LWF fails to act on dungeon appeal
The just concluded 12th Assembly of the Lutheran churches has not taken any action on a demand for an apology and to facilitate healing over human rights abuses committed in exile.
The 12th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) as well as its council has failed to take any decision regarding the appeal by civil society organisations to pronounce itself on alleged human rights violations by Swapo in exile.
The civil societies, Forum for the Future (FFF) and NamRights, demanded that the LWF takes responsibility for its alleged silence on the abuses and to assist with the truth and reconciliation process in Namibia.
Ralston Deffenbaugh, LWF's assistant general secretary for international affairs and human rights, said the assembly, which concluded on 16 May, and the LWF council that concluded its first meeting on 17 May, did not consider the appeal.
Deffenbaugh did, however, acknowledge that the appeal was indeed received.
Some consideration was given to what has transpired in exile in a booklet “The Lutheran World Federation and Namibia” that was published in advance of the 12th Assembly.
In it the communion office makes mention of reports, first confidential and then public, that it received in the mid-1980's containing allegations that Swapo was detaining hundreds of Namibian refugees allegedly as South African spies.
The booklet states that the reports included allegations of disappearances, killings and tortures.
“The LWF took these reports very seriously,” it states in the booklet. “Together with Namibian church leaders, the LWF voiced its deep concern with the Swapo leadership, on numerous occasions and at the highest level. In 1987, Swapo invited an LWF delegation to visit Namibian refugees in Angola. However, the delegation was only given access to the civilian refugee settlements.
Given the scope of the visit, the delegation was not able to draw informed conclusions to substantiate the allegations. The full extent of Swapo's human rights violations did not become widely known until survivors were repatriated to Namibia and began telling their stories.”
Phil ya Nangoloh of NamRights said the organisation and the FFF is still considering their reaction to the LWF's repeated silence on the matter.
Genocide
The Assembly has, however, taken note of the current negotiations between Namibia and Germany on the 1904 to 1908 genocide of the Nama, Ovaherero and other indigenous people by imperial Germany.
It stated that the painful memories caused can only be healed until they are addressed.
“Only when the truth has been told and justice is sought can genuine reconciliation over the pains of the past take place,” the LWF stated.
It said it is encouraging to know that the Namibian and German governments have taken up this matter and are committed to a process of telling the truth and doing justice, adding that it is grateful for the role of churches and civil society groups that have promoted and continue to support processes of reconciliation and healing of memories.
Catherine Sasman
The civil societies, Forum for the Future (FFF) and NamRights, demanded that the LWF takes responsibility for its alleged silence on the abuses and to assist with the truth and reconciliation process in Namibia.
Ralston Deffenbaugh, LWF's assistant general secretary for international affairs and human rights, said the assembly, which concluded on 16 May, and the LWF council that concluded its first meeting on 17 May, did not consider the appeal.
Deffenbaugh did, however, acknowledge that the appeal was indeed received.
Some consideration was given to what has transpired in exile in a booklet “The Lutheran World Federation and Namibia” that was published in advance of the 12th Assembly.
In it the communion office makes mention of reports, first confidential and then public, that it received in the mid-1980's containing allegations that Swapo was detaining hundreds of Namibian refugees allegedly as South African spies.
The booklet states that the reports included allegations of disappearances, killings and tortures.
“The LWF took these reports very seriously,” it states in the booklet. “Together with Namibian church leaders, the LWF voiced its deep concern with the Swapo leadership, on numerous occasions and at the highest level. In 1987, Swapo invited an LWF delegation to visit Namibian refugees in Angola. However, the delegation was only given access to the civilian refugee settlements.
Given the scope of the visit, the delegation was not able to draw informed conclusions to substantiate the allegations. The full extent of Swapo's human rights violations did not become widely known until survivors were repatriated to Namibia and began telling their stories.”
Phil ya Nangoloh of NamRights said the organisation and the FFF is still considering their reaction to the LWF's repeated silence on the matter.
Genocide
The Assembly has, however, taken note of the current negotiations between Namibia and Germany on the 1904 to 1908 genocide of the Nama, Ovaherero and other indigenous people by imperial Germany.
It stated that the painful memories caused can only be healed until they are addressed.
“Only when the truth has been told and justice is sought can genuine reconciliation over the pains of the past take place,” the LWF stated.
It said it is encouraging to know that the Namibian and German governments have taken up this matter and are committed to a process of telling the truth and doing justice, adding that it is grateful for the role of churches and civil society groups that have promoted and continue to support processes of reconciliation and healing of memories.
Catherine Sasman
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