Bishop prays for Amushelelo, Nauyoma's release
Anglican Bishop Lukas Katenda says Dimbulukeni Nauyoma and Michael Amushelelo have done nothing wrong to be detained, adding that they simply brought to the fore their anger over unfair practices.
The duo was arrested following calls for the closure of the Chinatown shopping complex in Windhoek. This after the Namibia Revenue Agency had destroyed counterfeit items, sparking protests.
Amushelelo is facing serious charges of assault by threat, incitement to commit violence and public violence, while Nauyoma faces incitement to commit violence and public violence charges.
Speaking during a prayer meeting held over the weekend, Katenda called for the duo's release.
“There are people in the country, like in the days of the liberation, who are in jail because they did nothing wrong but, out of their own consciousness, spoke or demonstrated that some things needed to change.
“They’ve stolen no fish, no diamonds. They own no land by dubious means. All they did was to express their anger,” he added.
No urgency
Katenda also questioned the pace at which the State was moving to resolve the matter involving Amushelelo and Nauyoma.
“The State has no urgency whatsoever to resolve the matter, whether with courts or by negotiations,” he said.
The bishop warned that Namibia is a ticking time bomb because the arrest of the two activists was an indication of the anger of the youth over unemployment rates in the country.
“With youth unemployment rocketing, Namibia is sitting on a ticking time bomb and the arrests of activists, whether then or now, are bad indicators that worse is yet to come,” he said.
Amushelelo and Nauyoma’s bail hearing is set for tomorrow, 7 July.
The duo was arrested following calls for the closure of the Chinatown shopping complex in Windhoek. This after the Namibia Revenue Agency had destroyed counterfeit items, sparking protests.
Amushelelo is facing serious charges of assault by threat, incitement to commit violence and public violence, while Nauyoma faces incitement to commit violence and public violence charges.
Speaking during a prayer meeting held over the weekend, Katenda called for the duo's release.
“There are people in the country, like in the days of the liberation, who are in jail because they did nothing wrong but, out of their own consciousness, spoke or demonstrated that some things needed to change.
“They’ve stolen no fish, no diamonds. They own no land by dubious means. All they did was to express their anger,” he added.
No urgency
Katenda also questioned the pace at which the State was moving to resolve the matter involving Amushelelo and Nauyoma.
“The State has no urgency whatsoever to resolve the matter, whether with courts or by negotiations,” he said.
The bishop warned that Namibia is a ticking time bomb because the arrest of the two activists was an indication of the anger of the youth over unemployment rates in the country.
“With youth unemployment rocketing, Namibia is sitting on a ticking time bomb and the arrests of activists, whether then or now, are bad indicators that worse is yet to come,” he said.
Amushelelo and Nauyoma’s bail hearing is set for tomorrow, 7 July.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article