9 October 1987
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£ -------BY MARKVERBAAN'----- THE SIX members of the South African Defe·nce Force charged with the murder last year of veteran Swapo member, Mr Immanuel Shifidi, pleaded not guilty to all charges in the Windhoek Magistrates Court yesterday morning. The accused, four of whom are The stormy sky overhead seemed top-ranking officers in the SADF, somehow symbolic as the six accused made a brief appearance in the lined up before the front bench-'lfthe Court in order to lodge their pleas_ public gallery. The dock-was too small to accom The four white officers are Comman modate them all. dant Antonie J ohannes Louwrens A translator had been provided for Botes, Colonel Willem Hendrik Welgemoed, Colonel Johannes Hen Corporal Kashimbi and Private Festus; while the four officers record drik Vorster and Lieutenant Nicolaas ed their pleas in Afrikaans. J acobus Andre Prinsloo. The six did not appear in uniform, The remaining two accused are Cor and ,all pleaded not guilty to charges poral Eusebius Christiaan Kashimbi of public violence, alternative charges and Private Steven Festus, both of of contravening the Riot ous whom are Ovambo-speaking. Assemblies Act and charges of murder. ,Colonel Welgemoed is also the com· None of the accused recorded ex· manding officer ofl01 Battalion at On planations for their pleas. dangwa'in the north. The four white officers were releas Colonel Vorster and Commandant ed on bail of R1 000 each, while the -Botes are both stationed at the army's other two accused were set free on bail headquarters, the Bastion, i n ofR500 each. Windhoek. Chief Magistrate, Mr FrikkieTruter, The other four accused are based at ordered that none of the accused were 101 Battalion. to have contact of any sort with the 17 It is stated on the charge sheet that witnesses involved in the matter. all six men are attached to the SA - Sixteen ofthe witnesses, all from 101 Defence Force, Battalion, are Na'tional Servicemen When 'they made- tHeir -brief ap· pearance y tel'day; the ccurtwaq half· fiHedwith THE FOUR white officers of the SADF who are appearing on charges of murder and incite ment to public violence in a sequel to the death of Swapo veteran, Immanuel Shifidi, in November last year. From left to right: Colonel Johannes Hendrik Vorster, Commandant An-, tonie Johannes Louwrens Botes, and Lieutenant Nicolaas Jacobus Andre Prinsloo. Inset, Col onel Willem Hendrik Welgemoed,Officer Commanding 101 Battalion. Photograph by John Liebenberg. LEGAL AC.TION FOLLOWS SHOOTIN'G'OF WOMEN AT OMBALANTU'S HOSPITAL -------------BYCHRISSHIPANGA------------------ A WOMAN was killed, while two others were seriously injured last Sunday night, following a brutal attack by members ofthe South African Security Forces on outpatients and visitors at the Ombalan tu Hospital,in northem Namibia. One ofthe injured women, Mrs Veronica Aukongo, 29, ofOmuluJrila, /' was nine months pregnant, and sources at the Kamhaku Hospital, Ombalantu, confirmed that she 1\o1S NANDJl LA SHIPOPYENI, 27, wno was shot and killed at the Om was shot in the stomach, causing the death of her unborn baby. I balantu Hospital. A SWATF spokesman said he had no knowledge of The deceased woman was Mrs Nan, Andjene Katofa, 28. They were both legs. the in cident in which sbe was killed, b ut said that matters pertaining djilaShipopyeni,27, while the other in- from the village ofOmufituweelo. to criminal offences should be reported to the S 'N' A Police. jured woman's name is Mrs Ndiweteko The latter was shot through both her Continued on page 3 r "".r THIS WEEK'S SPECIALS @ ~ *• CANDY TOPS 144x1c R1,20* WOERMANN • BOYS' SHORTS assorted colours R1,99 BROCK • MEN'S SHIRTS short-sleeved wash 'n wear R8,50 WHOLESALE • ERONGO MEALIE MEAL 12,5kg R7,99 Tel: 32391 ..J-" - ,. 2 Friday October 9 1987 THE NAMIBIAN ELC suspends its IAi·/IGams condemns Angola raid and action in UELCSWA SADF presence THE AIGAMSAction Commit due to DELK- tee has condemned the inva sion and involvement of the BY RAJAH MUNAMAVA South African army in Angola, and called on Pretoria to THE EVANGELICAL Lutheran Church (ELC), has suspended all withdraw from Namibia its activities in the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of SWA immediately. (Uelcswa), a federation of the three Lutheran churches in Namibia A statement signed by the Commit formed in 1972 to merge them into one church body. tee's Co-ordinator Mr Hitjevi Veii said Uelcswa members are of the sions with Elcin and DELK concern N amibians did not want their country Evangelical Lutheran Church CRhen ing issues that hinder unity. to be used as a springboard for attacks nish Mission); ELC, the Deutsche The church synod also came out and invasions on friendly countries, Evangelische Lutherische Kirche against the proposed Windhoek especially Angola, with whom they shared a lot in common. (DELK), and the Evangelical