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Nujoma Has The Answers

Nujoma Has The Answers

ALLOW me space in your newspaper to express my opinion on the NSHR submission to International Criminal Court (ICC).

It is quite regrettable to know that Namibia has a long way to go in order to consolidate a true democracy. Swapo Party, its youth wing, its women council and President have embarrassed us and this nation by publicly making fools of themselves by staging a demonstration arguing that the NSHR submission should be withdrawn because Nujoma is a national hero.The Namibian Constitution, article 10, states that all people are equal before the law, meaning that no one is above the law including the president, ministers, law enforcement agents, even national heroes and heroines.How can you claim that simply because Nujoma is a national hero he must not be taken to court, is he above the law? Are you saying that he can commit any crime in this country and he must not be taken to court? And how does taking Nujoma to court threaten peace and security in the country? Can Swapo, including President Pohamba, explain this to the nation, because I find it difficult to translate it as such.Their protests in streets and pronouncements is nothing other than a manifestation of true colours of Swapo impunity, the same impunity they had during the liberation struggle.But, hey, Swapo, wake up and smell the coffee, Namibia is independent and we have a constitution, your threats are not going to work for you anymore, laws that protect everyone’s right are in place, courts are independent, judges are intellectuals and not Swapo remote controls, you cannot influence them with your marches.Why are you wasting your time in the streets knowing that the case to ICC cannot be withdrawn simply because you marched.To be honest, I reject with the contempt it deserves the whole statement read by President Pohamba on the issue of NSHR submission to ICC.I do not think he is being honest on this issue – he knows that innocent Namibians disappeared at the hands of Swapo Is he now implying people are not missing or their lives are not worth anything, is he implying that we, the families of victims, do not deserve any explanation as to what happened to our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters? I simply think that he is trying to cover himself (having been in Swapo leadership during the liberation struggle might implicate him).Over the last 17 years of our independence, we, many Namibians, and especially the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) and the Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWS) have been at the forefront calling for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and this call was rejected and dismissed.What is quite painful is that the Namibian government opted for the National Reconciliation Policy; this policy is not documented anywhere, what an insult to us and the Namibian people! How can you ask NSHR to withdraw the case as if it represents itself? NSHR is acting on our behalf, we instructed them to take or case to ICC, we want to know what happened to our relatives, why do you expect us to forget about our loved ones without any explanation (answers we know you have) and for how long must they be patient? What an injustice and selfishness! Please Swapo, leave NSHR alone and tell us directly what happened to our loved ones.I personally have lost my cousin Johannes Kadhila I don’t know what happened to him and I want to know.We do not want to hear from President Pohamba, we want to hear from Dr Sam Nujoma, he has all answers we want.If there is anything President Pohamba can do for us he must tell Dr Nujoma to give us answers.Oombaledhiihaka Via e-mailSwapo Party, its youth wing, its women council and President have embarrassed us and this nation by publicly making fools of themselves by staging a demonstration arguing that the NSHR submission should be withdrawn because Nujoma is a national hero.The Namibian Constitution, article 10, states that all people are equal before the law, meaning that no one is above the law including the president, ministers, law enforcement agents, even national heroes and heroines.How can you claim that simply because Nujoma is a national hero he must not be taken to court, is he above the law? Are you saying that he can commit any crime in this country and he must not be taken to court? And how does taking Nujoma to court threaten peace and security in the country? Can Swapo, including President Pohamba, explain this to the nation, because I find it difficult to translate it as such.Their protests in streets and pronouncements is nothing other than a manifestation of true colours of Swapo impunity, the same impunity they had during the liberation struggle.But, hey, Swapo, wake up and smell the coffee, Namibia is independent and we have a constitution, your threats are not going to work for you anymore, laws that protect everyone’s right are in place, courts are independent, judges are intellectuals and not Swapo remote controls, you cannot influence them with your marches.Why are you wasting your time in the streets knowing that the case to ICC cannot be withdrawn simply because you marched.To be honest, I reject with the contempt it deserves the whole statement read by President Pohamba on the issue of NSHR submission to ICC.I do not think he is being honest on this issue – he knows that innocent Namibians disappeared at the hands of Swapo Is he now implying people are not missing or their lives are not worth anything, is he implying that we, the families of victims, do not deserve any explanation as to what happened to our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters? I simply think that he is trying to cover himself (having been in Swapo leadership during the liberation struggle might implicate him).Over the last 17 years of our independence, we, many Namibians, and especially the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) and the Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWS) have been at the forefront calling for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and this call was rejected and dismissed.What is quite painful is that the Namibian government opted for the National Reconciliation Policy; this policy is not documented anywhere, what an insult to us and the Namibian people! How can you ask NSHR to withdraw the case as if it represents itself? NSHR is acting on our behalf, we instructed them to take or case to ICC, we want to know what happened to our relatives, why do you expect us to forget about our loved ones without any explanation (answers we know you have) and for how long must they be patient? What an injustice and selfishness! Please Swapo, leave NSHR alone and tell us directly what happened to our loved ones.I personally have lost my cousin Johannes Kadhila I don’t know what happened to him and I want to know.We do not want to hear from President Pohamba, we want to hear from Dr Sam Nujoma, he has all answers we want.If there is anything President Pohamba can do for us he must tell Dr Nujoma to give us answers.Oombaledhiihaka Via e-mail

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