Namibia Newsletter Spring, 1988 Volume 11, No. 1

1988-Tenth Anniversary Kassinga and UNSCR 435

THE DAY THE SOLDIERS CAME: THE STORY OF NAMIBIA Written for the tenth anniversary of the massacre at Kassinga by John Evenson, Namibia Communications Centre

Thursday, May 4, 1978. Kassinga, a refugee camp in southern Angola. The Namibians were going about their daily tasks. Clothes were being washed, food prepared, young people were involved in their lessons. They had fled the oppression of the South African Army in their country and felt safe here, far from the brutality of Pretoria.

Suddenly, out of the skies came the helicopters, landing a force of 200 paratroopers. The few guards were soon overwhelmed. The South Africa army went on shooting and shooting and shooting, killing 612 people. The cold statistics of the massacre of Kassinga, as it has since become known, were: 147 unarmed male civilians, 167 women, 298 children. Others, perhaps as many as 100, perished unaccounted for in th.e bush. Many died from a single shot in the back of the neck. The fact that only 12 SW APO soldiers were killed in the operation indicates that Kassinga was not, as South Africa later claimed, a military base.

A further 611 refugees were wounded in this methodical destruction of a community. Before pulling out, the South Africans mined the approach roads to ensure that medical help would be long delayed. South Africa took some 200 survivors, all non-combatants, as prisoners of war, imprisoning them illegally U1 a secret army camp in Mariental, southern Namibia. They were released six years later, but only after an urgent court application brought by the bishops of the main Christian churches and relatives of the detainees.

For racist South Africans, Kassinga has entered the pantheon of heroic achievements of their army, a great victory over thousands of SW APO "Terrorists." It was called "Operation Reindeer," one of several murderous military expeditions, aimed at wiping out Namibians in exile. When accurate foreign reports did filter back, the

SADF hastened to explain that "in the trenches, alongside the guerillas, were women in terrorist uniforms. The paratroopers could not afford to take chances and the women were also killed."

But in the tightly-knit communities of Namibia and the refugee camps of Angola and Zambia, May 4, Kassinga Day, is a time for deep mourning. In their homes and churches the Namibians remember their loved ones, killed at Kassinga by the soldiers of white-ruled South Africa.

(Introduction to The Day the Soldiers Came: The Story of Namibia. FM reprint of story's full text, contact our office.)

This Issue: • Namibia Sunday May 4

• Oshakati Bomb Blast

• Namibian Students at School of Mines

• New Resources

• Calendar of Events

EDITORIAL

CLOSER TO HOME

"On November 29, 1987, Tawana Brawley, a sixteen year old black woman, was found partially nude and curled into a fetal position of terror inside a plastic garbage bag. She was covered with human excretement, a racist emblem burned into her breasts with charcoal. The police were slow in responding, but now say that the girl had been abducted by six white men, one of whom had shown her a police badge to get her into a car after she had visited a prisoner in the nearby jail."

"Yvonne Smallwood, a 28-year-old black mother of 4, died on December 9, 1987 from injuries sustained during a violent confrontation with police. Smallwood was arrested for what the police said was interfering with their questioning of her boyfriend. She was injured and taken to a hospital. Police waited for several hours while she was treated, and then took her to jail where she was, witnesses say, beaten and kicked while she was being booked. She died a few days later of complications from a massive blood clot in her leg that her attorneys say was brought about from kicking by the police."

More atrocity reports from Namibia? No! Not on your life. Tawana lives in Wappingers Falls, New York. Yvonne lived in the Bronx, New York.

The new vicious wave of racism sweeping our country is not only evidence of renewed and growing Neo-Nazi and KKK activity, it is evidence of the fact that we live in a racist society.

This may sound harsh and abrasive to us, for it is. It is offensive .... But not just to our ears-to the lives of millions in South Africa and Namibia and also here, closer to home. We have the illness too. Living in South Africa taught me just how racist our country is.

I am a racist. You, if you are white, are racist. My parents certainly didn't raise me to be racist. But I am, nevertheless. We are all racist. It does no more good to de~y it than it would to deny a problem with alcohol. Better to name it, face it and begin to work on it.

The challenge to us is to recognize the connections between what happens in Namibia and in our own com­munities. Many have said that if the oppressed in Namibia and South Africa were white, the United States would long ago have invaded and "liberated" them. Think about it. What is presently killing the peo­ple of Namibia and denying their freedom is white U.S. foreign policy and white European and North American greed.

May you and I pray to God to be converted again and again, every day, from our racism. And may our God who liberated Israel from bondage, come also now to liberate us all from the bondage of racism so that a just freedom may come soon to Namibia.

