The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights at the United Nations has written to the Namibian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urgently requesting clarity on the matter and details about the Swapo meeting of July 30 at the Babylon township of Katutura.

In his letter of August 10, Special UN Rapporteur for the UN Human Rights Council, Ambey Ligabo, informed Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku that he had received information that "Ms Ruusa Malulu and Ms Lapaka Uyeulu received death threats allegedly made by the President of Swapo and former President of Namibia", Malulu chairs the recently formed National Committee on the Welfare of Ex-Combatants, which is demanding compensation, employment, pensions and other benefits from Government for their role in the liberation struggle.

"Ms Malulu was threatened due to her activism and opinions expressed regarding the compensation demands of the Committee she represents," UN Special Rapporteur Ligabo wrote.

"Ms Ueyulu was threatened for having conducted an interview (for the NBC Oshiwambo Radio Service) with Ms Malulu and giving publicity as well as credibility to her demands."

Ligabo appealed to Minister Hausiku to investigate the matter and ensure that the Namibian Government "takes all necessary steps to secure the right to freedom of opinion and expression of the above-mentioned persons in accordance with fundamental principles as set forth in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".

He also urged Government to "investigate effectively threats and acts of violence, including acts against journalists, and to bring to justice those responsible to combat impunity."

He further requested the Government to prevent recurrence of such acts and to send the results of its findings to his Geneva office as soon as possible.

Ligabo has to report to the UN Human Rights Council about Nujoma's alleged death threats.

Nujoma reportedly said at the specific Swapo meeting last month that "those (war veterans' committee) who are demanding compensation are bandits just like [Avid Investment's Lazarus] Kandara.

They must remember that we still have guns and those of you who side with them, we will shoot you."

Nujoma then reportedly referred to Ueyulu and Malulu as 'diminutive women' in his Oshiwambo vernacular: "There are two diminutive women in this country who are sowing confusion.

We must eradicate them!" he said, according to human rights observers from the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) who attended the meeting.

Nujoma was flanked by Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo, Fisheries Minister Dr Abraham Iyambo, Deputy Labour Minister Petrus Ilonga and Khomas Regional Governor Sophia Shaningwa, among others.

Phil ya Nangoloh, who is the Executive Director of the NSHR, told The Namibian yesterday that his organisation alerted the UN Commission for Human Rights about the alleged threats.

"We are very glad that the Special Rapporteur has reacted by sending this letter to the Namibian Government," Ya Nangoloh said

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