NSHR wants April 1989 victims named

THE National Society for Human Rights says it is disappointed that no public enquiry has been launched to identify the human remains found in several mass graves in November 2005.

This year’s Heroes Day will be celebrated at Eenhana in the North were the remains from the mass graves will be reburied at a Heroes’ Shrine still under construction. The NSHR said Government was finally giving “due recognition, albeit belatedly, of the ultimate sacrifices which thousands of Namibians have made”.The monument will be inaugurated to honour and pay due tribute to the more than 300 unidentified former Swapo fighters who died during the nine-day war in the beginning of April 1989.”It is extremely regrettable that the Government has apparently not found it necessary to conduct a public enquiry into – and forensic tests have not been conducted in an effort to ascertain – the identities of the human remains found buried in several mass graves,” the NSHR said.Apart from the Shrine, the NSHR said surviving ex-combatants need to be financially compensated and their lives need to be improved continuously.The NSHR also called for the establishment of a national truth and reconciliation process to address past violations of human rights committed in the name of Namibia’s right to self-determination or against it.”Such process must be characterised by truth telling in exchange for immunity from prosecution; prosecution for those who refuse to tell the whole truth; and by reparation as envisaged under international law”, said NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh.He called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to initiate a formal process to achieve true national reconciliation.The NSHR said Government was finally giving “due recognition, albeit belatedly, of the ultimate sacrifices which thousands of Namibians have made”.The monument will be inaugurated to honour and pay due tribute to the more than 300 unidentified former Swapo fighters who died during the nine-day war in the beginning of April 1989.”It is extremely regrettable that the Government has apparently not found it necessary to conduct a public enquiry into – and forensic tests have not been conducted in an effort to ascertain – the identities of the human remains found buried in several mass graves,” the NSHR said.Apart from the Shrine, the NSHR said surviving ex-combatants need to be financially compensated and their lives need to be improved continuously.The NSHR also called for the establishment of a national truth and reconciliation process to address past violations of human rights committed in the name of Namibia’s right to self-determination or against it.”Such process must be characterised by truth telling in exchange for immunity from prosecution; prosecution for those who refuse to tell the whole truth; and by reparation as envisaged under international law”, said NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh.He called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to initiate a formal process to achieve true national reconciliation.