The present report concerns Amnesty International view on violations of the defendants’ pre-trial rights that may seriously undermine their right to a fair hearing in accordance with international standards articulated in the ICCPR and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). This report provides an overview of the events which led to the Caprivi uprising in August 1999, including the government’s initial response to the attack. In light of Namibia’s human rights obligations under these international treaties, the report examines the violations of the Caprivi defendants’ pre-trial rights, including torture and ill-treatment, poor prison conditions, initial lack of legal representation, flawed investigations and denial of bail. The report concludes with recommendations to the relevant Namibian authorities. Amnesty International refers to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers as a valuable source of international standard of access to lawyers.
The present report concerns Amnesty International view on violations of the defendants’ pre-trial rights that may seriously undermine their right to a fair hearing in accordance with international standards articulated in the ICCPR and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). This report provides an overview of the events which led to the Caprivi uprising in August 1999, including the government’s initial response to the attack. In light of Namibia’s human rights obligations under these international treaties, the report examines the violations of the Caprivi defendants’ pre-trial rights, including torture and ill-treatment, poor prison conditions, initial lack of legal representation, flawed investigations and denial of bail. The report concludes with recommendations to the relevant Namibian authorities. Amnesty International refers to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers as a valuable source of international standard of access to lawyers.
