In a statement issued last Friday, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Leon Jooste said the two visitors had at no point influenced the action taken against foreign journalists who invaded their privacy. Last week, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting similarly issued a strongly worded warning against any journalist or photographer trying to intrude on the private lives of the Hollywood scouple.

The Ministry's Permanent Secretary Loine Katoma urged foreign journalists entering the country with the express purpose to cover Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to apply for a temporary work permit "accompanied by proof of consent that the couple had agreed to meet with them". The statement was released after the Immigration Department deported three French paparazzi and a South African photojournalist who were following the couple. The group was given 48 hours to leave the country. "I want to specifically clear the abundance of unnecessary speculation regarding this situation surrounding our valued guests. Neither Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt nor any member of their party initiated any of the action taken by the relevant authorities," Jooste stated. The deportations by the Immigration Department brought about mixed feelings by a local human rights group that viewed the action as a serious infringement of the freedom of the media. The National Society for Human Rights added that the right to privacy is only "allowed on the grounds of inter alia national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country".

Despite this stance, the deputy minister said the two visitors are both renowned for their promotion of human rights globally and being a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie would never be part of any action that would possibly be perceived as violating any form of human rights. He said the sudden presence of an unusual large number of foreign journalists as well as the scale of 'harassment' from the media was simply obvious that it would come under the attention of the Government which due to circumstances was forced to take the necessary steps to restore a normal situation. "I do not believe that any fundamental human rights of any person was violated during this process," he reiterated. Regarding the foreign press, the deputy minister invited them to come to Namibia on condition that they comply with the relevant regulations and provisions. "We, the entire population of 1,8 million Namibians are playing host to these kind people and it is our wish that they enjoy the same benefits and privileges as any other visitor come as strangers and leave as friends." Meanwhile, Police Chief Inspector Hieronymus Goraseb in a statement has refuted allegations by the NSHR that police are conducting a Nazi-like house-to-house search for journalists, adding that the allegation has no substance. He indicated that the presence of the police at Lang-strand is rather mainly to perform crime prevention duties to avoid offences and harassment, invasion of privacy, crimen injuria, violation of visa requirements by foreign journalists and trespassing. The police were deployed to the area after the couple requested them and immigration to stop the alleged harassment by local and international media. "The members will continue to perform their duties until when their presence is no longer required by the couple and the management of the hotel," indicated the chief inspector. ' New Era.