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Pardon Caprivi separatists: Mudge
August 6, 2009
06.08.09

Pardon Caprivi separatists: Mudge

By: BRIGITTE WEIDLICH

GOVERNMENT should not only release the more than 100 imprisoned Caprivi treason suspects, but also pardon them, otherwise the Republican Party will go to court, its president Henk Mudge demanded yesterday.
With the suspects in jail for ten years now and the trial not yet concluded, it was “obvious the Swapo Government has overstepped all human and legal boundaries and made themselves guilty of gross human rights violations and abuse,” Mudge said at a press conference yesterday.

He claimed that these alleged violations included allowing security forces to torture some of the secessionists in August 1999 and not giving them a fair trial within a reasonable period of time.

“Here now is an excellent opportunity for Government to prove to the world that it is serious in subscribing to the said international principles and the Constitution and it is for this reason that we humbly request President Hifikepunye Pohamba to act in the interest of Namibia as a constitutional and sovereign state and to release all the accused in the Caprivi trial forthwith,” Mudge demanded.

“To pardon and to release the Caprivians accused of high treason would amount to moral action that speaks of innate strength and an unwavering belief in the intrinsic value of the human person.

“It would amount to more than a symbolic act, but would demonstrate to every Namibian and to the world, that national reconciliation, justice, fairness, and equality are the cornerstones of our Republic.

“Let them go home, reconcile with their families and start to make their contribution to develop their region for the benefit of not only the Caprivians, but also the Namibian nation as a whole,” he added.
If Government would not release and pardon them, the RP would take the matter to an international platform, Mudge threatened.

“Should the accused not be released, then we, the Republican Party, will encourage human rights organisations, among others Amnesty International, to assist us in taking this issue to court as well as the international arena, because it should be evident that the Government cannot win this one.”
Mudge said the prolonged detention of the treason suspects had inflicted a lot of pain, suffering and humiliation on them and their families due to the absence of fathers, brothers, husbands and sons.

“The fact that basically the entire leadership of the Mafwe tribe had been removed and jailed in the process, and [the] ‘appointment’ and recognition of other traditional leaders who are perceived to be mere puppets of the Swapo Government also raise a few question marks,” he added.

On August 2 1999 the Caprivi Region was rocked by an unsuccessful secessionist attempt, which was quashed by the Namibia Defence Force. About 120 men were consequently arrested, some only on suspicion of having aided the failed coup.


Source: www.namibian.com.na
http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2009/august/article/pardon-caprivi-separatists-mudge/


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