Swapo targets cops, media

SATURDAY’S near-riot in Katutura at which Police were forced to use teargas, and detained some Swapo Party supporters, was a direct result of the armed forces believing “lies” from the Rally for Democracy and Progress, which is out to fool everybody and fuel violence in the country, Swapo claimed yesterday.

The ruling party’s Secretary General claimed that even the media were “hoodwinked” by the RDP lies and accused them of blaming the Swapo Party before the Police investigations were concluded. “What the RDP is doing is to fool everybody in their dubious attempt to fuel violence,” Ithana said.Police detained some Swapo members on Saturday after they tried to stop an RDP rally from taking place at the ‘One Nation Shitemba’ informal settlement in Katutura.The Swapo members took up positions at the open area where the RDP planned to meet and refused to disperse when instructed to do so by Police officers and the Police Task Force.Many hurled insults at the Police and taunted them, forcing the officers to detain six men, including an off-duty Police officer whose pistol was confiscated.Three more pistols were seized from the other five men.Sitting next to Ithana yesterday, the Swapo Secretary for Information, Jerry Ekandjo, said his party members had cleared the bushes in certain areas of Windhoek for their meetings and the spot at ‘One Nation Shitemba’ informal settlement was one of these places.”If we clear an area, I don’t think anybody can come there.Normally, if you clear the area, you expect the place to be yours.It was uncalled for for the Police to remove the flag from the tree.The flag was there for three weeks,” Ekandjo said.Ithana said the RDP was supposed to consult the regional councillor for the Moses //Garoëb constituency before holding the meeting.Helena Andreas, dressed in Swapo Party colours, was also at the spot when the incident took place.”How do you just decide I’m going to have my rally in a village? You need to inform the headman,” she charged.The ruling party contended that the spot at ‘One Nation Shitemba’ informal settlement was outside the Tobias Hainyeko constituency where the by-election will take place.Swapo used the same spot for a rally a week earlier.”Swapo normally holds rallies there.RDP realised that Swapo held its rally there and also went there.However, we made arrangements,” she said.Ithana said RDP was wrong in just moving in without making proper arrangements, according to Swapo.The Police confirmed over the weekend that the RDP had made proper arrangements – by informing them and getting their permission as stipulated in municipal regulations.”For RDP to think since Swapo was allowed without proper arrangement was as if they were looking for trouble.Why is the media dancing to the RDP tune? I never read a balanced article in our media.They always take one side and make conclusions after colouring their opinions instead of allowing the public to make their own conclusions,” she claimed.Police have yet to release their report on the incident.”What the RDP is doing is to fool everybody in their dubious attempt to fuel violence,” Ithana said.Police detained some Swapo members on Saturday after they tried to stop an RDP rally from taking place at the ‘One Nation Shitemba’ informal settlement in Katutura.The Swapo members took up positions at the open area where the RDP planned to meet and refused to disperse when instructed to do so by Police officers and the Police Task Force.Many hurled insults at the Police and taunted them, forcing the officers to detain six men, including an off-duty Police officer whose pistol was confiscated. Three more pistols were seized from the other five men.Sitting next to Ithana yesterday, the Swapo Secretary for Information, Jerry Ekandjo, said his party members had cleared the bushes in certain areas of Windhoek for their meetings and the spot at ‘One Nation Shitemba’ informal settlement was one of these places.”If we clear an area, I don’t think anybody can come there.Normally, if you clear the area, you expect the place to be yours.It was uncalled for for the Police to remove the flag from the tree.The flag was there for three weeks,” Ekandjo said.Ithana said the RDP was supposed to consult the regional councillor for the Moses //Garoëb constituency before holding the meeting.Helena Andreas, dressed in Swapo Party colours, was also at the spot when the incident took place.”How do you just decide I’m going to have my rally in a village? You need to inform the headman,” she charged.The ruling party contended that the spot at ‘One Nation Shitemba’ informal settlement was outside the Tobias Hainyeko constituency where the by-election will take place.Swapo used the same spot for a rally a week earlier.”Swapo normally holds rallies there.RDP realised that Swapo held its rally there and also went there.However, we made arrangements,” she said.Ithana said RDP was wrong in just moving in without making proper arrangements, according to Swapo.The Police confirmed over the weekend that the RDP had made proper arrangements – by informing them and getting their permission as stipulated in municipal regulations.”For RDP to think since Swapo was allowed without proper arrangement was as if they were looking for trouble.Why is the media dancing to the RDP tune? I never read a balanced article in our media.They always take one side and make conclusions after colouring their opinions instead of allowing the public to make their own conclusions,” she claimed.Police have yet to release their report on the incident.