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LETTER FROM HOME FROM MTULENIS

Julius and Josephine Mtuleni and their children studied at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque. Many of you had the opportunity to meet and get to know them. They have now returned to Namibia where Julius is working with Bishop Dumeni in the church headquarters in the northern war zone. Following is a portion of their Christmas letter to U.S. friends:

"We wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year. We hope that as usual you are looking forward to meeting the Christ baby and to hearing the blessed message from the manger.

"We are in the same boat except that our boat is filled with fear and doubt. Not every Church will light a candle on Christmas Eve. We ask therefore that when you light yours in your family or Church, light the other one for us.

"Josephine may have some schooling in December at the hospital leading to her employment there. That makes our family feel good and secure financially. For those who morally and financially supported us we thank you very much. Your prayers are being heard. That is why we could survive. This time of the year is the war activities season. Yesterday four men have died of a land· mine. They were riding in the same car. The recent SA raid into Angola has cost many lives, most of them being black soldiers fighting in the SA army. Hundreds are being recruited already to take their places.

"In this Advent Sunday I am invited to preach at my former parish Lk 10:23, 24. I hope to preach to at least 700 people. I will mention your names and churches to my people. We really appreciate the life sharing of your hospitality. Grace and peace is indeed yours in Christ Jesus our Lord."

NAMIBIA NEWSLETTER is published quarterly by National Namibia Concerns (NNC),

915 East 9th Avenue Denver, Colorado 80218

(303) 830-2774 National Namibia Concerns is an education/ advocacy network working with the Namibian churches for a just independence for the people of Namibia. Editor:

Exec. Director:

Board President:

Susan Burchfield NNC Interim Director Solveig Kjeseth On sabbatical in Zimbabwe Sue Wolfe

Call to Prayer and Solidarity

"Crucifixion" by Namibian Artist John Muafangejo

With the People of Namibia

Prayer and Action for Namibia The suffering of the Namibian people has been intense for more than 100 years under colonial rule, first under the Gennans and now under the illegal occupation of South Africa. 1988 marks the tenth anniversary of a time of great hope and a tragedy of great sorrow.

In 1978 U.N. Security Council Resolution 435 called for South African withdrawL UN supervised elections and independence for Namibia. However, on May 4, 1978, South African forces attacked a Namibian refugee camp in Angola called Kassinga, killing over 600 people-mostly women and children.

Today, ten years after the Kassinga Massacre, South Africa continues its war, illegal occupation and reign of terror over the Namibian people. In 1988 South Africa, backed by U.S. foreign policy, still refuses to implement UN Res. 435.

The Christian Church ofNamibia. representing more than 75% of the population, plays a courageous role in the struggle for freedom. As a result. church leaders are detained, tortured and killed: church buildings. offices, printing presses and schools are bombed; worship services are disrupted by soldiers; worshippers are killed by landmines on their way to church. And yet they continue to hope.

"When one member of the family suffers, all suffer." I Cor. 12

Let us therefore join with our Namibian sisters and brothers by praying and working with them for God's freedom and justice, healing and light to come now to Namibia.

- pray for the people and the churches in Namibia - learn about their struggle. contact:

National Namibia Concerns 915 East 9th Ave .. Denver, CO 80218

- urge the U.S. government to insist on immediate South African withdraw!, free elections and independence for Namibia under the provisions of UN Resolution 435, without preconditions.

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A Call to Prayer and Solidarity with the People of Namibia

On the tenth anniversary of the Kassin.ga Massacre, you are invited to join in prayer and action with Christians around the world for a just freedom for the people of Namibia.

The call for an International Day of Prayer for Namibia was made at the Lusaka Meeting in May, 1987 (sponsored by World Council of Churches) which brought together church leaders and liberation movements in southern Africa.

The Council of Churches in Namibia (made up of Lutheran. Anglican. Roman Catholic. Methodist and African Methodist Episcopal churches) has called to its sister churches in the U.SA. .. to observe 4 May 1988 as a day of prayers for repentance, justice and peace in Namibia; and to make representation to the president of the U.SA not to continue to thwart implementation of U.N.S.C.R 435:·

"We are in a sea of tears here, we are crying and now the tears have become a river . . . and we need someone to rescue us." ·

-Lutheran Bishop Kleopas Dumeni, following a bomb blast that killed 26

Plan to set aside a Sunday for prayer and solidarity with the people of Namibia. Consider the following:

I . Organize a special offering of letters a. in support of the churches in Namibia. Send care of: Council of Churches in Namibia. P.O. Box 41.

