Union wants media, NGOs ‘regulated’

A ‘LARGE’ solidarity press conference planned by a labour union and all the different wings of the ruling Swapo party to call for the “regulation for non-governmental organisations and media operators” petered out into a mere 10-minute exercise yesterday, Evilastus Kaaronda, Secretary General of the National Union of Namibian Workers, singled out The Namibian, a rights organisation and an opposition party, accusing them of being a “traitorous alliance” and allegedly planning a new political party.

He rattled off a three-page “solidarity statement” full of verbal venom against media and NGOs, which, according to them allegedly “abuse freedom of expression and press to incite violence and destabilise Namibia”. Kaaronda had waited in vain for Swapo comrades of the Youth League, the Elders’ Council and the Women’s Council, who he expected to fill the NUNW hall to give the press conference more body.Nobody pitched – only NUNW President Alfeus Muheua and two other people were present.After a 20-minute wait, Kaaronda let rip and said “Swapo is implacably against those who are armed to destroy and tamper with our policy of reconciliation.”He referred to a recent submission by the National Society for Human Rights to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe former President Nujoma for the disappearance of over 4 000 people under Swapo’s care during the liberation struggle, including Swapo members kept in dungeons near Lubango in Angola.The ICC submission was met with protests by different Swapo wings and a few university students.The Namibian was the first to publish a report on the ICC submission, sparking lively debate.Kaaronda did not stop there.”We must be vigilant against even our own comrades who become darlings of our enemies …comrades, who are currently busy fighting Swapo from within”.He called for “maximum vigilance against Swapo enemies and their sponsors”.Kaaronda however failed to name any such sponsors or to provide a list.Instead, he referred to an alleged conspiracy by unnamed Western donor countries, which in his view were unhappy with the “illustrious Swapo (track) record” and allegedly pumped millions into NGOs like the NSHR, the Forum for the Future (FFF) and opposition splinter groups, including the Congress of Democrats (CoD).”The Namibian newspaper, NSHR, its sponsors and other so-called political analysts were self-appointed praise singers for the CoD,” he alleged.These organisations were now in disarray because the “CoD is in tatters”, but were forming a new political party, Kaaronda alleged.”The failed political hallucinations of this coalition are now occasionally heard on NBC phone-in programmes, anti-Swapo SMS messages (in The Namibian) by Gwen Lister, Jean Sutherland and Da’oud Vries (all working at The Namibian) and fictitious letters urging and preaching to non-existent supporters not to vote in the upcoming (national 2009) elections,” an excited Kaaronda alleged.He called on Government to draft a law to regulate NGOs and the media.Kaaronda had waited in vain for Swapo comrades of the Youth League, the Elders’ Council and the Women’s Council, who he expected to fill the NUNW hall to give the press conference more body.Nobody pitched – only NUNW President Alfeus Muheua and two other people were present.After a 20-minute wait, Kaaronda let rip and said “Swapo is implacably against those who are armed to destroy and tamper with our policy of reconciliation.”He referred to a recent submission by the National Society for Human Rights to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe former President Nujoma for the disappearance of over 4 000 people under Swapo’s care during the liberation struggle, including Swapo members kept in dungeons near Lubango in Angola.The ICC submission was met with protests by different Swapo wings and a few university students.The Namibian was the first to publish a report on the ICC submission, sparking lively debate.Kaaronda did not stop there.”We must be vigilant against even our own comrades who become darlings of our enemies …comrades, who are currently busy fighting Swapo from within”. He called for “maximum vigilance against Swapo enemies and their sponsors”.Kaaronda however failed to name any such sponsors or to provide a list.Instead, he referred to an alleged conspiracy by unnamed Western donor countries, which in his view were unhappy with the “illustrious Swapo (track) record” and allegedly pumped millions into NGOs like the NSHR, the Forum for the Future (FFF) and opposition splinter groups, including the Congress of Democrats (CoD).”The Namibian newspaper, NSHR, its sponsors and other so-called political analysts were self-appointed praise singers for the CoD,” he alleged.These organisations were now in disarray because the “CoD is in tatters”, but were forming a new political party, Kaaronda alleged.”The failed political hallucinations of this coalition are now occasionally heard on NBC phone-in programmes, anti-Swapo SMS messages (in The Namibian) by Gwen Lister, Jean Sutherland and Da’oud Vries (all working at The Namibian) and fictitious letters urging and preaching to non-existent supporters not to vote in the upcoming (national 2009) elections,” an excited Kaaronda alleged.He called on Government to draft a law to regulate NGOs and the media.