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Friday, February 25, 2005 - Web posted at 9:26:16 GMT SPYL slaps membership blackout on newspapers LINDSAY DENTLINGERSWAPO Youth League Secretary Paulus Kapia yesterday demanded that youth wing members boycott three newspapers, The Namibian, Die Republikein and the Windhoek Observer. |
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At a press conference in Windhoek, Kapia labelled the newspapers "enemies of peace and security in Namibia". "We are going to forge ahead. If you are buying these papers, you are supporting them in insulting our President," Kapia said. "As from today onwards we must condemn them. We are no more going to buy these papers. They will no more enjoy the support of the majority of black people." He started his statement by telling the media that "we like you, we respect you because you can inform our people and the world at large", before directing a tirade of criticism at the journalists of these newspapers. Kapia accused them of either lacking ethics or allegedly "deliberately fulfilling the agenda given to you by imperialists". In what has become a regular feature of his attacks on the independent media, Kapia once again attributed what he perceives as the ills of journalism in Namibia to "opinionated, non-indigenous Namibian" editorial staff and owners. He accused the independent media of "insulting and disrespecting" the country's leaders by publishing readers' letters and opposition party statements. "We [Namibia] have three papers disturbing us every day and night. They have disturbed us since 2003, throughout 2004 and the beginning of 2005," he said in all earnestness. In his trademark fashion, Kapia raked the three media houses over the coals, one by one. First he singled out the Windhoek Observer for publishing a letter last year in which the writer said he would urinate on President Sam Nujoma's grave when he died. By publishing a letter a week ago titled 'Nujoma the danger man', in which the author maintained Nujoma had deliberately sidelined intellectuals within the party in favour of the less educated, Kapia charged Die Republikein "were imperialists threatening the peace and security of the country". Last on Kapia's list was The Namibian, which he accused of being "the mouthpiece of the Congress of Democrats". "Now they are allowing this confused Tjirera [Secretary General of the Young Democrats], probably with the approval of Ulenga and Schimming-Chase, to insult our President. If it was America, insulting the president is a federal offence even punishable by death," claimed Kapia. "We must declare Tjirera an enemy of peace in Namibia," he said. Asked by this newspaper what action the SPYL planned to take against members who defied his directive on the newspapers, Kapia said: "The action is reserved with us. Whoever is misbehaving must take note we have capacity." Kapia didn't stop at telling Youth League members what they can and cannot read, he had instructions for the media too. He said the SPYL wanted the media to "adhere to ethics, educate our people; not misinform them". Kapia said the President had worked very hard for the liberation of the country and deserved respect from Namibians. "We know the imperialists are there who don't want leaders of Africa to retire and live in peace. [They] always want to demonise them. We can't allow him [the President] to be insulted by reactionaries and colonialists of apartheid," said Kapia, referring to Democratic Media Holdings Chairman Dirk Mudge, Windhoek Observer Editor Hannes Smith and The Namibian's Editor Gwen Lister. |
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