PLAN, Koevoet to march together

Former People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), their war adversaries South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) and Koevoet members intend to petition former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba as well as current president Hage Geingob over government’s alleged failure to address the plight of the three groups.

Members of the military units have now formed a collective, which made their demands clear during a press briefing at the Katutura Multipurpose Youth Centre last Friday.

The demands were made by group spokesperson and former PLAN fighter Phillipus Shipulwa, who said they are now a united front against government’s alleged attempts to divide them.

Last year, 20 000 former PLAN combatants turned to the international relations and cooperation ministry after unsuccessfully petitioning the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for money they say is owed to them.

They claim N$390 million was supposed to be paid for the reintegration of Namibian returnees to their home communities. The money, Shipulwa said, was aimed at meeting critical short-term needs for individual and family rehabilitation, and to promote self-reliance among the beneficiaries.

Address Resolution 435

PLAN was founded in 1962 and fought against both SWATF and Koevoet since its inception until 1989. Both Swapo and South Africa, which commanded the latter military units, agreed to a United Nations (UN) plan for a ceasefire, withdrawal of South African troops and free elections to be guaranteed by UN security forces.

After years of diplomatic manoeuvring, South Africa finally accepted the UN resolution to that effect in December 1988.

Shipulwa said it was time for government to address Resolution 435’s adopted decisions, saying many former fighters were not resettled as agreed upon.

“We are not resettled; government and the UN should come and explain. We are not resettled. The truth must come out,” he said.

He added that the group will make its demands clear once government shows an interest in engaging them formally, adding that they are not looking to start trouble.

Fed up

The group also voiced intent to march to Nujoma and Pohamba's residences.

“We will have a march to our founding father at Etunda in the Omusati Region and to Okanghudi in the Ohangwena Region. We will go to the State House of this country. We are human beings and we are fed up,” Shipulwa said.

The patience of the former soldiers had grown thin, he added.

“It’s been 32 years now, yet the leadership of Swapo, the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the Namibian government fail to reach our demands.

“The time for letters and petitions is now over. Now is the time to talk face-to-face on the matter,” he said.

The group further demanded the return of Geingob, who is currently attending the UN general assembly in the United States.

‘Don’t threaten us’

“Let the president and his delegation come back from America and Europe. We are humbly asking you to come to us and talk to us in a nice way. Don’t threaten us with death; we are not against the government.

“We are fed up and tired and waiting for your response,” Shipulwa said.

“We are humbly requesting you to come to us and talk to us. Now is the time to put an end to this game because we are fed up and tired of waiting for your response.”

Former Koevoet and SWATF members have in the past demanded government pay them the N$36 million paid to the state by the former South African apartheid government.