Winhoek 9000, NAMlBIA b. urging immediate implementation of U.N.S.C.R. 435. Write to Congress and to the President.

2 Plan a special adult/youth forum or series on Namibia. Resources. films and videos available through National Namibia Concerns.

3. Include the following petitions in your prayers:

Let us pray for God's children in Namibia, the saints who have died in the struggle for freedom. and those who today seek to be faithful to God's liberating word. May justice and peace come soon to Namibia.

Let us pray for the refugees in Angola and Zambia. for the Namibians in prisons. and for all who suffer the loneliness of exile. We remember especially this day, the victims of the Kassinga Massacre and their families. Lord. who bas promised to gather the scattered ones. bring them home again to a safe and free Namibia.

Let us pray for the congregations of the church in Namibia, for people who continue to worship even though services are disrupted and churches are surrounded by tanks and soldiers. May they continue to hope in you.

Let us pray for the oppressors. for those who are themselves imprisoned by the bonds of racism, hatred and fear. May we also repent of our racism. and may our government repent of its silent support of the opressors. and move to act in the cause of justice and freedom.

BULLETIN INSERT The copy of the opposite side of this page may be duplicated. Run it on both sides of81/2 x II sheets with the same edge at the top of the copy. Then cut

NNC COLLECTS 35,000 KEYS Through the efforts of members of National Namibia Concerns over 35,000 keys were collected and added to those of other anti-apartheid groups either at local S.A. Consulates or nationally in New York on October 13 and in Washington, D.C. on December 15. Congratulations to all of us on our combined efforts! Through your efforts, attention was focused once again on detentions and torture in Namibia and South Africa. On December 15, keys were dumped at the S.A. Embassy in Washington, D.C. Civil disobedience was part of the day's actions where 15 activists from around the country were arrested.

News of the U.S. campaign reached southern Africa where it was carried by the independent newspapers and was a source of hope that people in the U.S. had not forgotten their plight. In our Denver office we received hundreds of letters with single keys and huge boxes of hundreds of keys collected in congregations and colleges .... even a box of 2,200 keys from Kenmore High in Akron, Ohio. As we counted all these strange and different looking keys, and hand carried or sent them on, we were moved by your words and efforts. Let us pray that South Africa will be as well. Thank you for your efforts! ! ! Many of you wrote remarkable letters to send with your keys. Following are excerpts from only a very few of the letters: "Dear President Botha,

I have no children and see the future of the world through other's children. To hear that there are children jailEd for improving the world frightens me. Please release those jailed for their efforts to improve their lives through removing apartheid." "Dear President Botha,

We are sending you 570 keys fram our church, and are asking you to "Unlock Apartheid's jails." What you are doing to black people in your co1mtry is not right! And please give Namibia their independence. "

"President Botha, I ask you to end South Africa's illegal occupation of

Namibia and allow UN sanctioned elections."

''President &tha, As Christians, we believe that God had created all people

for diversity and with equal importance regardless of the color of tluir skin, loving them all and calling us to love our neighbor whoever they may be.

Cerlllinly the attitutk displayed toward those in both Namibia and South Africa has been less than loving and equal. With that in mind, we bring this request and these keys before you. "

"President &tha, Here are our keys. We urge the withdrawal of South

Africa from its illegal occupation of Namibia and the immediate impletnentation of U.N. supervised elections for a free and itulependent Namibia. " "President &tha,

South Africa is this place where the word freedom is rtol used. Something has got to give and its your turn this time!"

"President &tha: I am sending you a key. Use it symbolically to unlock the

emotions of your heart. Somewhere in your heart you must feel that all people, regardless of skin color, have God-given rights that earthly governments have no authority to take away. After you let your heart have the chance to speak to you ... Unlock Apartheid's ]ails and free all detainees and political prisoners. "

"To the Government of South Africa, Let this key symbolize the unlocking of jails where people

are kept unjustly. Let it symbolize the unlocking of hearts so South Africa can be a nation where all humans, of all colors, have equal rights. "

Unlock Apartheid's ]ails Demonstration in Washington, D. C. Holding postcard: Gay McDougall-Dir., S.A. Project of Lawyers Comm. for Civil Rights. Right: Jennifer Davis, Ex. Dir., American Committee on Africa (initiators of project)

Photo by Rick Reinhard, Impact Visuals 5

"WE ARE MASSACRED" -BOMB BLAST AT OSHAKATI Compiled from J ohn E venson, Namibia Communications Cen t re s to ries and phone interviews to Namibia

