Treason charges withdrawn… for now
A treason case involving members of the Caprivi Concerned Group (CCG) has been provisionally withdrawn, so further investigations can be carried out.
Six CCG members were arrested last Sunday and appeared in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court last week on conspiracy to commit high treason charges, as well as charges of inciting public violence, according to police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi.
The matter, however, had to be withdrawn, she said.
“The charges against six leaders of the so-called Caprivi Concerned Group have been provisionally withdrawn by the court. The withdrawal was done to allow sufficient time for the matter to be investigated, without unnecessarily impeding on the rights of the accused persons,” Shikwambi said.
It was reported recently the six suspects were arrested after the police received information they were planning to meet with supporters of the United Democratic Party (UDP) to discuss seceding the Zambezi Region from Namibia.
The group's attempt to hold a press conference was also recently halted by the police, who said they had not been informed of the planned meeting, according to Zambezi police commissioner, Karel Theron.
“If it is a press conference, only the media is supposed to there. However, it seems like this is a meeting for the CCG, and that is illegal, as we were not informed of it, as the police,” Theron said.
According to the commissioner, there was strong evidence the group want to advance the activities of Mishake Muyongo, the exiled former DTA and UDP president, to secede the Zambezi Region from the rest of Namibia.
“These guys are trying to destabilise peace in the region. You cannot be having many meetings; today you want to demonstrate, then you want to hold a press conference,” said Theron.
“Their followers must think twice, they must reconcile with their conscience that the Zambezi Region will remain part of Namibia until the end of the world,” he said.
Meanwhile, police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga warned members of the police force not to side with the group.
“Some of you with those ranks we have promoted you to, you are even sympathisers or even members of the CCG. These lunatics who are messing up here in Katima and you are their police officers. Some of you, you even sneak cellphones into the cell for them to talk to Muyongo; you will bite the dust like them,” New Era quoted Ndeitunga as saying.
According to Ndeitunga, members within the force that support the CCG and UDP should change their ways and repent.
“That is why I came here, because I heard enough reports of people who are supporting the CCG in the Namibian police force, of people supporting the UDP in the force. It is a risk to state security. We should sort them out now. They should change, they should repent, they should reform and they should become born again,” said Ndeitunga.
On 2 August 1999, armed secession supporters, under the banner of Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA), launched unanticipated attacks on the Namibia Defence Force army base, border post, and the police station in Katima Mulilo.
OGONE TLHAGE
Six CCG members were arrested last Sunday and appeared in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court last week on conspiracy to commit high treason charges, as well as charges of inciting public violence, according to police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi.
The matter, however, had to be withdrawn, she said.
“The charges against six leaders of the so-called Caprivi Concerned Group have been provisionally withdrawn by the court. The withdrawal was done to allow sufficient time for the matter to be investigated, without unnecessarily impeding on the rights of the accused persons,” Shikwambi said.
It was reported recently the six suspects were arrested after the police received information they were planning to meet with supporters of the United Democratic Party (UDP) to discuss seceding the Zambezi Region from Namibia.
The group's attempt to hold a press conference was also recently halted by the police, who said they had not been informed of the planned meeting, according to Zambezi police commissioner, Karel Theron.
“If it is a press conference, only the media is supposed to there. However, it seems like this is a meeting for the CCG, and that is illegal, as we were not informed of it, as the police,” Theron said.
According to the commissioner, there was strong evidence the group want to advance the activities of Mishake Muyongo, the exiled former DTA and UDP president, to secede the Zambezi Region from the rest of Namibia.
“These guys are trying to destabilise peace in the region. You cannot be having many meetings; today you want to demonstrate, then you want to hold a press conference,” said Theron.
“Their followers must think twice, they must reconcile with their conscience that the Zambezi Region will remain part of Namibia until the end of the world,” he said.
Meanwhile, police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga warned members of the police force not to side with the group.
“Some of you with those ranks we have promoted you to, you are even sympathisers or even members of the CCG. These lunatics who are messing up here in Katima and you are their police officers. Some of you, you even sneak cellphones into the cell for them to talk to Muyongo; you will bite the dust like them,” New Era quoted Ndeitunga as saying.
According to Ndeitunga, members within the force that support the CCG and UDP should change their ways and repent.
“That is why I came here, because I heard enough reports of people who are supporting the CCG in the Namibian police force, of people supporting the UDP in the force. It is a risk to state security. We should sort them out now. They should change, they should repent, they should reform and they should become born again,” said Ndeitunga.
On 2 August 1999, armed secession supporters, under the banner of Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA), launched unanticipated attacks on the Namibia Defence Force army base, border post, and the police station in Katima Mulilo.
OGONE TLHAGE
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