‘Struggle children’ told to leave

THE ‘children of the liberation struggle’ demonstrating outside the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs have been told to pack up and leave before 14h00 today.

They were yesterday issued with a notice to vacate the Trans-Namib premises by the Deputy Minister of Youth, Pohamba Shifeta, on behalf of Minister Willem Konjore. Asked about the consequences of ignoring the Minister’s order, group spokesperson Shinedima Salomon said they were told the Police would be sent in to forcibly remove them.”We won’t separate, we are together.They can take us to prison.If they are going to kill, they can kill – they must know we have our own rights,” Salomon added defiantly.The notice given to the protesters reminded them that a registration process would start in all 13 regions on October 27, so that Government could address their demands for identity documents, training and jobs.The demonstrators have said they intend to continue their protest until they are given jobs.Deputy Minister Shifeta told The Namibian that Government had appealed to the protesters many times to return home and wait for the registration process.He said the property on which they were camping belonged to TransNamib, and after 14h00 today it would be up to the owners what action to take.”They are violating the business rights of Trans-Namib with this demonstration,” he said.”We don’t want the situation to turn ugly.”Asked whether the demonstrators could be moved somewhere else to continue their protest, Shifeta said relocation was out of the question.He said the registration process was pivotal in meeting their demands because Government needs to verify that they are who they claim to be – the children of war veterans who died in the struggle.”We really need co-operation from them,” he said.Asked about the consequences of ignoring the Minister’s order, group spokesperson Shinedima Salomon said they were told the Police would be sent in to forcibly remove them.”We won’t separate, we are together.They can take us to prison.If they are going to kill, they can kill – they must know we have our own rights,” Salomon added defiantly.The notice given to the protesters reminded them that a registration process would start in all 13 regions on October 27, so that Government could address their demands for identity documents, training and jobs.The demonstrators have said they intend to continue their protest until they are given jobs.Deputy Minister Shifeta told The Namibian that Government had appealed to the protesters many times to return home and wait for the registration process.He said the property on which they were camping belonged to TransNamib, and after 14h00 today it would be up to the owners what action to take.”They are violating the business rights of Trans-Namib with this demonstration,” he said.”We don’t want the situation to turn ugly.”Asked whether the demonstrators could be moved somewhere else to continue their protest, Shifeta said relocation was out of the question.He said the registration process was pivotal in meeting their demands because Government needs to verify that they are who they claim to be – the children of war veterans who died in the struggle.”We really need co-operation from them,” he said.