"We are massacred!" Gwandjokwe (Selma) Shejavali exclaimed by phone from Windhoek. On February 19 a huge bomb blast killed 27 (as we go to press) and wounded 65 others at the bank in Oshakati in the northern war zone in Namibia. The bomb blast is the worst single incident of terrorism inside Namibia in 22 years. Among the wounded is Bishop Dumeni's youngest daughter, 18 year old Kandaha, with 60o/o of her body burned. Among those killed was Ndamomo Shanghala, head nurse at Oshakati Hospital. Many of us knew Ndamono who studied wilh her husband, Rev. Josaphat Shanghala, in Columbus, Ohio, (Josaphat at Trinity Seminary) {rom 1983-85.

Bishop Dumeni reports that aU the conmmnilies near Oshakati have been affected by the bombing. "We are in a sea of tears here. we are crying and now the tears have becumc a river .... and we need someone to rescue us." A mass funeral was held on February 27 in Ongwediva.

''We are in a sea of tears here, we are crying and now the tears have become a river. . . .and we need someone to rescue us."

South Africa immediately blamed SW APO, the Namibian liberation movement, for the bombing, and launched so­called retaliatory raids on SW APO bases in Angola. S W APO has denied responsibility. SW APO has clain1ed responsibility for bombings in the past. But those explo­sions were timed to go off outside working hours, and resulted in no deaths.

Many Namibians are convinced the bombing was the act of a South African "agent provocateur," noting that in the past Pretoria's soldiers have planted bombs at hospitals, churches, post offices and other civilian areas as part of their efforts to discredit SWAPO. "We, the people, know that SW APO did not do this thing," is a common refrain.

According to a Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) state­ment, "We are aware that the two warring parties are accusing each other of being responsible for this deed. We urge that an independent judicial investigation be initiated to ascertain who the culprits are and to bring them speedily to book. We have on record a history of similar deeds in· eluding two unexploded bombs at Onandjokwe Hospital, student centre at Ongwediva, the bomb blast which on two occasions have totally destroyed the buildings housing the printing presses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Oniipa and most recent1y the destruction of the Roman Catholic Church at Omuulkila. In none of these instances have the perpetrators of these crimes been apprehended." (j

From an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) statement: ''The ELCIN strongly condemns this diabolic deed. [t has been noted that most of the people involved in this tragedy are from the medical profession. This seems to indicate that there is a calculated plan to paralyze the service of the Department of Health in the region. . . . Though the South African government denies its involve­ment in the incident, the ELCIN feels that South Africa has a part in this act in either a direct or indirect way.

In their statements both the CCN and ELCIN referred to 1988 as the tenth anniversary of the Kassinga Massacre and U.N. Security Council Resolution 435 calling for S.A. withdrawal and U.N. supervise'd elections for Namibia. They called for the World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation and Roman Catholic Church to intervene and "to make representation through member churches in the U.S.A. to the President of the U.S.A. not to continue to thwart implementation of UNSCR 435 ... and to observe 4th May 1988 as a day of prayers for repentance, justice and peace in Namibia."

Update on BOMB BLAST, page 12

josajJ/wl mul Nda IIW!W Slw11glwla. Nda mono teas killed IJy 1/u• bom/J blast.

PLEASE NOTE

National Namibia Concerns has a new mailing address:

National Namibia Concerns 915 East 9th Avenue

Denver, Colorado 80218

Our phone number remains the same (303) 830-2774

OSHAKATI ACTION ALERT

P LEASE tak e a few minutes right now to w rite a le tter to Namibia. Our sisters and brothers in Namibia need to know we are with them during this time. It is difficult to remain hopeful in the midst of such terrorism. Write to the families of the Oshakati victims and to the whole church in the north, care/of:

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia Pnvate Bag 2018 Ondangwa 9000

NAMIBIA

Respond to the pleas of the Council of Churches in Namibia. Write to your congress p eople urging the immedia t e i mple m e ntation of UNSCR 4 3 5 without preconditions. Do it today! Co-sponsors are still needed for Senate Resolution 254 and House Resolu­tion 131. Among other provisions, they condemn U .S./South African insistence on removal of Cuban troops irom Angola as a pre-condition for Namibian independence. See October and December, 1987 Newsletters for details or contact our office at 303/830-2774.

NAMIBIANS ST UDY AT COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES

Abisai Matali, Erasmus Shivolo, Kennedy Hamutenya and Eliphas Hawala are students at the Colorado School of Mines. They received high school education together in exile in the Cameroon through U.N. sponsorship, returned to assist in refugee camps in Angola and Zaire, then made their way to the U.S. to study at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and now at Golden, Colorado. We have been enjoying their regular visits to the NNC office, only one half hour away. Following are excerpts from an interview article written by Brian Brandt, graduate student at University of Iowa.

