Ovambos flogged

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33382, 14 November 1973, Page 17

Ovambos flogged

GV.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) OSHAKATI, (South-West Africa), November 13. A.n undisclosed number of Ovambo tribesmen were flogged publicly during the week-end for offences described as “most serious,” according to a tribal official in Oshakati, who said yesterday that those beaten had: ignored repeated warnings by their chiefs not to hold unauthorised; political meetings. Reports of such floggings' have trickled out of Ovambo-i land, a tribal homeland in' northern South-West Africa,: jfor several weeks. Various:

clergymen have protested against the floggings, which have been ordered by tribal elders as punishment for political dissidents. A state of emergency has been in force in Ovamboland since January, 1972: journalists and other visitors require official permission to enter the sealed-off area, and this is not readily granted. Economic demands, internal tribal politics, and a desire for complete independence among some militants is the basis of the unrest. The United Nations wants the former League-of- • Nations-mandated territory [to become the independent [state of Namibia, but South [Africa maintains a tight grip •on the mineral-rich area, and i envisages the eventual confederation of about eight i semi-autonomous tribal lands, • such as Ovamboland. plus • the white-ruled capital of •Windhoek.