Don’t force our hand: Govt

JUSTICE Minister and Attorney General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana yesterday called on Namibians to embrace national reconciliation and not to dig up the past where “neighbour fought against neighbour” during the liberation struggle.

Iivula-Ithana was delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament, which delved into the roots of national reconciliation in Namibia. She said Namibia had ruled out a truth and reconciliation commission for very specific reasons, and would have to consider new laws to defend the Constitution if it came under threat.The issue of national reconciliation has been propelled into the headlines following a recent submission by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) to the International Criminal Court (ICC).The NSHR wants former President Sam Nujoma probed for alleged war crimes.These are allegedly in connection with the disappearance of about 4 000 people under the care of Swapo before Independence.The NSHR also alleges that 1 600 people were “handed over to Angolan authorities” between 1994 and 1996 and never seen again.In her statement, the Minister said the policy of national reconciliation was founded on an amnesty proclamation by the South African Administrator Louis Pienaar in 1989 just before Independence.It stated that no criminal proceedings should be undertaken against fighters on either side.”This was the core for drafting the Constitution, and its preamble states that the people of Namibia will strive to achieve national reconciliation,” she told the House.Seeking to repeal this, she said, hinting at the ICC submission, would be difficult.Parliament would be obliged to take steps to uphold and defend the Constitution by passing “necessary laws for peace and in the best interests of the people of Namibia”.The Minister did not divulge details about these possible laws.Reconciliation had different meanings and forms, she said.If Namibia was to have a truth and reconciliation commission like South Africa, one would have to ask who would have to be held accountable.”What happens to the emotions, which we conjure with this halfway measure? Where do we end in the guilt chain?” she asked.”Isn’t the villager who provided protection and information for Plan fighters as guilty as the other villager (who was) doing the same for SWATF and Koevoet?” Iivula-Ithana asked.The past should not be an obstacle in the way of the future, she urged.Iivula-Ithana noted that her Ministry had not yet received any enquiries from the ICC regarding the NSHR submission.”It is disturbing news for the populace to hear that the icon of the liberation struggle, the Founding Father of the Namibian Nation, could soon be put in chains and escorted off to some court for some crime,” the Minister stated.”I trust that we may now put to rest these calls for a truth and reconciliation commission and concentrate on nation building,” she ended her speech.Tsudao Gurirab of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) wants the National Assembly to debate on the policy of national reconciliation and its merits, the concept and how to develop guidelines for it.He told the National Assembly yesterday that he would table a motion to this effect tomorrow.She said Namibia had ruled out a truth and reconciliation commission for very specific reasons, and would have to consider new laws to defend the Constitution if it came under threat.The issue of national reconciliation has been propelled into the headlines following a recent submission by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) to the International Criminal Court (ICC).The NSHR wants former President Sam Nujoma probed for alleged war crimes. These are allegedly in connection with the disappearance of about 4 000 people under the care of Swapo before Independence.The NSHR also alleges that 1 600 people were “handed over to Angolan authorities” between 1994 and 1996 and never seen again.In her statement, the Minister said the policy of national reconciliation was founded on an amnesty proclamation by the South African Administrator Louis Pienaar in 1989 just before Independence.It stated that no criminal proceedings should be undertaken against fighters on either side.”This was the core for drafting the Constitution, and its preamble states that the people of Namibia will strive to achieve national reconciliation,” she told the House.Seeking to repeal this, she said, hinting at the ICC submission, would be difficult.Parliament would be obliged to take steps to uphold and defend the Constitution by passing “necessary laws for peace and in the best interests of the people of Namibia”.The Minister did not divulge details about these possible laws.Reconciliation had different meanings and forms, she said.If Namibia was to have a truth and reconciliation commission like South Africa, one would have to ask who would have to be held accountable.”What happens to the emotions, which we conjure with this halfway measure? Where do we end in the guilt chain?” she asked.”Isn’t the villager who provided protection and information for Plan fighters as guilty as the other villager (who was) doing the same for SWATF and Koevoet?” Iivula-Ithana asked.The past should not be an obstacle in the way of the future, she urged.Iivula-Ithana noted that her Ministry had not yet received any enquiries from the ICC regarding the NSHR submission.”It is disturbing news for the populace to hear that the icon of the liberation struggle, the Founding Father of the Namibian Nation, could soon be put in chains and escorted off to some court for some crime,” the Minister stated.”I trust that we may now put to rest these calls for a truth and reconciliation commission and concentrate on nation building,” she ended her speech.Tsudao Gurirab of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) wants the National Assembly to debate on the policy of national reconciliation and its merits, the concept and how to develop guidelines for it.He told the National Assembly yesterday that he would table a motion to this effect tomorrow.