"If," I asked, "you could tell the world only one thing, what would it be?" Together they said, "tell them about the situa­tion back home. We must get people to understand what is happening in Namibia." "There is talk of South Africa," said Kennedy, "but no mention of Namibia. Americans must understand that there is unknown suffering."

Though Namibia is half the globe away, my friend insisted that Americans can help end apartheid there. "Keep the issue alive," said Abisai, "and press the U.S. Government to support UN 435." UN Security Council Resolution 435 is a household word among Namibians, wherever they live. It will take a coordinated international effort to convince South Africa to end its illegal occupation of Namibia and implement UN 435, explained Erasmus. "The key to the effort," he said, "is sanctions-comprehensive, mandatory economic sanctions."

The abundance of certain resources in Namibia-particular­ly gold, diamonds, uranium and copper-explains the

presence of these four students at the Colorado School of Mines. Even after independence, Namibia will depend on mines for a large portion of its gross national product. Thus, Eliphas explained, "we have come to the School of Mines through U.N.-administered educational programs. If there are no engineers, we will have no ability to manage the mines, or to avoid future exploitation by the multi-national corporations which presently run them."

When they have completed their degrees, Erasmus, Abisai, Kennedy and Eliphas will return to southern Africa to teach college-level courses to Namibian refugees at institutions of higher education in the frontline states. While they cannot return to teach in Namibia until after independence, they surely will teach Namibians now so that their homeland might flourish after independence. Through such dedica­tion, Nan1ibians are building a core of leaders able to run the country well once independence comes.

Left to right, back row: Abisai Matali, Erasmus Shivolo, Susan Burchfield. Front row: Brian Brandt, Kennedy Hamutenya, Eliphas Hawak1 (reading The Namibian outside the NNC Office)

Photo by Solveig Kjeseth

NNC MEMBERS MAKE TIME MAGAZINE

In Iowa, Namibia advocates organized for the February 8 Caucuses. They asked candidates tough questions on Namibia and southern Africa. T heir questions were heard even by Time magazine. A lead article in the February 18 Time about Iowans and the presendential campaign said the following: "Myth: Iowans are not quite bumpkins, but they are a tad unsophisticated. Nonsense. Small town voters routinely ask probing ques­tions about esoteric topics like Namibia." Way to go Iowa! ! ! I (Even if Time did call Namibia "esoteric.")

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

CRYfRUOOM Film review written in December, 1987, by NNC Board President Sue Wolfe.

CRY FREEDOM-Movie directed by Richard Atten· borough. starring Denzel Washington and Kevin Kline.

This is a movie that all of us who have been active in anti· apartheid issues must see. Even more, thjs is THE film to recommend to your friends and family who haven't figured out what you're talking about when you go into your "can you believe the South Africa government. .. " speech.

It is the story of Steve Biko and Donald Woods. Woods is the white newspaper editor befriended by Biko. It is his story as well and for tbjs reason some people have been· critical of it. However, the reviews have all srud one thing-it is POWERFUL! For what its worth, my feeling after seeing the movie was that "powerful'' is a huge understatement.

Attenborough, the film's director (of Ghanili fame) presents well the South African situation. The film has not been a big box office hit, which, with all the silliness that is released in Hollywood around Christmas does not come as a surprise. It has shown in a few theatres around the country, but will be released nationwide in February.

Don't miss this movie! Charles Champlin of the L.A. Times said "Cry Freedom'' can be seen, not because jt is good for you. like a distasteful tonic rich in cod liver oil but because it is a passionate piece of film making, bold, exciting and enlarging.''

The film is expected to win av .. ·ards-if you don't live near Hollywood that may not be important to you. But if you are a citizen of the world that is working to stop the killing in South Africa and Namibia. this film lS important!

Additional edilon·at commet1l:

Originally released in 1987, Cry Freedom has now been re·released across the country. We highly recommend it. Cry Freedom has been criticized for centering too much on the story of white newspaper editor Donald Woods. On the contrary, it is highly appropriate for a North American audience to be moved by the story of how a white racist was changed (not cured), never to be the same again.

Although the story takes place in Soulh Africa and not Namibia, it is still important to see. Casspirs (tank-like).

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police shooting tear gas and bullets, detention and torture look the same whether done by S.A. Police in S.A. or by S.A. puppets and S.A. Defense Force in Namjbia.

