African Activist Archive

The leaflet documents a South African paramilitary police sweep on a village near Oniipa, in northern Namibia. The South African government has detained more than 63 people under security laws in Namibia this year. There are also 21 Namibian long-term political prisoners in South African, and another eight in prisons in Namibia. The leaflet describes the history of South Africa gaining control over Namibia under a League of Nations mandate that was intended to lead to eventual self-determination, but South Africa's white minority had no intention of granting Namibia independence. Namibians have argued for independence with protests, petitions and declarations, only to be met by harassment, detention, torture and often death. The United Nations has revoked South Africa's mandate to rule the territory. Community organizers, labor leaders, educators and church workers are all regularly accused of participating in "terrorist" activities. People are asked to send demands to release of all Namibian political prisoners to the South African Administrator General in Windhoek, Namibia. The leaflet mentions the South West Africa Peoples' Organization (SWAPO) and Sam Nujoma. Some slogans on the leaflet: Free Namibian political prisoners! Free all political prisoners from apartheid's jails! Stop US support for racist oppression in southern Africa! Divest now! South Africa Out of Namibia! End the Illegal Occupation NOW!

African Activist Archive

Southern Africa Political Prisoners Day

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