'Exile kids' shooting themselves in the foot

WINDHOEK SELMA IKELA A human rights lawyer says the so-called 'struggle kids' are making things more difficult for themselves by refusing to get a lawyer to represent them in court. I am not sure why they do not want a legal representative, whether paid for by the State or not. Such professionals will be of assistance to them, the Director of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), Toni Hancox, told Namibian Sun. Generally, it is always more conducive to have legal representation who is well versed in not only the formal court rules but also the law and the possible defences, she said. The 179 young people born in exile during the liberation struggle were told that they could apply for free legal representation through the Directorate of Legal Aid, but indicated to the court that they would conduct their own defence. They have pleaded not guilty to all three charges of illegally occupying property opposite the Swapo headquarters in Katutura, loitering and contempt of court. Hancox advised those who cannot afford the N$500 bail to request the court to reduce the bail. On Wednesday, Magistrate Ivan Gawanab postponed the case to next week Tuesday. The accused, detained at the Seeis, Dordabis and Hosea Kutako International Airport police stations, have been complaining that the police are still refusing to take them to hospital for treatment. Last week the State Prosecutor postponed the case to this week to allow 19 of the accused to get medical attention. This came after a group member complained in court that since they must be in court almost every day, they were missing their follow-up treatment at the hospital. On Wednesday, the group said they were not taken hospital last week. The Katutura police station commander, Chief Inspector Ismael Basson, said he took some of the accused who are in custody at Windhoek Central Prison to hospital. He said those at Dordabis, Seeis, and the airport holding cells should be taken by the station commanders there. There are 300 inmates at the Windhoek Central Prison and only three police officers who can take them to hospital, he said. It's not possible to take all of them and we have to take them one by one, he said.