NSHR’s Nangoloh Is No Longer Impartial

I READ Gwen Lister’s ‘Political Perspective’ column in which she commented on the Director of National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), Mr Phil ya Nangoloh.

Equally, I have read the response of Ya Nangoloh to her comments in the column. Let me congratulate Ya Nangoloh for his courage in running an organisation which sees to it that human rights are protected.Human rights organisations operate freely in countries that do not merely preach protecting the rights of their people in their constitutions but see to it that it really happens in daily life.It is good therefore that Namibians have grown up, since becoming independent, to get used to voices like of Ya Nangoloh.Recently I was discussing human rights issues in general, including the good work of Ya Nangoloh’s organisation, with a colleague.My colleague (a journalist by profession) was one of the victims of the Lubango dungeons.His comment was: “I lost respect for Ya Nangoloh the moment he started writing about the CIA spying things.”A human rights organisation should be seen, to my opinion, as non-partisan.When it is associated with partisan politics or a political vendetta then it raises a question mark.It is no more an impartial arbitrator.In Ghana (Builsa) they say: “When an antelope is shot with an arrow and it runs past you, you may not see the arrow.”you observe things from afar, you It is an outsider who can make more objective criticism about the action of other people.This is why other people can see our faults better than we do.We should always appreciate constructive criticism.Equally, Sukuna in Tanzania say: “In anger there is no intelligence.”or “A small pot boils quickly.”(Swahili, Tanzania).I need not explain all the proverbs I’ve used because in Africa they say: “If you tell a fool a proverb then he will ask you to explain it.”An Advisor, Via e-mail Note: Real name and address provided – EdLet me congratulate Ya Nangoloh for his courage in running an organisation which sees to it that human rights are protected.Human rights organisations operate freely in countries that do not merely preach protecting the rights of their people in their constitutions but see to it that it really happens in daily life.It is good therefore that Namibians have grown up, since becoming independent, to get used to voices like of Ya Nangoloh.Recently I was discussing human rights issues in general, including the good work of Ya Nangoloh’s organisation, with a colleague.My colleague (a journalist by profession) was one of the victims of the Lubango dungeons.His comment was: “I lost respect for Ya Nangoloh the moment he started writing about the CIA spying things.”A human rights organisation should be seen, to my opinion, as non-partisan.When it is associated with partisan politics or a political vendetta then it raises a question mark.It is no more an impartial arbitrator.In Ghana (Builsa) they say: “When an antelope is shot with an arrow and it runs past you, you may not see the arrow.”you observe things from afar, you It is an outsider who can make more objective criticism about the action of other people.This is why other people can see our faults better than we do.We should always appreciate constructive criticism.Equally, Sukuna in Tanzania say: “In anger there is no intelligence.”or “A small pot boils quickly.”(Swahili, Tanzania).I need not explain all the proverbs I’ve used because in Africa they say: “If you tell a fool a proverb then he will ask you to explain it.”An Advisor, Via e-mail Note: Real name and address provided – Ed