November 6 2014 PRESS RELEASE: IN RESPONSE TO NAMOLOH’S BUFFOONERY In a front page report this morning and under the title of “Namoloh tells former Koevoet where to Get off”, State-funded daily newspaper, New Era, cited Regional and Local Government and Housing Minister, Maj-General (ret.) Charles Namoloh, of having accused me, Phil ya Nangoloh, of “intimidating” people and of “inciting violence”. Maj-General Namoloh was ostensibly reacting to my advice last Sunday that, as aggrieved persons, former SWATF-Koevoet members have the right under the Namibian Constitution to challenge the Veterans Act 2008 (Act 2 of 2008) for being discriminatory against them. Because a war veteran is anyone who has taken part in military hostilities preferably over a protracted period of time and this is regardless what side he or she was fighting on. Under normal circumstances under UN-supervised peace-building operations, all ex-combatants are entitled to payouts not as “reward” but as part of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (“DDR”) processes. At no time during my keynote address on November 3 2014 and or for that matter even prior to that or throughout my career as a human rights expert have I ever incited violence against anyone. Moreover, the event, which is the march-then-meeting of ex-SWATF-Koevoet last Sunday at which I have presumably incited violence, was well-attended both print and electronic media representatives and not a single of them has so far quoted me as having incited violence against anyone or as having intimidated anyone. I am therefore surprised and saddened by this seemingly buffoonery and or nincompoopery reportedly of Maj-General Namoloh. Did he suck his allegations against me out of his thumb? Moreover, after reading the New Era report this morning, I texted Maj-General Namoloh in order to give him the opportunity to clarify his remarks as reported in New Era and thereby avoid an embarrassing and unnecessary verbal spat between the two of us. However, Maj-General Namoloh ignored me and hence this Press Release in self-defense! Maj-General Namoloh reportedly also accused me of being known for speaking in favor former colonial regime soldiers. This, if true, is another instance of buffoonery on the part of Charles Namoloh. I have always stood and I will always stand up for anyone who seeks my advice. When ex-PLAN fighters campaigned for recognition as war veterans during 2006, I also stood firm on their side for obvious reasons. I did precisely the same when approached by Children of Liberation Struggle (“CLS”). I have made it clear last Sunday and I repeat here now that both SWAPO and apartheid South Africa have committed untold atrocities against unarmed civilians inside the country during the liberation struggle. Their victims include the people listed on the attached (by fax or e-mail only) Provisional Statistics. Moreover, in light of such atrocities, I reiterate my previous calls for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission in this country!
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:09:10 +0000