BWS wants Swapo to acknowledge detentions

THE Namibian Government has been urged to “acknowledge” the disappearance of former Swapo detainees.

A group of non-governmental organisations dealing with cases of missing people issued a statement last week saying an “acknowledgement” would “restore the dignity” of the people who had gone missing and their families. “We strongly believe that a national healing process in Namibia can only genuinely begin with such an acknowledgement,” the NGOs said in a press statement faxed by Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWS).BWS was set up in the 1990s to push Swapo to account for the “disappearance” of 1 800 people who the liberation movement reportedly detained.The statement said about 2 000 people were held in what has come to be known as the ‘Dungeons of Lubango.Only 200 returned home on July 4 1989 as the country headed towards independence and multi-racial erections.The BWS marks the 15th anniversary with an advertisement in the media.”We strongly believe that a national healing process in Namibia can only genuinely begin with such an acknowledgement,” the NGOs said in a press statement faxed by Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWS).BWS was set up in the 1990s to push Swapo to account for the “disappearance” of 1 800 people who the liberation movement reportedly detained.The statement said about 2 000 people were held in what has come to be known as the ‘Dungeons of Lubango.Only 200 returned home on July 4 1989 as the country headed towards independence and multi-racial erections.The BWS marks the 15th anniversary with an advertisement in the media.