Special Field Force
Encyclopedia
The Special Field Force is a Namibia
n paramilitary
police
unit created in 1995 by the late commissioner Ruben "danger" Ashipala as an auxiliary aggressive Unit to complement the Special Reserve Force. It encompasses border guards, VIP
Protection Unit and Installation unit. Approximately half of the Namibian Police's (NAMPOL) overall complement is assigned to the SFF which is made up primarily of combatants from the former People's Liberation Army of Namibia
(PLAN) and South West African Territorial Force (SWATF).
Among the population the Special Field Force is seen as the less educated and more brutal wing of the Namibian Police. They have been implicated in the intimidation, assault, torture and also murder of civilians in the secessionist uprisings in Namibia's Caprivi Strip
in 1998 and 1999.
Also later, under normal and calm political conditions, human rights groups accused the Special Field Force of several atrocities, e.g.:
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
unit created in 1995 by the late commissioner Ruben "danger" Ashipala as an auxiliary aggressive Unit to complement the Special Reserve Force. It encompasses border guards, VIP
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
Protection Unit and Installation unit. Approximately half of the Namibian Police's (NAMPOL) overall complement is assigned to the SFF which is made up primarily of combatants from the former People's Liberation Army of Namibia
People's Liberation Army of Namibia
The People's Liberation Army of Namibia was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization during the Namibian War of Independence. It sought independence for the territory from South African rule. PLAN launched its first attack on the South African military at...
(PLAN) and South West African Territorial Force (SWATF).
Among the population the Special Field Force is seen as the less educated and more brutal wing of the Namibian Police. They have been implicated in the intimidation, assault, torture and also murder of civilians in the secessionist uprisings in Namibia's Caprivi Strip
Caprivi Strip
Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip , Caprivi Panhandle or the Okavango Strip and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about , between Botswana to the south, Angola and Zambia to the north, and Okavango Region to the west. Caprivi is bordered by the...
in 1998 and 1999.
Also later, under normal and calm political conditions, human rights groups accused the Special Field Force of several atrocities, e.g.:
- 2002 in May officers of the Special Field Force detained and assaulted Namibian men suspected of being gayLGBT rights in NamibiaNamibia has had a troubled history in regards to the protection of the rights and civil liberties of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens. Sodomy is illegal in Namibia, and is punishable with prison time...
. - 2003 in October nine minors were arrested on suspicion of housebreaking. Several police officers wearing SFF uniforms, as well as plain-clothes detectives, reportedly beat and tortured them with whips and electric shocks.
- 2006, on February 17, two off duty members of the OkahaoOkahaoOkahao is a town in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia and the district capital of the Okahao electoral constituency. It is situated in the Ongandjera tribal area 73 kilometers west of Oshakati on the main road MR123 ....
Police's Special Field Force, constables Amadhila and Kamanya, allegedly led a mob in the assault of two women accused of witchcraft. - 2006, March 2, members of the SFF police unit and the Namibian Defence ForceMilitary of NamibiaThe Namibia Defence Force was created when South West Africa gained full independence from South Africa in 1989. The new constitution of Namibia defines the role of the military as "defending the territory and national interests."...
(NDF), who were sent to MarientalMariental, NamibiaMariental is a town of 10,000 inhabitants in south-central Namibia, lying on the B1 national road 145 miles north of Keetmanshoop and 170 miles southeast of Windhoek. It lies at an elevation of 3,576 feet . Mariental is connected to the TransNamib railway line from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop...
to maintain law and order after a flood, randomly assaulted residents of the town. - 2007, on June 5, SFF executed an unprovoked attack on demonstrating war veterans.