Theological College and warned that South Africa had no business in LutheranChurchin~amibia(Elcin). any of its members who graduated at Angola either politically or territorial The Deutsche Evangelische that seminary would not be accepted ly, and its military presence in Angola Lutherische Kirche withdrew from the as co-workers in the ELC. The synod federation in 1972, after an "open let saw the founding of the Windhoek was a gross violation ofthat country's ter" by Namibian churches to South Theological College as a concerted at Accused in Shifidi death trial territorial integrity, as well as being African Prime Minister John Vorster tempt to counteract the work of the an attempt to destroy their hard earn ed independence by seeking to instal in 1971. But it rejoined in 1977. ecumenical movement and its confes ACCUSED number five in the murder trial of Swapo veteran Immanuel a puppet government. The suspension of participation in sions in Namibia. Shifidi Corporal Eusebius Christiaan Kashimbi (on the right) pictured leaving The people of Namibia want to live . Uelcswa activities by the ELC has Non ofthe CCN-affiliated member court ~fter a short appearance on Thursday. On the left, a police orderly. in peace and harmony with the people been prompted by the withdrawal of churches are involved in the founding of Angola now and forever, and DELK from the Council of Churches of the Windhoek Theological College. (CCN), last month, and its refusal to therefore the inessage to South Africa The ELC synod further endorsed the was an equivocal '.' no" to Pretoria's meet a delegati{)n from the Lutheran Aigams Declaration and called on its World Federation. presence in Namibia he said. church members to co-operate with the _ A government that did not heed or , Bishop HendrikFreder-ik-ofthe ELC Aigams Action Committee. Berlakovich reacts announced on Tuesday that DELK's follow the will of the people was not It also condemned the refusal for a worth being called a government and decision to leave the CCN, and its passport of its Deputy Bishop THE CHAIRMAN ofthe Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), refusal· to meet a delegation of the could not expect recognition and co Zephania Kameeta and called it a Mr Stefan Berlakovich, this week reacted very stron gly against operation from the people. Lutheran World Federation made it calculate,d attempt to obstruct the impossible for united ' activities in a statement by Nafau last week that his union was misleading Mr Veii said South Arica's colonial work of the ELC. ' workers at the Swavleis Meat Plant into joining Fawu. Uelcswa to continue. Meanwhile the Namibia COlll ambitions have become more evident He disclosed that the decision to sus munication Centre in London reported Mr Berlakovich said his union did districts. and as though her continued illegal oc pend participation in Uelcswa ac this week that Namibia's biggest not intend "fighting" Nafau, but Mr Berlakovich declined to state the cupation of Namibia was not enough, tivities had been tak~n at the church's Church, the Evangelical Lutheran wanted co-operation and good working membership ofhis union nor would he Pretoria was seeking to occupy 12th ordinary synod which was held in Church of Namibia, under Bishop relations with it, because that was in say in which industries or factories his Angola. Keetmanshoop ~m September 27 to Oc Kleopas Dumeni, had also taken a the interest of the workers and the union has put up workers' committees. The Aigams Co-ordinator inconclu. tober 1. similar step and suspended its ac country. He . further said that Fawu was sion called on South Africa to imple Another reason for the suspension tivities within the Uelcswa. "We must stay together and work prepared to work with any government ment the UN plan for Namibian in was because ofDELK's "unfounded" "If the German church cannot sit with each other. I am a lover and not a offue day, irrespective of who it was. dependence and its immediate accusations against the ELC on the and talk with us in the Council ofChur fighter" Mr Berlakovich said. "IfSwapo becomes a governnient one withdrawal from both Namibia and understanding of, unity, Bishop ches, and ifthey cannot sit and talk to He cautioned Nafau to "get its facts day, we will be prepared to work with Angola. Frederik said. He did not elaborate. us in the presence of Lutheran World right" before issuing statements or it, and at the moment were are He said however that the ELC will ~ederation visitors, then it must also talking to the press. prepared to work with our government remain a member ofUlecswa and add be impossible for them to'talk with us He said that workers at Swavleis had of National Unity". CCN Pastors ed that the synod had instructed the about Lutheran Unity" Bishop a choice in joining trade unions and Fawu's aim was not to get'involved ELC church board to enter into discus- Dumeni was quoted as saying.