THE GERMAN Evangelical Lutheran Church (DELK), this week announced its withdrawal from the Council of Churches in.Namibia for "political reasons". The head of the church, Landespropst Wilfried Blank, said this week that he personally was against the withdrawal, despite the fact that the highest decision-making body of his church, the Synod has taken the decision to withdraw. The decision to withdraw was taken The decision to withdraw from the at a synod meeting which ended on CCN was publicised in West Germany Sunday in Windhoek. before the Executive Committee of the Landespropst Blank, who heads the Council in Windhoek had been inform­ 12,OOO-member German Lutheran ed ofthe move. In an interview with the Church also said that his church would Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper not be joining another national church last Tuesday, Pastor Blank said.that council. "At least not the newly form­ his Church had decided to leave the ed Namibia Church Union", he said. CCN for various reasons. He said that the Synodjustified its withdrawal with "the shift ofthe emphasis within the CCN away from church cooperation to political actions;' - In the same intervieW, Landespropst Blank confirmed the continued suspension of his church from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The German Lutheran Church was suspended from the LWFin 1984, and it has since not been re-admitted for membership. Landespropst Blank said his church would, however, retain its membership ofthe UnitedEvangelical Lutheran Churches in Namibia (UELCSWA) of which he is now the President. • The German Lutheran Church has 1'- been a member of the CCN since the body's inception in 1978. Until yesterday (Thursday), the President of the CCN, Bishop James Kauluma had not yet officially been in­ formed of the decision of DELK to withdraw. He said that the head ofthe German Lutheran Church had only in­ CCN of various irregularities in formed him verbally ofthe decision to newspapers abroad, without giving withdraw. the CCN the chance to answer. O~ HERE o "I could not accept the withdrawal at The Synod meeting of the German that stage because it was not official, Church which took the decision to and we are stjll waiting for the official withdraw, felt that the leading DAG version;' Bishop Kauluma said. representatives in the CCN 'suppress­ Other members of the CCN's Ex­ ed humanitarian issues', for instance TREKKING VAN ONS ecutive Committe said that they have those raised by the so-called 'Parents only read of the decision to withdraw Committee', which alleged human GROOT KOMPETISIE in newspapers, and could therefore not rights violations in Swapo camps. The comment. However, said one member, CCN was also blamed for 'organisa­ Landespropst Blank it was particularly surprising that the tional deficiencies' and 'intentional 29 AUGUSTUS 1987 German Church was accusing the political personnel policies'. ACT OF EVa SAYS ULENGA TRADE UNION leader Mr Ben IDenga, was arrested by securi­ evil and unprovoked repression of the ty police when he arrived at Windhoek's J G Strijdom Airport Namibian workers, especially the on Wednesliay night. Although his arrest in terms of Section miners whom I represent". "These acts of repression and Six of the Terrorism Act, was anticipated, a police spokesman uncalled-for provocation against the approached on Wednesday morning, denied that there was workers will not weaken our resolve to either a warrant for his arrest, or that Mr IDenga would be fight against exploitation and colonial detained on his return. repression. We shall go out more Mr Ulenga, wh o is General He had met with trade unionists in resolutely against the forces of col­ Secretary of the Mineworkers Union of England, Sweden, Finland and Nor­ onialism and exploitation", he said. Namibia, came back to Windhoek in way, all of whom "pledged their the know ledge that he would possibly assistance and solidarity", he said. Police confirmed his detention in be arrested on his return. "On my return at Jan Smuts, I was terms of Section Six of the Terrorism In a brief statement before his arrest confronted by members of the SA Act. His arrest in terms of this South 1------Koop vir R50 en wen-----I by several members of the security ~curity Police who first wanted to ar­ African-imposed security legislation, police, who rushed him off to a waiting rest me, but could not do so when I was preceded by the arrest of six others car, not permitting friends to greet the demanded whether they had any war­ in terms ofthe same law. They are: Mr isle prys: 'n bok 'f±R140) union leader, Mr Ulenga said he had rant. They said there was a warrantfor Niko Bessinger, Swapo Foreign Affairs be;.:n to Europe with the purpose of my arrest in Windhoek". Secretary; Mr Dan 'fjongarero, Swapo meetmg trade union organisations Mr Ulenga continued to say that: Deputy Chairman; Mr Hendrik Wit­ .2de prys: 'n skaap (-+- R135) and seeking support for the striking "There is no justification whatsoever booi, Swapo Vice President; Mr Anton mineworkers of Tsumeb Corporation for my arrest for I have not committed Lubowski,. Mr John Pandeni and Mr Limited (TCL) and to publicise their any crime. Any infringement on my Asser Kapere ofthe Swapo-affiliated plight. freedom can only be seen as an act of union movement. WOERMANN BROCK -Groothandel . - What jhe people think of The Namibian • Inside Tel: (061) 32391 - ... 