15 December 1989
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HANDS OFF THE PRESS! - INSIDE TODAY Bringing Africa South SOc (GST Inc.) Comprehensive result to readers' army vote YSA CTIO BY DAVID LUSH THE PEOPLE have spoken: not only should the new Namibia have an army, but there should also be conscription. This was the overwhelming view Walvis Bay is still under captivity. of those who responded to The South Africa won't give up this piece Namibian's ballot in response to the of land if we don't fight for it." suggestion by Namibia's Associa * People must realise "you can't tion for the Handicapped that the eat, plough or live with guns," writes future government should scrap plans one Windhoek voter who called on for an anny and form a "develop TheN amibian to' 'educate" its read ment force" instead. ers into accepting that Namibia does A staggering 78,3 per cent of the not need an army. vote was in favour of afull time anny * The signatories of a collective with conscription while 9.7 per cent letter - Alfred I1ukena, L. Hamutu wanted no anny. mua, E. Imene, Clau Iikela, Levy A further 9,7 per cent voted for a Nakatana, Peter Shiyamba, Ami full tim,e anny but no conscription, Kaume and M. Nambina - believe an and the NNF's idea of a People's anny should be seen as part of the Militia took the remaining 2,3 per nation's development. The idea would cent of the polLIn all, 175 people had be to have a defensive anny: "The voted by the time the poll closed at situation in Southcrn Africa speaks I -~---- 14hOO ye~tetCliry . ' [tlr itself. Without an anny to protect The response to the ballot sur Namibia, Namibia will become a passed all expectations and some voters playground for those forces whose were so keen to make their point that objective is to destabilize other na they marked double, treble and even tions. Remember that Botswana had quadruple crosses against the selec no anny in the beginning but was tion of their choice. forced to have one as a result of the And a good number of voters en Smithregirne in the then Rhodesia as closed letters giving reasons for their well as South African invasions. We vote. will be stupid if we don't learn from * "Swapo's victory will not be other countries' experiences". effective without the aid of the army," * In its editorial of December 2, says Naame Munacho from Wind the Windhoek Observer newspaper hoek. "It is total madness to say Namibia must not have an army while CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 SWAPO President Sam Nujoma yesterday signed the Swapo Book of Condolences. John Walenga photographed him with Mr Martin Andjamba and Mr Moses Garoeb as he paid tribute to Cde Nauyala MARTTI with the words: "On behalf of the Swapo Central Committee and in the name of all Namibian patriots I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Comrade Nicki Kapuka Nauyala who was a.tireless freedom fighter of our time. I wish he could live and witness the day when PREDICTS MARCH the flag offreedom is raised up and colonialism will die forever in Nam ibia. May his soul rest in peace". Photograph by John Walenga. INDEPENDENCE THE top UN official in Namibia said yesterday the territory'S Constituent Assembly might be able to complete a constitution during January and declare independence in March. NAUYALA Briefing reporters on the situation January". after the UN-monitored elections last He said the general feeling in month, Mr Ahtisaari said: "If we are Namibia was that "sometime in March very lucky they might tie up the we will see independence" before constitution during the month of the expiry of the 12 month mandate of the UN operation launched last April!. FUNERAL Ahtisaari, who heads a UN team of 7 000 troops, police and civilians THE funeral of the late former Swapo Chief Representative to He was appointed personal secre overseeing the transition from South Zimbabwe and member of the Namibian Constituent Assembly, tary to the Swapo President Mr Sam African rule to independence, said Mr Kapuka Niki Nauyala, is set for the weekend at Ongwediva in Nujoma in 1976 and also became the atmosphere in the Assembly had the north. member of Swapo's Central Com been helped by all parties' accep mittee the same year. tance of constitutional Jrinciples drawn The body of Mr Kapuka was flown Mr Nauyala is a graduate of the In 1983, he became an alternate up in 1982. to Windhoek from Cape Town yes University ofIbadan in Nigeria from member of the Swapo politburo and "I am looking forward to a vcry terday from where it will be taken where he was made Swapo's repre later chief representative to Zimbabwe democratic constitution emerging out north. The Swapo leadership is ex sentative at the African