Police probe Mariental brutality claims

THE Police yesterday confirmed that they are investigating a number of assault charges at Mariental after about a dozen residents from the town’s Aimablaagte township claimed to have fallen victim to Police brutality last week.

The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) yesterday screened, in the presence of reporters and the Police’s public relations unit, video footage of around ten people with fresh bruises and stitches to their bodies and faces, which they claim were the result of a beating by a large mob of drunken Special Field Force (SFF) and Namibian Defence Force (NDF) members last Thursday evening. Beer bottles used as projectiles between residents and officers, walking sticks used to pry armed soldiers off a woman, and shots fired with an AK47 were some of the more graphic revelations made by angry residents on the tape and by those interviewed by The Namibian afterwards.”About ten guys were beating my wife and I decided, let me get in there before she dies.This way at least they’ll find both our bodies,” 30-year-old Andries Saal told The Namibian yesterday while trying to narrate a story that changed in detail with every new person telling it.The Special Field Force and NDF members had been sent to Mariental to maintain law and order after the devastating floods of last weekend, and to make sure that nobody looted flooded and deserted buildings.According to Saal, it would seem that the members in question had been drinking with some of the township’s residents before things got out of hand.A 20-year-old woman, Trooi Seteris, said that one officer had stolen money and tried to fondle her, and at one point pointed his AK47 at her when she threw him to the floor, “judo style”.The officer then called for back-up on his cellphone and in the end, those assaulted say that three trucks full of uniformed soldiers were wreaking havoc around the Oshatotwa shebeen, where the incident took place.”They came here for the flood, they’re supposed to be in town,” came the voice of a witness who said that he had been watching television when he saw the uniformed men attacking his neighbours.”Why do they come drinking in Aimablaagte,” he asked.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu told The Namibian yesterday that the Police investigation into the Aimablaagte incident had already begun, and that it will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s office after completion.”They must be known,” he added when questioned whether the identities of the suspects were known.Residents had identified three Police officers from Mariental who they said were either involved, or knew what had happened.Beer bottles used as projectiles between residents and officers, walking sticks used to pry armed soldiers off a woman, and shots fired with an AK47 were some of the more graphic revelations made by angry residents on the tape and by those interviewed by The Namibian afterwards.”About ten guys were beating my wife and I decided, let me get in there before she dies.This way at least they’ll find both our bodies,” 30-year-old Andries Saal told The Namibian yesterday while trying to narrate a story that changed in detail with every new person telling it.The Special Field Force and NDF members had been sent to Mariental to maintain law and order after the devastating floods of last weekend, and to make sure that nobody looted flooded and deserted buildings.According to Saal, it would seem that the members in question had been drinking with some of the township’s residents before things got out of hand.A 20-year-old woman, Trooi Seteris, said that one officer had stolen money and tried to fondle her, and at one point pointed his AK47 at her when she threw him to the floor, “judo style”.The officer then called for back-up on his cellphone and in the end, those assaulted say that three trucks full of uniformed soldiers were wreaking havoc around the Oshatotwa shebeen, where the incident took place.”They came here for the flood, they’re supposed to be in town,” came the voice of a witness who said that he had been watching television when he saw the uniformed men attacking his neighbours.”Why do they come drinking in Aimablaagte,” he asked.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu told The Namibian yesterday that the Police investigation into the Aimablaagte incident had already begun, and that it will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s office after completion.”They must be known,” he added when questioned whether the identities of the suspects were known. Residents had identified three Police officers from Mariental who they said were either involved, or knew what had happened.