Police search for grave sites at four more military bases

POLICE from the Oshana and Ohangwena regions have been sent to four former army and Koevoet bases to search for more mass graves on the basis of information provided by the public.

The Governor of Ohangwena, Usko Nghaamwa, told The Namibian yesterday that the officers have started digging at sites pointed out by informants. He said some people who had served in the former South African Defence Force and Koevoet police unit responded to President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s call for information on mass burials during the liberation struggle.They singled out the former military bases at Okakwa, Ongha and Onhuno near the town of Ohangwena, as well as the old Koevoet base at Omungwelume, also in the Ohangwena Region, he said.”The media will be informed as soon as we have discovered something,” Nghaamwa said.Three mass graves have so far been found at the former military base at Eenhana.Workers of the Roads Construction Company and another engineering contractor found the first grave last Tuesday.Another mass grave was found the next day and the third was uncovered on Tuesday this week.President Pohamba, who visited Eenhana on Sunday, appealed for information about the people buried there and the circumstances of their death.Forensic investigators have not yet determined the exact number of skeletons unearthed, but indications are that they were former members of Swapo’s military wing, Plan.He said some people who had served in the former South African Defence Force and Koevoet police unit responded to President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s call for information on mass burials during the liberation struggle.They singled out the former military bases at Okakwa, Ongha and Onhuno near the town of Ohangwena, as well as the old Koevoet base at Omungwelume, also in the Ohangwena Region, he said.”The media will be informed as soon as we have discovered something,” Nghaamwa said.Three mass graves have so far been found at the former military base at Eenhana.Workers of the Roads Construction Company and another engineering contractor found the first grave last Tuesday.Another mass grave was found the next day and the third was uncovered on Tuesday this week.President Pohamba, who visited Eenhana on Sunday, appealed for information about the people buried there and the circumstances of their death.Forensic investigators have not yet determined the exact number of skeletons unearthed, but indications are that they were former members of Swapo’s military wing, Plan.