Please consider going to this film as a group, following up with dessert and discussion. Free ruscussion guides for Cry Freedom available from our office.

Donald Woods' books and Steve Biko's own book (pub· lished posthumously), I Write What I Like are available at major bookstores.

NEW NAMIBIAN NOVEL -BORN OF THE SUN

Born of the Sun is a novel about Namibia written by joseph B. Diescho, a native Namjbian and doctoral candidate in inlernatjonal economics at Columbia Universi­ty, New York City. ll is the first of its kind to be written about Namibia by a Namibian! Born of the Sun is to be published in Spring, 1988, by Friendship Press (475 River· side Drive, NY, NY 10115). Friendship Press hopes lo have the book ready for the May conferences on Namibia (see "Coming Events" for details). joseph Diescho will be one of the speakers at the Mad1son conference. Born of the Sun w11l be available through the NNC office after its publica· tion.

Following are some comments on the new novel:

"This Michener·type novel, skillfully brings together lhe social, economic, political, racist and religious factors which conspire to oppress the Namibian people. The agony por· trayed all but consumes persons who are torn between crucial assistance to contemporary families at home and an engagement in armed struggle for future liberation." -Edward C. May, Former Director, Lutheran World

Mirustries

" Born of the Sun" is a fictionalized reality of the painful history of the Namibian people as they have suffered at the hands of those who invaded their country and set out to crush them through various laws and institutional arrangements.

Only we Namjbians can write our own history in a way that will make this history truly ours and rid it of the distortions, bias and prejudice ... .I commend strongly this novel. Many of us in the liberation struggle in Africa are bound to see ourselves in this moving and passionate story. This is a storv about us." -H~lmut Angula, SWAPO Delegation to the Unitecl States.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Stephen Biko Quotes from Cr y Fr eedom:

Stephen Biko (to Woods on their visit to the township): "No matter how dumb or how smart a white child is, he is born into that world. But you-a black child, smart or dumb-you are born into this; and smart or dumb you will die in it . .. n

Biko (to the crowd in the soccer field): "We must fill the black community with our own pride. We must teach our children black history. Tell them about our black heroes, our black culture, so they don't face the white man believing they are inferior. "

Biko (to the court): "We want the people to stop accepting their hardships, to confront them. People must not give in to the hard­ships of life. They must find a way even in this environment to develop hope, hope for themselves, hope for this country . .. "

NEW VIDEOS AVAILABLE

NNC is purchasing new videos to be available by April, including the following:

DESTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT Producer: Scope Films 52 minutes, 1987

This explosive documentary criss-crosses the Front Line States-Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and Angola-in an investigation of South Africa's regional war. For the past several years South Africa has been directing terrorist attacks, surrogate armies and outright invasions in a destabilization campaign to keep black Africa at bay. We learn, for example, how the South African Defense Force works side by side with the U.S. supported UNIT A rebels. Kenneth Kaunda, president of Zambia, and ANC President Oliver Tambo, wonder how much longer western policymakers will continue to cast a blind eye on the terror and destruction. This timely film will help Americans determine the answer.

CHILDREN OF APARTHEID Producer: CBS Television 52 minutes, 1987 Walter Cronkite hosts this compelling CBS Reports piece on young people in South Africa today. Interviews with black and white youth, including Zinzi Mandela and Roxanne Botha, daughters of imprisoned ANC leader Nelson Mandela and President P.W. Botha, highlight the program. It is a look at the country's troubled present and those who will shape its future.

GIRLS APART Produced by Sheppard & Sauvageot 40 minutes, 1987 Girls Apart is the story of two sixteen-year-old schoolgirls, one black, one white Afrikaaner. Sylvia lives in the black township of Soweto, Sisca lives 15 miles away in a white suburb of Johannesburg. Sisca and Sylvia have never met. Nor, under the present system, are they likely to. Their worlds, like their views of the world, are poles apart. Each of them takes us on a guided tour of the South Africa she knows, introducing us to her home and family, communities and churches, and share with us their hopes and fears. While Sylvia tells the story of her detention and torture, Sisca justifies her lack of interest in politics. Each explains why she believes she must fight for the future she wants; inevitably, it seems, against the other. Although the scene is South Africa-it could be Namibia as well.

WOZAALBERT Producer: David Thompson, BBC 55 minutes, 1982

W oza Albert! is an international hit play written and performed by two black South Africans. It is based on an ironic premise: what would happen if Jesus Christ returned to the self-proclaimed Christian country of South Africa? The play is at once riotously funny and deeply moving, and recreates the rhythms, smells and sounds of the black townships. We can feel the humilia­tion of having to sell oneself to a white employer for the lowest wage, the terror of being caught without a pass, the resiliency and humor which help blacks continue the fight for justice.

