Swapo women attack NSHR

THE Swapo Party Women’s Council says the wounds of the liberation struggle, healed through Namibia’s policy of national reconciliation, are being scratched open by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) through its decision to take former President Sam Nujoma and three others to the International Criminal Court.

Petrina Haingura, Secretary of the Women’s Council, said they were “at great pain”, as the NSHR was opening wounds healed at Independence. She said the NSHR action was not only weird but also criminal and defied any logic.”As mothers of our country, we have shed many tears of war before and we are not ready to allow a foreign-funded non-governmental organisation to disrupt our peace, stability and national sovereignty,” said Haingura.She said the Women’s Council would join the Swapo Youth League’s demonstration planned for next Tuesday, because “people like (the NSHR’s Phil) Ya Nangoloh and his like-minded elements are propagating seeds of mistrust, fear and revenge among the citizens”.The NSHR wants Nujoma, former Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina, former Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala and Namibia Defence Force (NDF) First Battalion Colonel Thomas Shuuya investigated for instigating, planning, supervising, abetting, aiding, defending and/or perpetuating the disappearances of more than 4 200 people before and after Namibia’s Independence.”This cannot go unchallenged for the sake of peace, unity and progress in Namibia,” Haingura said.Earlier, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Swapo and the Swapo Youth League blasted the NSHR for the submission it had made to the ICC.They said Nujoma needed to be revered instead of harassed for bringing about peace.The NSHR asked the ICC in November last year to investigate the possibility of charging Nujoma and others for failing to account for the people who went missing before and after Independence.The human rights organisation said it acted because Nujoma continued to refuse to explain what had happened to the people.She said the NSHR action was not only weird but also criminal and defied any logic.”As mothers of our country, we have shed many tears of war before and we are not ready to allow a foreign-funded non-governmental organisation to disrupt our peace, stability and national sovereignty,” said Haingura.She said the Women’s Council would join the Swapo Youth League’s demonstration planned for next Tuesday, because “people like (the NSHR’s Phil) Ya Nangoloh and his like-minded elements are propagating seeds of mistrust, fear and revenge among the citizens”.The NSHR wants Nujoma, former Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina, former Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala and Namibia Defence Force (NDF) First Battalion Colonel Thomas Shuuya investigated for instigating, planning, supervising, abetting, aiding, defending and/or perpetuating the disappearances of more than 4 200 people before and after Namibia’s Independence.”This cannot go unchallenged for the sake of peace, unity and progress in Namibia,” Haingura said.Earlier, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Swapo and the Swapo Youth League blasted the NSHR for the submission it had made to the ICC.They said Nujoma needed to be revered instead of harassed for bringing about peace.The NSHR asked the ICC in November last year to investigate the possibility of charging Nujoma and others for failing to account for the people who went missing before and after Independence.The human rights organisation said it acted because Nujoma continued to refuse to explain what had happened to the people.