Namibia witnessed an increase in cases of human rights abuses last year, according to a report released by the United States government this week. The report said there were human abuses in several areas although it noted that the government generally respected the human rights of citizens last year. The Country Report for 2007 on Human Rights Practices, released on Thursday by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, said human rights problems included: one unlawful killing, torture, beatings, and abuse of criminal suspects and detainees by security forces;

overcrowded prisons; prolonged pre-trial detention and long delays in trials; government attempts to curb media and nongovernmental criticism; official corruption; forcible dispersion of demonstrators; violence against women and children, including rape and child abuse; discrimination against women, ethnic minorities, and indigenous peoples; and child labour.
The report noted that the government or its agents did not commit any politically motivated killings; however, one person died of apparent abuse.
“On April 1, William Cloete died after suffocating in a shipping container police routinely used as a detention centre for persons awaiting trial. Cloete's body was discovered the next morning with burns on his back and bruises. Police alleged that the burns were sustained when Cloete ignited his mattress with a cigarette,” the report said.
The report said unlike in previous years, there were no reports of police using "sjamboks" (heavy leather whips). Incidents of police brutality decreased during the year. The government took action against some perpetrators.
It further said police used force, including beatings, to disperse demonstrators, which resulted in injuries. Suspects in the Caprivi treason trial continued to complain of poor medical services and intimidation of their visitors by prison officials, the report said. The report noted that prisons and detention centres were overcrowded, often lacked basic sanitary and nutritional provisions, and were poorly maintained.
The report noted that in 2006 the Ombudsman conducted a review of police holding cells and noted poor sanitary conditions, overcrowding, insufficient food supplies, unsafe infrastructure, stagnant water, lack of access to medical care facilities and potable water, and insufficient bathroom and shower facilities.
The ombudsman also noted that police stations were understaffed and that officers could not tend to detainees in addition to their regular police duties. Some detainees reportedly suffered abuse while in detention. The report also noted that the government took action against corrupt police officials.
“The police's commander for the Erongo region, Deputy Commissioner Andrew Iyambo, was charged with theft for misappropriating funds donated to the regional police by a fishing company. There were no reported cases of discrimination against homosexuals.
“Unlike in previous years, there were no reports of senior government officials making disparaging public remarks about homosexuals,” the report said.