Condemns NSHR’s ICC Challenge
By Catherine Sasman
WINDHOEK
The National Society for Human Rights’ (NSHR) and Phil ya Nangoloh’s submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is “precarious, ill-thought, provocative and a direct violation of the policy of national reconciliation”, said SWAPO Party Secretary General, Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, yesterday.
“This submission has the potential to sabotage the peace and tranquility that Namibians have been enjoying since independence. It is a serious threat to peace and security. The consequences and implications of that submission are [too] ghastly to contemplate, and the SWAPO Party cannot sit by idly and watch our peace being shredded and our heroes vilified and humiliated by NSHR, its sponsors and its ya Nangoloh, ” he said.
“SWAPO Party says here today that it will never allow anyone to drag Nujoma and the rest of the party leaders and cadres to any court anywhere. That must be unequivocally clear to any potential provocateurs,” said Tjiriange.
Tjiriange said the submission is a “political charade” and an “insult and provocation” that has the potential to bring “chaos and strife” in Namibia.
“It seems Phil ya Nangoloh and the like are tired of the peace that we are enjoying today and would wish this country to go into flames. We have to understand that if there is instability in this country everybody, including Phil ya Nangoloh and his accomplices, will not be spared the suffering which will follow.”
He said ya Nangoloh should be called to order, arguing that the NSHR, “its sponsors and former colonial stooges and bootlickers are still hell-bent on destroying our peace and political stability”.
He said the SWAPO Party government has painstakingly adopted the policy of national reconciliation so that Namibians can “forgive one another and live in peace, harmony and stability”.
“It is a serious mistake and political naivety to assume that the SWAPO Party adopted the policy of national reconciliation out of weakness or fear on our part,” he said, adding: “The SWAPO Party could have opted for the trial of those responsible or the deaths of many innocent Namibians. Take note that we had and still have the capacity to revoke the policy of national reconciliation if we so wish. However, in the interest of peace and security we have opted to remain within the bounds” of the policy.
The human rights organisation last year submitted to the ICC to initiate an investigation against former Namibian President and SWAPO Party President Sam Nujoma for his responsibility vis-??????’??