PLAN fighters denounce splinter grouping
Former People’s Liberation of Namibia (PLAN) combatants have condemned a splinter group which intends to demonstrate with former members of the South West African Territorial Forces (SWATF) and Koevoet.
Spokesperson Bamba Nghipundua said there was no way former PLAN combatants would march in unison with the two other groupings.
“These people want to tarnish the name of PLAN. There is no way PLAN would demonstrate with SWATF and Koevoet fighters; they are here tarnishing things for no good reason.
“We have no intention of demonstrating against our own government,” he said.
Nghipundua added that an association has been established to fight for the demands of former PLAN combatants, saying other groupings are not recognised.
“We must differentiate between those people. We have an association that represents us as former PLAN combatants; there is no way we will demonstrate with Koevoet and SWATF. We will investigate this matter and report back officially,” he said.
‘Come and explain’
Members of the military units have 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 a united front against government’s alleged attempts to divide them.
He added that 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.”
The group will make its demands clear once government shows an interest in engaging them formally, he said.
They also voiced their intent to march to the residences of former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba as well as President Hage Geingob’s home at State House.
“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.
“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.”
Spokesperson Bamba Nghipundua said there was no way former PLAN combatants would march in unison with the two other groupings.
“These people want to tarnish the name of PLAN. There is no way PLAN would demonstrate with SWATF and Koevoet fighters; they are here tarnishing things for no good reason.
“We have no intention of demonstrating against our own government,” he said.
Nghipundua added that an association has been established to fight for the demands of former PLAN combatants, saying other groupings are not recognised.
“We must differentiate between those people. We have an association that represents us as former PLAN combatants; there is no way we will demonstrate with Koevoet and SWATF. We will investigate this matter and report back officially,” he said.
‘Come and explain’
Members of the military units have 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 a united front against government’s alleged attempts to divide them.
He added that 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.”
The group will make its demands clear once government shows an interest in engaging them formally, he said.
They also voiced their intent to march to the residences of former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba as well as President Hage Geingob’s home at State House.
“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.
“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.”
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