Calls for Namibia to withdraw charges against Nuttall

**Comrade007** · 11th December 2008, 01:51 PM

Namibia: Journalist Held Overnight - RSF Calls On Information Minister to Withdraw Charges:

Reporters Without Borders wrote to information and communications technology minister Joel Kaapanda on 5 December 2008 to call for the withdrawal of all charges against South African TV journalist Bonita Nuttall, who was arrested on 28 November for doing a report in Namibia after entering the country on a tourist visa.

Nuttall was freed on bail the following day after being held overnight and is due to be tried in February. The Reporters Without Borders letter also urged the government to ease Namibia's relevant legislation, which imposes too many restrictions on foreign journalists wanting to work there.

"We deplore the fact that Ms. Nuttall had to spend the night in a holding cell and pay bail twice in order to be released," the letter said. "Namibia is one of the African countries that most respect press freedom, but we think it was an abuse of authority to have placed Ms. Nuttall in detention. It was out of all proportion to her offence, counter-productive and damaging for Namibia's image. This incident would not have occurred if Namibia's legislation allowed the press more freedom to work."

A presenter on the South African TV station M-Net's investigative programme "Carte Blanche," Nuttall was arrested at Windhoek international airport as she was about to depart on 28 November. After spending the night in a holding cell at the airport, she was released the next day on bail of 2,000 Namibian dollars (approx. 153 euros) pending an initial court appearance. On 3 December, a Windhoek court ordered her to pay additional bail of 8,000 Namibian dollars (approx. 615 euros) pending trial in February.

She was arrested for doing a report about the nomadic Himba ethnic group without first obtaining the temporary residence and work permits which Namibia requires for foreign journalists.

Namibian newspaper editors meanwhile called at the end of November for the withdrawal of a clause from a communication bill that would allow the intelligence services to tap phones and monitor email without referring to a court. The Media Institute of Southern Africa is strongly opposed to the bill, which it says would represent a setback for free expression.

Namibia was ranked 23rd out of 173 countries in the world press freedom index which Reporters Without Borders released on 22 October.

**zakesman** · 11th December 2008, 03:23 PM

Why must the government withdraw charges against this particular reporter. She entered Namibia under false pretences and that was against our laws and she needs to face the music.

I will agree with RSF on the double bail but beyond that, it is a complete no, no.
It is high time that these organisations respect the laws of sovereign countries such as Namibia. Our people face the laws of other countries when they commit crimes or contravene laws and the same should apply to people doing the same here.

If anybody cares to remember, another South African reporter (Special Assignment on SABC) was in the country and did a story on Former President Nujoma threatening gays with death. It turned out, the story was twisted through cut and paste machinations. President Nujoma and the country's reputations were deeply hurt by such faulty reporting and the reporter was duly reprimanded by her bosses when our Ministry of Information pointed out the flaws and complained. The Nutall incident demonstrates just that some reporters still have the appetite to demonise Namibia and all that is Namibian.

I would have a problem if Nutall was refused entry on account of her wanting to do work here but she never bothered to apply for a temporary work visa and media accreditation as is the norm. Namibian journalists are subjected to such requirements abroad. Why must we relax our laws? Just to be demonised? No Ways!!!

**Comrade007** · 11th December 2008, 04:10 PM

I'm with you Zakesman - she should have made sure her papers are in order. But equally, the arrest was out of proportion to her offence, and the result is that Namibia's image as a country that cherishes, protects and (hopefully) encourages freedom of the press is damaged. She could have been warned, or asked to explain herself before a magistrate or something - but arrest?

I suppose the authorities wanted to make a point, but they could have made it with a bit more circumspection. This was heavy-handed and smacks of a country that has something to hide, instead of welcoming media with open arms and facilitating the work of media workers.

**Viva RDP** · 11th December 2008, 10:02 PM

Is just to show who is in power! Why arrest? What is that? Intimidation? Put in your place? It is SWAPO's way to handle criticism and epople they dont like.

**mutero alex makongwa** · 18th December 2008, 09:25 AM

no withdraw charges,she have to face the charges...i tied of reporters who just come in the country and do as they wish.forgeting that the story they collect make them rich .this will be a good lesson to reporters.........

**zakesman** · 19th December 2008, 12:30 PM

Without making this political as our RDP friend is trying to do, I dare say that the law dictates that anybody who contravenes immigration laws should be arrested and charged accordingly. What is so special with Nutall that she had to be let off with a warning?

We have Namibians languishing in foreign cells because of 'small' offences that they committed but the laws of those countries are being followed to the letter.

Namibia has nothing to hide. There are many reports about Namibia on the Internet and international publications, both good and bad about Namibia. Some of these include interviews with top people like the president and ministers. The difference is these other journos had the conscience to apply for permission to come in and do their work which Nuttal did not do.

Read publications like Africa Confidential and you will see how bad we are portrayed by some reporters but because these guys were here legally, we let them do their work and off they went without arrest or 'Swapo's strong arm tactics' as some politically uptight fellows would want us to believe.

The point is that the law is the law.