Anti-seal Clubbing Filmmakers Nabbed - by Desie Heita
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WINDHOEK - Namibian Police in Henties Bay arrested two men, a British national and a South African, early yesterday morning. Charges were unclear by the time of going to press, but it is believed that the Briton, Jim Wickens and South African, Bart Smithers, were arrested for trespassing.
At the time of their arrest, Wickens and Smithers were filming what animal activists have termed "Namibia's highly secretive seal hunt". Namibia's annual seal hunt season started this month.
Henties Bay police have confirmed the arrest of the two nationals, and the British High Commission in Windhoek confirmed that it was informed of the arrest of one British national.
"We are currently making investigations. We do not have more information," the British High Commission Office said upon enquiries from New Era.
Wickens is a filmmaker for the Brighton-based Ecostorm agency, an activist agency for environment and animals. Smithers is a freelance cameraman. They are on an assignment for a Dutch non-government organisation, Bontvoordieren.
Co-director of Ecostorm, Andrew Wasley, told New Era from the UK that they are in constant contact with the British High Commission in Windhoek to ensure the release of the two filmmakers.
However, he also did not know the charges for their arrest.
He was also not sure whether the two had valid work permits, a requirement that has seen many foreign journalists and filmmakers being thrown into Namibian jails.
"I am not sure. I honestly do not know," said Wasley. The NGO is alleging that the two filmmakers were assaulted in full view of the police.
"We are at present working with the British High Commission in Namibia to establish the full picture and secure the release of our team. Clearly, this was a violent and unwarranted attack on two journalists doing their job - gathering information and pictures of the highly secretive Namibian seal hunt," says Wasley.
Wasley claims that the police seized the cameras and video footages and tolerated the assault of the two.
"They were filming for about 20 minutes before their arrest," said Wasley.
He called for the immediate release of the two and for the investigation into the claims of assault and theft of equipment.
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