2 Friday August 28 1987 THE NAMIBIAN TCLWORKERS' APPEAL DISMISSED A FULL BENCH of the Windhoek dismissed with costs an appeal by was in full accord with the definition who belonged to a union and who did He added th!it most of the 600 Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the workers to have the eviction of a strike, and that it constituted new not. workers at the Kombat mine vacated a ruling made by Justice Harold order suspended, pending the ap­ demands or terms of contract. Mr Cilliers concluded his arguments the hostel a week ago, and all of the Levy the week before, ordering the pointment of a conciliation b oard. He cited one ofthe workers' demand by saying that the Court should turn dismissed workers at Otjihase had left eviction of striking Tsumeb Cor­ Passing judgement, Mr Justice for wage increases up to 150%, saying down the appeal against the eviction their hostel last Friday. poration workers from the TCL Chris Mouton, flanked by Justice that it was above the expressed terms order because the losses being incur· He said that TeL was providing free hostels. Bethune and Justice Strydom, said the of their contract. red by the mine, estimated at R civilian bus transport, and is providing . Three Judges on the bench workers' action (refusal to go to work), Justice Mouton said the workers had 300 000 a day, constituted greater pre· a "cash transport allowance" for those repudiated their contract by going on judice to his client than the sum total who do not make use of the buses. strike, and added that since there was of that to all the applicants. "There is no military or police in­ no unconditional tender to return to Mr Ian Farlam SC, assisted by Mr P volvement whatsoever. Despite the ef­ work on the part of the workers, the Roux, instructed by Peter Koep, ap· forts of agitators, relations between the Court could not ask for specific perfor· peared for the mineworkers, while Mr Corporation and the dismissed mance by the Corporation. Fanie Cilliers SC, assisted by Adv Theo workers remains good. The use offorce The Court also rejected the suspen­ Frank, instructed by Lorentz and to evict the dismissed workers has sion of the eviction order pending a Bone. appeared for TCL. never been contemplated nor has it Conciliation Board, saying that there Late this week Mr Meiring said that been necessary:' said Mr Meiring. was no Conciliation Board at the time a recruitment drive had been initiated Support for the MUN and condem­ of the dismissal ofthe workers. in the "daily press", and that applica­ nation for TCI;s actions came from Furthermore the Court would be fail­ tions were being received from such quarters as the Finnish Food ing in its duty by waiting for pro­ throughout the territory. Workers' Union; the Swiss Labour ceedings being conducted on another "Every dismissed striker has been Movement; the Canadian Labour Con­ forum. handed an application form and has gress (on behalf of two million Cana­ During the appeal, Counsel forthe ap­ been offered every assistance in filling dian workers); the National and Local plicants stressed TCI;s standpoint on in the form. Every dismissed striker Government Officers Association; the trade unions. will be given equal opportunity to re­ International Confederation of Free With regard to the company's at­ apply:' he said. Trade Unions. - titude towards unions, it was submit­ ted that Mr Meiring had clearly stated . that he supported free association and 'SWAPO IS NO THREAT' collective bargaining, with the only. condition being that a union must be THE COMMANDING Officer of the Police counter-insurgency unit in "representative". Namibia, Swapol Tin (Koevoet), Captain Joos Engelbrecht, says-Swapo The MUN had failed to show that it no longer presents a military threat to the territory. enjoyed the support of a significant sec­ In an interview in Kavango with the SABC, Captain Engelbrecht, who tion ofthe miners at TCL even though commands the counter insurgency unit, said insurgency groups comprising more Mr Uulenga had promised that it than three members were a rarity. Swapo's actions, such as the saJ>otaging would do so. TCL said it could not have of power and telephone poles, had only propaganda value.