E EPISCOPAL CHURCHPEOPLE for a FREE SOUTHERN AFRICA 339 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y. 10012·2725 C (212) 477-0066 S A 17 June'1988
GWEN LISTER DETAINED
Gwen Lister, editor of the progressive newspaper THE NAMIBIAN, was detained incommunicado today by South African security police in the occupied territory of Namibia. Details are contained in the dispatch from the Namibia, Communications Centre, London, on the reverse side.
Ms Lister is a seasoned newsperson and founder of the weekly English language THE NAMIBIAN in August 1985. She has been a target of the Preto ria regime - which rules Namibia illegally in de fiance of the lawful authority, the United Nations, and of Pretoria's puppet 'government' in Windhoek. In 1984 she was tried in a South African court for ~ bringing in documents from a United Nations confer ence held in Paris, but was acquitted. Several weeks ago she and an assistant editor were summon ed before a South African military tribunal; both refused to answer any questions.
Gwen Lister's arrest occurs as virtually the entire Namibian populace is preparing for a giant nation-wide demonstration in sympathy with students who are protesting the military occupation of their country. The National Union of Namibian Workers has called a two-day strike Monday/Tuesday, 20/21 June, in support of the young people. It is highly unlikely the occupation authorities will not respond with typical Pretorian brutality.
SEND YOUR PROTESTS TO:
State President P.W. Botha Private Bag X213 (Cables) Pretoria 0001, SOUTH AFRICA
Telexes: 3-21695 SA 3-21890 SA 3-22158 SA
Administrator General Louis Pienaar Private Bag 13278 Windhoek 9000, NAMIBIA (Cables)
CALL ON THEM TO RELEASE ALL DETAINEES IN NAMIBIA AND IN SOUTH AFRICA
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT:
Ms Gwen Lister THE NAMIBIAN (Cables) POBox 20783 Windhoek 9000, NAMIBIA TO:EDITORS AND AFRICA DESKS FROM:NAMIBIA COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE LONDON TELEX '89505~1 ONEONE G, FIRST,LINE: ATTN NAMIBIA Windhoek: June 17, 1988 t . . GWEN LISTERcEDITOR OF ."THE NAMIB-IAN." ,ARRESTED BY SECURITY POLICE I t :~..,.. ,.<':-, "." "::"'~' -i--r·:,.··'"-.·-~· • .;.!,,~ . -, ..:. .~. . Ms. Gwen Lister, editor of II'The . Namibian":, an independent weekly newspaper, was seized at her offices today by South I; ·African Security p'olice at 1:55 PM Windhoek local time. She is being detained under a law known as "AG. 9",' a security act I promulgated by South Africa's colonial administrator in Namibia that provides for arrest without trial or access to a lawyer. Ms. Lister, 34; who has a long history of challenging South I Africa1s authority, was apparently detained in connection with a front page story in todays "Namibian". The story, written by I Lister, reveals the details of a proposed new law, dra~ted by the I police, giving sweeping new powers to the police commissioner to i repress any action or person in the interest of "maintaining law. and order. II , ' . I South Africa I~' appointed government in .Namibia is currently I reeling under the effects of an almost nationwide student strike --More-- :,;,'...... I against South African Defense Forc~ b~.s'es, near, school,s in. .•..-_," lt northern Namibia arid the announced intention of the major unions to· join the students in a nationwide s,trike June· 20 - 21 it the bases are not removed. . I Lister1s story was based on a document that may have been leaked from police sources~ laying out what is virtually a state I of emergency for Namibia•. The draft law makes provi~ons for ~rohibiting freedom of' movement". declaring certain areas as no go-zones, the closing of any business or enterprise, the :ieclaration of certain peopl.e. as "affect~d: persons"',: and. includes,' new powers to prohibit,meetings and gatherings~~Upder the proposed new taw,. the 'pol'ice, army ·an-d'govermn~nt·members are ...... "•.1 "._ indemnified :agairist any action by'persons Or organisations i' The'·'··.".· ~roposed law provides for punishme~ts"up:to 20;00-0 :aand' and 10' .' " . years .in jail.. . _. -. . _- . ... :.. '. . _ -. .- , Security police visited Lister yesterday, demanding that 'she' turn over the document. ' She complied with the demand but was n-ot instructed: by the police that' th'e' doclJ.Iilent 'was 'declared: secret. After-:wai1:ing for a proinised return. visit from the ?olice, she 'printed what.sneremembered of the document for-- todayIS edition.- " ,'-c.>:, ... \;.--" ',;¢", .:' ':"~.;;:>:.:":'::<;.>;'';'~ .':' .,.:"y,-.::< '~·'·'~".<.t:.:; , '~:Lawyers ~acting:. for the n:ewspape~':'ha:ve:'a:sked'South 'Afri'cafs' ~ppo.inte(fgQvernmentt·operini): .legal 'acce~sto' Ms.' Lister, but:
- ·-.~More·~~~ : :0,: ~,>.~:,;::,:~::';':":"~':- .~;:':·~>;~~'·:~>,'::·::,:~"~;'--'~~~~~·~:/:;:~~~~;Jr:': ~>L~.·\, /~.:;:>,,·.~'t ,'.'=.',::~~.:",.;: ~ ~~.~: :;.;'::'> the present Chairman 'of the Cabinet, Mr.' ~drew Matjila,saidhe . ~ill not' be able to discuss 'this until the cabinet meets on ' 1010nday, June 20~,,' .,-,.,<.':: :'.',: __. :.-... .. '..;c'.::'2;'.--;' ~,.::,.. :' _.':' ',' ,".> ,,- _;.:T.Tp~ay'tlappens to be the~tl;ird anniversary of P·.W: Botha~~... ' :': ... __ appoin:t.m~nt:.Qf t?e "TransJ.tJ.?:na1 G()~er~~n.t o~--_Na~J.o:n,ct:~P~:i:,~Y.J.n. ~:~--.:~ ~~:.~~,~j>~ ,"~,.' ~ ':.:'.,':'.:'~.:c"" ~.~.;,. '<.'~ ~,: -;~'~.~'~ ,~~~.",,~. . '.:' C'.. :'" ,:': -'.: j' .'-:.: ;;:" .•',:" .. ' ;." Namibia .,.. ~awYers- for "The.. Nami.bian". say the draft' law "is ':in" <~, complete conf1fctwith mosi;. of the'basic rights"contained in" th~tgovernment':-s~"Billof 'Rights.' ..;, .... ,.;.." •. :>:...:, ;':-:.:.<":..-0:•.,,,,< ...~>.,--'::;;":: .. :~::",~<;., -- ;"':..? ...... >~:. ;~': '--;" ··;;Ms.' Lister wa~" recently 'named' Third World Editor of the Year ,for-,-l988by the Inte:):' Pressnewsservice. lends. ",,,:, <,_' .;~:. ,-- ":"::"!;''':~:~::';'.'.~.::., :-;~·.:;<~.:~'~:~:5~ '.~.~':': :"-~",':~:,:~,~:'",:.<.~Z~·>/;"':i.-·.: _:o"~,.-' 'Above may'be,,:!sed-wJ.thout fee;' Illease,credit where'po'ssible Namibia Cormnunications Centre, :news'. age~cy" Y!9rking witl1. the 'c' ' Christian 'churches in Namibia. For further' information contact' Rev-ld 'John Evenson, London"833' 2905" __ ' . ,..." ." -' - •-• ..:' ~.", • ~ <- : -::... .:.,