Nujoma urges youth ‘to be on guard’

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma has called on the youth to guard against the forces of neo-colonialism and imperialism and to emulate the patriotic deeds of those who died 26 years ago in Cassinga.

About 3 500 Namibians joined Nujoma and the Khomas Regional Council to commemorate the day at Heroes’ Acre yesterday. Nujoma said freedom and independence had not come on a silver plate, but through a bitter and protracted armed liberation struggle.In probably his shortest Cassinga Day speech, lasting less than four minutes, Nujoma pleaded with Namibians to embrace the policy of national reconciliation.Code-named ‘Operation Reindeer’ by the colonial South African Army, the Cassinga raid resulted in the massacre of around 600 people – mainly women and children.Five years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) said Operation Reindeer began with an attack at 08h00 on May 4 1978.Four Canberra jets dropped 300 Alpha bombs, followed one minute later by four Buccaneers that dropped seven 400 kg fragmentation bombs.The initial target was the parade ground where between 50 and 100 of the enemy were seen immediately before the attack.At 08h04, 370 paratroops were dropped, but many of them landed well away from the target area – the camp – because of high winds.It took just over an hour for the paratroopers to regroup, during which time many of Cassinga’s inhabitants had fled to safety.They included many of Plan’s (Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia) senior officers, among them the late Dimo Hamaambo.The TRC found that the several hundred occupants of the camp were not so fortunate.By 10h30, South African signals from the ground were reporting heavy “enemy” casualties and the capture of large quantities of weapons.By noon, the first paratroops were withdrawn by helicopter.All the planning documentation, including aerial photographs, indicated that the SADF command was convinced Cassinga was the planning headquarters of Swapo’s military wing, Plan, and thus a military target of key importance.The SADF’s view at the time, according to the TRC, was that Cassinga was a military facility, housing about 1 500 military recruits and about 100 Cuban soldiers, rather than a refugee camp as said by Swapo.But evidence before the TRC showed that abandoned homes in the village of Cassinga had been converted into offices, a kindergarten and primary school, a clinic, a sewing centre and vehicle repair workshops.The TRC blamed former South African army chief Lieutenant General Constand Viljoen, former air force chief R H Rodgers, and their political masters – the late prime minister John Vorster and defence minister PW Botha – for the massacre.Nujoma said freedom and independence had not come on a silver plate, but through a bitter and protracted armed liberation struggle.In probably his shortest Cassinga Day speech, lasting less than four minutes, Nujoma pleaded with Namibians to embrace the policy of national reconciliation.Code-named ‘Operation Reindeer’ by the colonial South African Army, the Cassinga raid resulted in the massacre of around 600 people – mainly women and children.Five years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) said Operation Reindeer began with an attack at 08h00 on May 4 1978.Four Canberra jets dropped 300 Alpha bombs, followed one minute later by four Buccaneers that dropped seven 400 kg fragmentation bombs.The initial target was the parade ground where between 50 and 100 of the enemy were seen immediately before the attack.At 08h04, 370 paratroops were dropped, but many of them landed well away from the target area – the camp – because of high winds.It took just over an hour for the paratroopers to regroup, during which time many of Cassinga’s inhabitants had fled to safety.They included many of Plan’s (Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia) senior officers, among them the late Dimo Hamaambo.The TRC found that the several hundred occupants of the camp were not so fortunate.By 10h30, South African signals from the ground were reporting heavy “enemy” casualties and the capture of large quantities of weapons.By noon, the first paratroops were withdrawn by helicopter.All the planning documentation, including aerial photographs, indicated that the SADF command was convinced Cassinga was the planning headquarters of Swapo’s military wing, Plan, and thus a military target of key importance.The SADF’s view at the time, according to the TRC, was that Cassinga was a military facility, housing about 1 500 military recruits and about 100 Cuban soldiers, rather than a refugee camp as said by Swapo.But evidence before the TRC showed that abandoned homes in the village of Cassinga had been converted into offices, a kindergarten and primary school, a clinic, a sewing centre and vehicle repair workshops.The TRC blamed former South African army chief Lieutenant General Constand Viljoen, former air force chief R H Rodgers, and their political masters – the late prime minister John Vorster and defence minister PW Botha – for the massacre.