MISA-Namibia condemns the attack on freelance journalist John Grobler and calls on the Namibian government and law enforcement agencies to create a conducive environment were media practitioners can continue to operate without fear, or intimidation from any political sources.

Globler was attached by a gang of alleged supporters of the ruling South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) at Pharoa's bar in Windhoek on 8 January 2010. The attacker allegedly accused Globler of writing bad things about them and the SWAPO party especially following the legal disputes between political parties surrounding the just ended November 2009 Presidential and National Assembly Election.

According to an article published by 'The Namibian' newspaper of 11 January 2010 entitled "Reporter embroiled in Windhoek bar fracas", Grobler was allegedly assaulted when "political emotions apparently boiled over" at a bar. The Freelance journalist has laid a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (CR 292/01/10) against two well-known local businessmen with the ruling SWAPO party links.

Grobler alleged that he was hit in the face with a glass, as well as kicked and scratched in the face. MISA Namibia calls on the ruling SWAPO and other political players to abide by the Constitutional stipulations that guarantee the Freedom of Expression for all in Article 21, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the Banjul Declaration on the Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa.

A media complaints commission and media ombudsman, Clement Daniels, were effectively appointed, and readily available to mediate on any media related disagreements and grievances. If not satisfied, Namibia has a formidable and respectable judicial system that can be appealed to.

MISA-Namibia is regretful, that the freedom of the media, which Namibia is known for, may be tainted by such alleged acts of violence against journalists because of their reporting. MISA-Namibia therefore calls on the Namibian Government to see to it that it becomes imperative that members of the media should be able to do their job without fear. This means, they should be able to go anywhere and collect information in line with whatever story they are covering, without being intimidated or humiliated.

The media does not only act as a watchdog of society, but also enables the general public to make informed decisions and form educative opinions on stories brought to them by reporters. It is thus necessary that journalists go about their daily duties without being harassed or feeling afraid on what might happen if they tackle a certain story."Let Namibia remain a peaceful and stable country, with the competent courts to rule on the eventual outcome of whatever spillage from the elections, and any other political development in the country.

MISA-Namibia calls on political leaders as well as the public to take their grievances against any media house or media practitioner to the office of the Media Ombudsman, which was put in place to deal with grievances and complaints by members of the public for the interest of democracy. MISA-Namibia equally calls on the law enforcement agency to bring to book all offenders who were involved in attacking the freelance journalist. //End//


Marbeline Mwashekele
Acting National Director
MISA Namibia
Tel: +264 61 236069
Cell: +264 (0) 812748198
+264 (0) 855897239
Fax: +264 61 236054
Web: www.misanamibia.org.na