Black South Africans and Namibians make these documentaries at great risk to their lives. A black South African teenager who appeared in the film, Children of Apartheid, Godfrey Sicelo Dhlomo, 18, alleging that he had been tortured by police was found shot to death January 27, 1988-five days after being questioned by authorities about the film interview. He was found shot in the head near his grandmother's home in Soweto. His mother said he had been hiding from the police "because they said they would kill him."

Dr. Fabian Ribiero (who appeared in Witness t o Apartheid) and his wife were gunned down at their home on December 1, 1986, a few months after making the film. We give thanks for the lives of the Ribieros and Dhlomos who are willing to risk their lives to tell the story to the outside world.

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April 7-9

May 1

May 4

May 1-4

May 4-5

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WHAT'S HAPPENING COMING EVENTS

"SOUTHERN AFRICA: THE CRISIS DEEPENS, THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES" The 2nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium on Southern Africa Place: Washington, D.C. Sponsored by:

Washington Office on Africa 110 Maryland A venue, Suite 112 Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 546-7961 for information

NAMIBIA SUNDAY

lOTH ANNIVERSARY OF KASSINGA MASSACRE World Day of Prayer for a Free Namibia Called by World Council of Churches

SPECIAL HEARINGS O N NAMIBIA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Sponsored by World Council of Churches, featuring Namibian and other international guests. For mfor­mation contact: Washington Office on Africa-(202) 546-7961

" CRIES OF ANGUISH, VOICES OF HOPE" Wisconsin Conference on South Africa and Namibia Place: Madison, Wisconsin Keynote: Bishop Desmond Tutu Program: Speakers. panel, work-

shops, film festival, worship, advocacy education

Sponsors: Wisconsin Synods & Division for Global Mission-Evang. Lutheran Church in America; Wisconsin Council of Churches; National Namibia Concerns

Cost: $55 incl. registration, housing and evening meal (Also-advance, student ancl commuter rates)

For information contact: Sue Larson 608/837-6093 Bonnie Yo~~ - 608/222-9779

May 7 NAMIBIA CONFERENCE Place: Cleveland, Ohio Keynote: Anglican Bishop James Kauluma of Namibia Focus: U.S. Foreign Policy and

"Cuban Linkage" as a precondition for Namibia's independence

Program: Speakers, panel, work-shops, films, strategizing and networking for action

Sponsors: Local ecumenical group, National Namibia Concerns, Washington Office on Africa

For more information contact: David Kukelhan - 216/696-2714 National Namibia Concerns -303/830-2774

CHARLES VILLA-VICENCIO TO DO HEIN LECTURES

Guest speaker for the annual Hein Lectures in April of 1988 to be held at Wartburg, Luther-Northwestern and Trinity T heological Seminaries will be South African theologian Charles Villa-Vicencio. Villa-Vicencio is Associate Professor in Religious Studies at the Universi­ty of Cape Town. lie is co-author with John de Gruchy of Apartheid is a Heresy and Resistance and Hope. He has just published a new book, Between Christ and Caesar: Classic and Contemporary T exts on Church and State . Contact the seminaries for exact dates and information.

COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Pacific Lutheran University, University of Iowa, and Valparaiso have all just finished special Namibia emphases during February which included film festivals, letter writing campaigns, speakers and fund raising. Watch for reports in our next issue. Colleges interested in planning special events for fall, try networking with PLU, Valpo and U of I for ideas; and call National Namibia Concerns for resources and assistance. If you are privileged to have Namibian students on campus, plan with them how the campus might learn about Namibia while they are studying with you-you already have the best resource possible with you in person!

SEATTLE COALITION PROTESTS NAMIBIAN URANIUM SHIPMENTS

-Report from NNC member Gary Nelson

Coalition Against South African Trade (CAST) formed in Seattle in summer, 1987, was sparked by the discovery that Namibian and South African uranium was coming through the Port of Seattle to be enriched at Hanford, and then shipped to Asian countries. This violated 197 4 UNCN Decree #1 (prohibiting taking Namibia's resources prior to independence) as well as the U.S. 1986 Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act. Union activists (primarily longshore) and environmentalists combined forces with student, church and community anti­apartheid people in cooperation with the Namibia Sup­port Committee in London to organize against the shipments.

The uranium shipments stopped soon after our group was formed, reports Gary Nelson of Seattle. The shipments now seem to be coming to the east coast and are trucked across country to Hanford (in Washington).

