We Reject Police Brutality as a Response to Demands of the Namibian Youth

We are dismayed by recent events: On 5 May 2009, the Namibian police used teargas and fired rubber-bullet at young people during a peaceful protest over jobs and houses in Oshakati. We call on the Government of Namibia to refrain from using violence as an answer to the questions and demands of the youth and to ensure that full and careful consideration is given to the issues the youth want addressed.

We, the undersigned, hereby Petition the Prime Minister of Namibia for an Immediate End to the Use of Police Violence as a Response to the Demands of the Youth for Work & Livelihood. We also call on the Prime Minister to denounce the recent brutality used by the Namibian Police against the Youth and to address our concerns over unemployment, housing and education in an open, constructive and democratic manner.