EDITORIAL: Information not a voluntary commodity
Today marks one week since the execution-style deaths of five men in Okahandja at the hands of Namibian Police and Windhoek City Police joint forces.
The public would not have heard about these deaths if it hadn’t been for the media, notably Namibian Sun which broke the story early on Wednesday, because the police have remained tight-lipped to this day - as if nothing occurred.
Too many legitimate questions have surfaced, including not only the motive for the killings but also the police’s deafening silence on the matter. We are told that a public statement will be made in this regard, but when it takes longer than a week to do so, the public is justified in doubting whatever will be said.
Even more concerning is the fact that the normal weekly police crime report released yesterday makes no mention of the killings. The gravity of what happened that day demanded a quick public statement from our police, either commending or questioning the personnel on duty.
While those killed have left an indelible mark on the Namibian crime scene, their suspicious execution under the cover of darkness has raised legitimate concerns about the police’s actions that day. With no known survivors, the only story to be told is by the winners of the alleged firefight.
The public would not have heard about these deaths if it hadn’t been for the media, notably Namibian Sun which broke the story early on Wednesday, because the police have remained tight-lipped to this day - as if nothing occurred.
Too many legitimate questions have surfaced, including not only the motive for the killings but also the police’s deafening silence on the matter. We are told that a public statement will be made in this regard, but when it takes longer than a week to do so, the public is justified in doubting whatever will be said.
Even more concerning is the fact that the normal weekly police crime report released yesterday makes no mention of the killings. The gravity of what happened that day demanded a quick public statement from our police, either commending or questioning the personnel on duty.
While those killed have left an indelible mark on the Namibian crime scene, their suspicious execution under the cover of darkness has raised legitimate concerns about the police’s actions that day. With no known survivors, the only story to be told is by the winners of the alleged firefight.
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Namibian Sun
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