African Activist Archive

The mailing reports that the more than 2OO members of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) who were captured in the May 1978 attack by the South African Defence Force (SADF) on Kassinga and Shikwatela refugee camps in Angola are being held at Hardapdam concentration camp near Mariental in southern Namibia. The mailing says almost 70 of SWAPO's leaders inside Namibia are being held incommunicado at Gobabis. SWAPO states that, during the past three months, over 15,000 Namibians, especially its leaders, members and supporters, have been arrested, and detained all over Namibia, in Windhoek, Tsumeb, Oshakati, Ogongo, Okakarara, Rundu, Gobabis, Katima Mulilo, Swakopmund, Luderitz, Keetmanshoop, Onuno, Buffalo, Oshipata, Mpacha, Arandis/Rongwyn, and Otjozondu (near Otjinene Reserve). Some Namibian prisoners are being transferred to detention centers in the Republic of South Africa, including one at Koffiefontein. The mailing says there is talk among whites in Namibia of a five-year plan for reducing the black population in the northern areas by 200,000, replacing those by pro-South African blacks from the Republic of South Africa. SWAPO also asserts that there has been an attempt to poison black contract workers at the diamond mines at Oranjemund in the South. White right-wing groups proliferate in Namibia. There is considerable evidence of torture being committed in Namibia, including a May 1977 statement by leaders of the Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches and the 1978 report by Catholic priest Fr. Heinz Hunke and Anglican layman Justin Ellis, "TORTURE: A Cancer in Our Society." The mailing also discusses former State President Vorster, the Information Department scandal, South African Bureau for State Security (BOSS), General Hendrik J. van den Bergh, Tsumeb Corporation, Rossing Uranium, Ongula ya Netanga, South African Police, South African Irish Regiment, Katatura township at Windhoek, Gwen Lister, bantustan Chief Cornelius Ndjoba, Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Ovamboland, Department of National Security, BLANKSWA, Wit Weerstandsbeweging, Eernheidsfront, Turnhalle Teenstand, White Unity Front, Die Lese und Gespraechskreis, Paul Wee, and Lutheran World Ministries.

African Activist Archive

NAMIBIA: WHEN WILL THE WORLD ACT IN THE INTERNATIONAL TERRITORY?

Creator

Place Created

Date

Type of Item

Length/duration

Description

Organization

Coverage Africa

Language

Digital Format

Rights Management

Collection