War veterans to march today

DISGRUNTLED war veterans claiming compensation from Government are set to march from Katutura to the city centre this morning to hand over a petition to the Justice Ministry.

“We are definitely going to march in the morning as planned,” the leader of the National Committee on the Welfare of Ex-combatants (NCWE), Ruusa Malulu, told The Namibian yesterday. The NCWE made headlines last year when it demanded thousands of dollars from Government as compensation for having fought in the liberation war.They also want shares in State-owned enterprises and for veterans who are already employed by Government to continue working until they are 70 years old.Meanwhile, the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) says all people, in their individual capacity or as groups, have the right under the Constitution to participate in peaceful political activities aimed at influencing the composition and policies of government.”As human rights defenders, we are, however, alarmed by certain statements from the Namibian Police and the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), which are of intimidatory nature.NamPol and NDF members who participate in the planned demonstration would be liable for misconduct and therefore they should refrain from participating in the planned demo.”If this message is directed exclusively to those NDF and NamPol members who are on active duty, then the warnings from the NamPol and or NDF authorities are fully supported by us,” NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh said yesterday.”NSHR rejects any suggestions that NDF and NamPol members using their private time to participate in the planned demonstration would also be subjected to disciplinary measures.If an NDF or NamPol member applies for leave and uses that opportunity to participate in a peaceful demo, then NDF and NamPol should not concern themselves about that either.”A previous attempt by the war veterans to march to the city centre to hand over a petition to President Hifikepunye Pohamba at State House was stopped by the Police in Katutura.Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana drove to that spot to receive the petition.The NCWE made headlines last year when it demanded thousands of dollars from Government as compensation for having fought in the liberation war.They also want shares in State-owned enterprises and for veterans who are already employed by Government to continue working until they are 70 years old.Meanwhile, the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) says all people, in their individual capacity or as groups, have the right under the Constitution to participate in peaceful political activities aimed at influencing the composition and policies of government.”As human rights defenders, we are, however, alarmed by certain statements from the Namibian Police and the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), which are of intimidatory nature.NamPol and NDF members who participate in the planned demonstration would be liable for misconduct and therefore they should refrain from participating in the planned demo.”If this message is directed exclusively to those NDF and NamPol members who are on active duty, then the warnings from the NamPol and or NDF authorities are fully supported by us,” NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh said yesterday.”NSHR rejects any suggestions that NDF and NamPol members using their private time to participate in the planned demonstration would also be subjected to disciplinary measures.If an NDF or NamPol member applies for leave and uses that opportunity to participate in a peaceful demo, then NDF and NamPol should not concern themselves about that either.”A previous attempt by the war veterans to march to the city centre to hand over a petition to President Hifikepunye Pohamba at State House was stopped by the Police in Katutura.Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana drove to that spot to receive the petition.