Journos held in Namibia
2009-07-17 08:41
Windhoek - Two foreign reporters were arrested on Thursday by Namibian police for filming the annual clubbing to death of small seal pups for their fur along the coast.
British investigative journalist Jim Wilckens and South African cameraman Bart Smithers were arrested by police whilst documenting the controversial Namibian seal cull.
"The two have been arrested today (Thursday)," police spokesperson Angula Amulungu said, alleging that they had contravened the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act.
They were being held in police holding cells at Henties Bay some 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of the capital Windhoek.
They will appear in court on Friday, he added.
Unwarranted attack
Wilckens, a reporter with the British-based Eco-Storm agency, and Smithers were working with the Dutch non-governmental organisation Bont Voor Dieren.
Andrew Wasley, co-director of Ecostorm, alleged that the two had been beaten up by workers involved in the cull.
"We are working with the British High Commission in Namibia to establish the full picture and secure the release of our team," Wasley said in a statement. "Clearly this was a violent and unwarranted attack on two journalists doing their job - their cameras and video footage were also seized, which should be returned."
The annual commercial seal harvesting season officially opened on July 1 with a quota of 85 000 pups due to be clubbed to death on the Namibian coast.