Prepared Statement of Douglas P. Wachholz, Attorney, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in testimony before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House or Representatives

The testimony describes the Lawyers' Committee's assistance, beginning in 1967, to victims of racial repression in Namibia, including retention and payment of lawyers to act on behalf of black defendants in several political trials of Namibians whose internationally-recognized human rights were at stake. The Committee's first gave financial assistance to South African attorney Joel Carlson to help defend 37 Namibians prosecuted under the Terrorism Act, which South Africa unlawfully applies to Namibia. The testimony says on May 8, 1973 four Ovambo opposition political leaders, Johannes Nangutuuala, John Otto, Andreas Nuukwawo and Jimmy Ampala were arrested under the so-called "Emergency Regulations" (Proclamation R. 17 (1972)). On October 24 the police turned Nangutuuala and Nuukwawo over to Chief Philemon Elifas, the Chief Minister of the Owambo "bantustan" and a supporter of the application of apartheid to Namibia; Nangutuuala was immediately accused by Chief Elifas of criticizing the Commissioner-General of South West Africa and stripped naked and given 21 lashes after which he had to be hospitalized. On May 11, 1973 an unknown person or persons burned down the printing press of the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church in Ondangua. On August 12, 1973 blacks in Katatura township held a rally calling for the end of illegal South African domination of Namibia. The testimony mentions President John F. Kennedy, the American Bar Association, a 68-year-old Namibian detainee who charged that he was tortured by the security police, mass arrests of persons living in the black ghetto outside of Windhoek, systematic persecution of Namibian opposition political leaders by South African authorities and their surrogates, public floggings and other violent acts by South African Police and "bantustan" officials, detention, South African Police (SAP), Prime Minister Vorster's proposed Advisory Council for South West Africa, passes, prison, the Democratic Cooperative Development Party, the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), holding an illegal meeting, Anglican Bishop Suffragan Richard Wood, Lutheran Bishop Leonard Auala, Thomas Kamati, Mattheus Joseph, Keshi Nathaniel, Brian O'Linn, United Party of South West Africa, the SWAPO Youth League, Franz Nangutuuala, Owambo Territorial Court, Jerry Ekandjo, Martin Kapawasa, Fru Nghidinua, Sabotage Act, South African press, Emanuel Elifas, Ovamboland, Commissioner-General of South West Africa, South African Press Association, police in the Kwanyama area, Anglican Archdeacon of Odibo, the Venerable Philip Shilongo, Anglican Archdeacon of St. Mary's Mission, the Venerable Lazarus Haukongo, intimidation of black political dissidents, pass laws, Rehoboth, Ezriel Taapopi, Arel Johannes, David Shiwangurula, Walvis Bay, Benjamin Namalambo, Shihepo Mbili, U.N. Commissioner for Namibia, David Meroro, the Commissioner of Police in Pretoria, South West Africa Administrator B. J. Vander Walt, the Mandate, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions, United Nations Security Council, U.N. Secretary General, Richard James Wood, Leonard Nongola Auala, andThomas Ndalixutalah Komati. • Douglas P. Wachholz • APPENDIX I Proclamation R. 17 (1972) • APPENDIX II Text of rule NISI issued by Supreme Court, on 19 November 1973 • APPENDIX III Universal Declaration of Human Rights