Mailing seeking to raise money for the American Committee on Africa (ACOA). The mailing says after 70 years of South African occupation, Namibia may soon get its freedom; in November there are supposed to be "free and fair elections" under United Nations supervision; but already church leaders in Namibia have called us to say that South Africa seems to be intent on ensuring that the elections are neither free nor fair. The mailing says a 3,000 member South African counterinsurgency force, known as Koevoet (crowbar), which is notorious for rape, murder and torture has been integrated into the police force which is supposed to maintain order during the elections. The mailing says ACOA has had...
Mailing seeking to raise money for the American Committee on Africa (ACOA). The mailing says after 70 years of South African occupation, Namibia may soon get its freedom; in November there are supposed to be "free and fair elections" under United Nations supervision; but already church leaders in Namibia have called us to say that South Africa seems to be intent on ensuring that the elections are neither free nor fair. The mailing says a 3,000 member South African counterinsurgency force, known as Koevoet (crowbar), which is notorious for rape, murder and torture has been integrated into the police force which is supposed to maintain order during the elections. The mailing says ACOA has had a close relationship with SWAPO and the Namibian people throughout our thirty five year history and we are not about to abandon them now; we are helping to organize fact-finding delegations to Namibia throughout the spring and summer; George Houser, our Executive Director Emeritus, is preparing to serve as an observer at the request of the Namibian churches. The mailing says we are also organizing a Namibia Election Monitoring Group, made up of distinguished Americans who will serve as impartial advocates for free and democratic elections; the group will carefully monitor reports from Namibian religious and labor leaders and from the observer teams inside the country. The mailing says with your help, the November elections may yet inaugurate a genuinely democratic and representative government for an independent Namibia. The mailing discusses Hendrik Witbooi, the Bush Administration, U.S. public opinion, and Congress.
