Operation Kalahari Desert claims another ‘victim’

More claims of assault from officers during the newly launched ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ have emerged. YET another civilian has claimed that he was assaulted last Thursday at Goreangab Dam in Windhoek by members of the newly launched ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’.

Ananias Ihulu (30) broke down in tears as he told on Wednesday that at around 08h00 that morning, a group of more than 10 soldiers took their turns to beat him around the torso area because he spoke to them softly.

Ihulu, who is a construction worker, added that the heavy-handed men confiscated some construction equipment, including an inverter.

The alleged victim explained that he had been walking with a colleague when the two were stopped in their tracks by officers in a Namibian Defence Force (NDF) vehicle. After dismounting, the soldiers allegedly quizzed the duo about where they had gotten the equipment they were carrying.

Ihulu said he responded to the question by the officers, but they then assaulted him for apparently speaking in a soft tone. Although he denied doing so deliberately, he explained that the revving sound from the vehicle’s engine could have made it difficult for the soldier to hear him clearly. His friend was spared, because he did not speak at all.

In addition to the equipment, Ihulu claimed that he also lost two phones and his wallet during the assault.

Ihulu’s colleague, Enos Disol, yesterday confirmed that he was with him when he was assaulted. He said some NDF soldiers and police officers asked them what they were carrying and then felt disrespected when Ihulu responded in what the officers claimed to have been a low tone. He added that Ihulu’s voice was ovepowered by the NDF vehicle’s engine. According to Disol, the officers then used the back of a gun to assault him before he fled to safety. “That’s when they decided to confisticate our equipment and took the bag with our equipment,” Disol explained. He added that “they gave us a number from which to claim our equipment.”

The Namibian spoke to one of the officers who allegedly assaulted Ihulu on Wednesday. The officer, who did not provide his name, said there was a confrontation between the officers and Ihulu. He claimed Ihulu had attempted to assault the police and NDF officers before running away, and dropping the construction equipment he was carrying. The officer told The Namibian that they then picked up the items.

“He must collect the equipment from the Wanaheda Police Station,” the officer said, adding that “the idea of civilians beating law-enforcement officers is a daydream.”

The Namibian also reported on Wednesday that two brothers from Rehoboth claimed they were severely beaten by police officers during an ‘Operation Kalahari Desert’ patrol at the town last Saturday.

Asked about the implications of the alleged assaults, police inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga told The Namibian this week that although he does not know about the facts around this latest incident, there are clear instructions provided to the operation’s members not to assault civilians.

He suggested that people just want to tarnish the image of the operation, and condemned the sensationalising of assault cases.