police chief warns political parties

POLICE Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga yesterday issued a “stern warning” to all political parties to conduct their political activities and meetings in a peaceful and tolerant manner and to refrain from actions that provoke violence.

“The Namibian Police are deeply perturbed by incidents of violence and intolerance displayed by some political parties when campaigning and conducting political activities,” Ndeitunga said at a press briefing. He was referring to a chaotic situation last weekend, when Swapo members and supporters prevented a rally of the RDP opposition party from taking place at the One Nation Shitenda informal settlement of Katutura.The Police had to step in and disperse the Swapo crowd with teargas.Six people were arrested and four firearms were confiscated.”I issue a stern warning – whoever disobeys the law or insults Police officers on duty and in uniform and hurls accusations at them, we will act swiftly,” the Police Chief said.He said he wondered why the ugly incident last weekend had to happen.”Are there some people who do not want peace?” he asked.”I made a previous appeal to the leaders of political parties earlier this month when I convened a meeting with them and called on them to refrain from violence and to conduct their activities responsibly, peaceful and maturely,” he added.The Inspector General also mentioned similar violent incidents earlier this year at Omuthiya and Okongo in the North and said the Police would in future not shy away from enforcing law and order at such political events.”Otherwise there is chaos.We do not tolerate any weapons in public either and those who had them confiscated last weekend, are being dealt with according to the law.”This weekend all four political parties contesting the regional by-election in Katutura’s Tobias Hainyeko constituency will again hold political rallies.The by-election is scheduled for next Friday.He was referring to a chaotic situation last weekend, when Swapo members and supporters prevented a rally of the RDP opposition party from taking place at the One Nation Shitenda informal settlement of Katutura.The Police had to step in and disperse the Swapo crowd with teargas.Six people were arrested and four firearms were confiscated.”I issue a stern warning – whoever disobeys the law or insults Police officers on duty and in uniform and hurls accusations at them, we will act swiftly,” the Police Chief said. He said he wondered why the ugly incident last weekend had to happen.”Are there some people who do not want peace?” he asked.”I made a previous appeal to the leaders of political parties earlier this month when I convened a meeting with them and called on them to refrain from violence and to conduct their activities responsibly, peaceful and maturely,” he added.The Inspector General also mentioned similar violent incidents earlier this year at Omuthiya and Okongo in the North and said the Police would in future not shy away from enforcing law and order at such political events.”Otherwise there is chaos.We do not tolerate any weapons in public either and those who had them confiscated last weekend, are being dealt with according to the law.”This weekend all four political parties contesting the regional by-election in Katutura’s Tobias Hainyeko constituency will again hold political rallies.The by-election is scheduled for next Friday.