Statement of the Commission on Independence for Namibia on its first observer mission to Namibia. The statement says the delegation came to Namibia to study first-hand the events during this early phase of Namibia's transition to independence through free and fair elections under Resolution 435. The delegation spoke with a wide range of individuals across the political spectrum, with representatives of the major parties, church leaders, union members, the Administrator General and his staff, Martti Ahtisaari and other officials of UNTAG, as well as ordinary Namibians. The delegation spent time in Windhoek, Katatura, Khomsdal, Rundu, Oshakati, Oniipa and Ongwediva. The statement says the...
Statement of the Commission on Independence for Namibia on its first observer mission to Namibia. The statement says the delegation came to Namibia to study first-hand the events during this early phase of Namibia's transition to independence through free and fair elections under Resolution 435. The delegation spoke with a wide range of individuals across the political spectrum, with representatives of the major parties, church leaders, union members, the Administrator General and his staff, Martti Ahtisaari and other officials of UNTAG, as well as ordinary Namibians. The delegation spent time in Windhoek, Katatura, Khomsdal, Rundu, Oshakati, Oniipa and Ongwediva. The statement says the continued operation of former Koevoet personnel in the north, under the banner of SWAPOL, creates dangers. The mission heard credible reports of assaults, death threats, violent disruption of meetings, and sexual assault. The basic structures of apartheid still exist. The laws governing the whole electoral process have been delayed far too long. The initial draft proclamation of the registration process was seriously flawed. [The members of the first observer mission were Goler T. Butcher, Howard University professor of law; John W. Douglas, Partner, Covington and Burling; Nathaniel R. Jones, Judge, United States Court of Appeals; Robert H. Kapp, Chairman of the International Human Rights Law Group; Henry J. Richardson, Professor of Law, Temple University.]
