Union wants to strangle NSHR, questions reconciliation policy

THE National Union of Namibian Workers has asked Government to reconsider its ties with countries whose organisations fund the National Society for Human Rights.

NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda told a media briefing in Windhoek yesterday that they were concerned that some donor countries had political ties with the Swapo Government, yet, he claimed, they were “masters” to the likes of NSHR. “This reason is enough to have the collaborators of this one-man show called into question, most especially those donors whose countries of origin have diplomatic missions in the Republic of Namibia,” Kaaronda said.The NUNW also wants Government to review its policy of national reconciliation in the face of what it claims is the NSHR’s “uncontrolled hunger for chaos”.The umbrella union has thrown its weight behind Swapo in criticising the NSHR for approaching the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate former President Sam Nujoma and three others in connection with the disappearance of some Namibians before and shortly after Independence.Kaaronda charged that NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh was refusing to give peace a chance because of his personal political interests and “syndrome of inferiority”.According to the union leader, Ya Nangoloh has a white soul under a black skin and believes that anything said or written by a white person is pure.”The Swapo Party has nothing to apologise for and if Ya Nangoloh has a problem with this fact than he better get used to the idea, as he is rather too late to want to be a hero of any struggle of the Namibian people.He had his time and successfully failed to be meaningful and nothing will come to him in his old age,” Kaaronda charged.He said the NUNW, which is affiliated to Swapo, was behind the party in rejecting the NSHR’s submission to the ICC that Nujoma, former Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina, former Chief of Defence and now retired Lieutenant General Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala, and NDF First Battalion Colonel Thomas Shuuya be charged under the court’s “continuous violation doctrine” even though some of the alleged crimes were committed before the court’s establishment in 2002.The NSHR claimed that the four had been at the helm of institutions which committed crimes against some Namibians and had failed to provide details about what happened to many people who disappeared.Last week, Swapo Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said the NSHR’s move was a serious threat to security in Namibia and that Ya Nangoloh should be held responsible for any consequences it might have.Kaaronda said Government must “have a strong word” with governments whose development agencies finance the NSHR, while it must also review its stance on the policy of national reconciliation.”This reason is enough to have the collaborators of this one-man show called into question, most especially those donors whose countries of origin have diplomatic missions in the Republic of Namibia,” Kaaronda said.The NUNW also wants Government to review its policy of national reconciliation in the face of what it claims is the NSHR’s “uncontrolled hunger for chaos”.The umbrella union has thrown its weight behind Swapo in criticising the NSHR for approaching the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate former President Sam Nujoma and three others in connection with the disappearance of some Namibians before and shortly after Independence.Kaaronda charged that NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh was refusing to give peace a chance because of his personal political interests and “syndrome of inferiority”.According to the union leader, Ya Nangoloh has a white soul under a black skin and believes that anything said or written by a white person is pure.”The Swapo Party has nothing to apologise for and if Ya Nangoloh has a problem with this fact than he better get used to the idea, as he is rather too late to want to be a hero of any struggle of the Namibian people.He had his time and successfully failed to be meaningful and nothing will come to him in his old age,” Kaaronda charged.He said the NUNW, which is affiliated to Swapo, was behind the party in rejecting the NSHR’s submission to the ICC that Nujoma, former Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina, former Chief of Defence and now retired Lieutenant General Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala, and NDF First Battalion Colonel Thomas Shuuya be charged under the court’s “continuous violation doctrine” even though some of the alleged crimes were committed before the court’s establishment in 2002.The NSHR claimed that the four had been at the helm of institutions which committed crimes against some Namibians and had failed to provide details about what happened to many people who disappeared.Last week, Swapo Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said the NSHR’s move was a serious threat to security in Namibia and that Ya Nangoloh should be held responsible for any consequences it might have.Kaaronda said Government must “have a strong word” with governments whose development agencies finance the NSHR, while it must also review its stance on the policy of national reconciliation.