Cops warned: Don’t march

THE group of war veterans planning a protest next week over Government’s refusal to give in to their demands have been dealt a crippling blow by the chief of the Namibian Police.

Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga has warned that any Police officers found marching among the demonstrators on June 4 would face serious consequences. In a circular sent out last week to all Heads of Divisions and Regional Commanders, Ndeitunga warned that any officers found participating in the march would be held liable for misconduct, regardless of whether they had applied for leave on that day or not.”Unconfirmed reports have it that some members of the Namibian Police are also planning to participate in the demonstration,” the circular reads.Ndeitunga referred his officers to regulation 15 of the Police Regulations.Elaborating on this regulation, Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said that Police officers are expected to remain impartial at all times.”As long as they are members of the Police, they are expected to remain non-partisan.That’s also why we don’t have unions,” Amulungu said.The move has infuriated war veterans’ committee organisers Alex Kamwi and Mataeus Nangolo, who were counting on the support of the many ex-combatants now employed in the Namibian Police and the Namibian Defence Force.”This is an infringement of the officers’ constitutional rights.Every person is entitled to leave, and to do whatever he wants to do during that time.Unless the Inspector General says leave has now been abolished, there’s no way he can make such an order,” Kamwi told The Namibian on Monday.”I refer him to a letter sent to us from the Office of the Prime Minister on September 1 last year,” Kamwi said.This letter, a copy of which the committee left with The Namibian, told the committee to advise its members to apply for leave in order to participate in the group’s planned march last year.”It will definitely be a huge blow to our movement if they are not allowed,” Kamwi answered when asked about the effect the Inspector General’s circular could have.”He knows most of them (group supporters) come from the Police.But he can’t deny them their freedom of expression,” Kamwi said.In a circular sent out last week to all Heads of Divisions and Regional Commanders, Ndeitunga warned that any officers found participating in the march would be held liable for misconduct, regardless of whether they had applied for leave on that day or not.”Unconfirmed reports have it that some members of the Namibian Police are also planning to participate in the demonstration,” the circular reads.Ndeitunga referred his officers to regulation 15 of the Police Regulations.Elaborating on this regulation, Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said that Police officers are expected to remain impartial at all times. “As long as they are members of the Police, they are expected to remain non-partisan.That’s also why we don’t have unions,” Amulungu said.The move has infuriated war veterans’ committee organisers Alex Kamwi and Mataeus Nangolo, who were counting on the support of the many ex-combatants now employed in the Namibian Police and the Namibian Defence Force.”This is an infringement of the officers’ constitutional rights.Every person is entitled to leave, and to do whatever he wants to do during that time.Unless the Inspector General says leave has now been abolished, there’s no way he can make such an order,” Kamwi told The Namibian on Monday.”I refer him to a letter sent to us from the Office of the Prime Minister on September 1 last year,” Kamwi said.This letter, a copy of which the committee left with The Namibian, told the committee to advise its members to apply for leave in order to participate in the group’s planned march last year.”It will definitely be a huge blow to our movement if they are not allowed,” Kamwi answered when asked about the effect the Inspector General’s circular could have.”He knows most of them (group supporters) come from the Police.But he can’t deny them their freedom of expression,” Kamwi said.