Association in 1986. of this process' he said. pected to attend the funeral which is of Students Union in Ghana. He was badly injured in a motor Ahtisaari said he hoped Namibia scheduled for Saturday at Ongwediva. After completing his studies, Mr car accident recently and died in Cape could join the United Nations during Messages of condolences have Nauyalacame back toZarnbia where Town while receiving treatment. With the current 44th session of the Gen already started pouring in from as far he was made an education officer him at the time was Dr Nicky Iyambo eral Assembl~. which will adjourn as Europe, Nigeria, Zambia and and later promoled to Acting Secre and his wife. The couple have three later this month but is expected to Zimbabwe as well as locally. tary for EducatlOr. children. Mr Ahtisaari. resume during 1990. 2 Friday December 15 1989 THE NAMIBIAN Boat people strongarmed out of Hong Kong MORE than ' two million hospitals in Hong Kong. They say they want to have them here," said reJugees Jrom Indochina, an international aid worker. mostly Vietnamese, have There were demonstrati ons in sought asylum abroad in the various dete~ t ion centers on Wed last 14 years - and they are nesday, none of them violent. still leaving. With almost2(}O Said a camp worker of Thursday's protest at the Sham Shui Po Centre: " 000 still awaiting resettlement It is very well organised. People are in south-east Asia, Hong marching round, then come sit down Kong has created a bitter in rows. But there is no violence." Britain decided to send back boat controversy by adopting a people against their will -despite se policy oJsending boatpeople vere international criticism because back to Vietnam. officials said the situation had be After more than a year of growing come critical. pressure over the presence of the Government officials have fore Vietnamese in that country - 57 000 cast that unless radical action is taken, at last count - the government has up to 30000 more could come when made up its mind to defy interna favourable sailing weather arrives tional opinion and send them home. next March. The decision to repatriate the boat Although officially recognised as people will go down well in Hong refugees, a tough screening programme Kong where the Vietnamese have was introduced in June last year and never been popular among the terri now boat people are held as illegal tory's 5,5 million Chinese who see -immigrants unless they can prove them as interlopers accorded better their refugee status. treatment than illegal Chinese immi Some 6 500 have already been grants from the mainland who are screened and only 400 granted refu immediately returned home. gee status. Those who fa il to qualify But for the boat people themselves, face imminent deportation. many of whom will be herded onto Camp workers said most inmates ships or aircrafts for forcible repa had seen reports of the compulsory triation to a country where they en repatriation programme on televi dured so much hardship to escape, sion or radio. the decision is certainly not wel "They are scared, very .scared. come. Some have reacted by demanding to Over the past year, violence has go back under the voluntaryrepatria erupted repeatedly in camps. There tion programme, others seem to think have been injuries on both sides, and if they stay put in their camp, a dark rumours of stashes of home miracle may happen," said one made weapons. worker. Security officials control the camps The United Nations High Com rigidly, with the result that few out mission for Refugees (UNHCR) siders really know what goes on in operates a voluntary repatriation side. programme under which some 630 And on Thursday, thousands of people have flown back to Hanoi Vietnamese boat people callirig out since March. slogans demonstrated against depor Vietnam has promised they will tation at the Hong Kong Detention not be punished and they are given Centre. cash grants by the UNHCR to re Prison officials guarding the centre Vietnamese boat people : Hazardous journeys in flimsy , overcrowded vessels establish themselves. The interna watched as virtually its entire poyu tional body monitors their progress. lation, about 5 000 men, women, and Vietnam has given similar pledges children, circled the compound wav said there was no violence. of a high-security police operation. ters a second flight was planned for under the deal between London and ing banners and chanting. Workers and residents of nearby The Vietnamese had little time to next week after British parliamen Hanoi, but Bri tain has been unable to On Tuesday, Hong Kong authori office and apartment blocks watched collect their belongings, to dress or tarians debate the issue on T~esday.