Thanks to Gary for the report. If your local group or con­gregation has a project, please send us some information and a picture. We get daily requests for idea suggestions, and also like to share ideas through the newsletter.

CONGREGATION TAKES UP CAUSE OF POLITICAL DETAINEE

Members of First Lutheran in St. Peter, Minnesota, recently called the NNC Office to obtain the name of a political detainee in Namibia that they could " adopt" in order to write letters on his behalf and letters of support to the family. What a great idea! Unfortunately, there are

many detainees in Namibia who are imprisoned for political reasons. We know that our letters do make a dif­ference. Why not consider having your congregation or group act similarly?

SPRING CONFERENCES ON NAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

Conferences on Namibia and southern Africa will be held in Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Ohio, and Madison, Wisconsin, this spring (see Calendar of Events for infor­mation). Although it will be difficult for many of you to travel to attend, why not consider pooling resources and sending a representative. Congregations, groups and synnodical task forces could consider sponsoring one per­son to attend to be updated, make contacts, get new ideas, learn about new resources, be energized and then return to share with the whole group. Why not?

New Resource!

WORKING FOR JUSfiCE: A 1988 Directory if Lutheran Ministries

e A listing and description of 50 Lutheran-afftlialed groups, organizations, networks. agencies, coalitions, projects, and programs that arc oriented towards justice concerns.

e Includes a wide variety of local, regional and national ministries, including official programs of the ELCA as well as independent, edge-of-the-church grassroots ministries.

• An important resource for church agencies, congreganons, and individuals within the Lutheran community.

• A publication of the Justice Networ!c jn the . . Lutheran Church CJNLO, of network of orgaruzauons gathered together to ensure that justice is central to the life and mission of the Lutheran Church.

• Cost: $2.50 each (postage included)

0 Send me _ copies of Working for Justice: A Directory of Lutheran Ministries. I've enclosed $2.50 for each copy, totalling $'-----~

Ill'

Please mail to: JNLC. 1100 E. 55th St, Chicago. lL 60615

77

KJ ESETHS IN NAMIBIA As we go to press Soh·cig, Peter, £ric and Peeler Kjesetb ha,·e just caUcd from their sabbatical home in Harate Zimbabwe, ha,;n.g just spent two weeks in Namibia. Reac:tin(j: to their time in Namibia, Solvcig said they found the country e'•en more beautiful. the situation more vicious, the struggle more intense and the people more extraordinary and courageous than they had ever imagined. Watch for a special report in our next news· letter!

Addres:~ through August:

24 Do14•nie Avenue Belgtavia Ha.-are

ZIMBABWE Home Phone: Country Code: 263

City Code: 4 Numbec: 733573

ANNA DUMENI DIES OF BOMB BLAST WOUNDS

-John Evenson, Namibia Communications Centre

1'be 18 )'tar old daughter of Bishop and Mrs. Kleopa.c1 Dumcni died on March 5. the twcnty·stwcnth fatality

12

National Namibia Concerns

915 East 9th Avenue

DenveT, Colorado 80218

(303) 830·2774

from the bomb that destroyed the F'irst Nationnl Bank. Obakati, on February 19 (story inside on page 6). Mis& Anna Ndahambtle Du.mtni, the youngest daughter of the leader of the Evangelical LutWan Church in Namibia (El.Cl N), had suffered &om burns over &ixty ]X':rctnt of her body, including her !ace and eyes. Miss Owncni, who y:as known to her friends as Kandaha. had bt~n head prefect at Oshigambo Lutheran High School (where Usko Shivute ls teacher) and was awaiting a $Chobrship to continue her studies in uniVC"nity.

This is the third tragedy to hit the Dumcni family in the past year. Bishop Dumeni's brother, Josef. was killed by South African soldiers last June when returning from Angola with unle that had been st.ole~ !rom his !a~. The Dumeni's thitd son, Leonard, d1ed .nan automobile accident in October, 1987.

ln his sermon to more than five thousand mourners at the February 27 funeral for 16 of the victims of the explo­sion. Bishop Oumeni laid the blame at South Africa's doorstep, declaring that South Mrica's refusal to grant iftdependence to Namibia was the cause of tbe bomb ex· plosion.

"We have here 16 coffins in which those who have lo$t their Jives followed those thoo!!ands who have also given up their lives for the freedom of our country, Namibia," saKI the bishop. ••They are fighters who have left torture and killing and have t:ntered the land of the livmg .. .for Jesus said, whot.,.er believes in m~ wiU ljv(',"