Namibian Parly discusses Botswana refugees fears

Tefo Pheage | Wednesday March 2, 2016 15:21

According to the news media in that country, Iivula-Ithana made this remark in a statement delivered in the Namibian National Assembly this week where she also rejected claims that the government would prosecute refugees who return home.

The Namibia government had agreed to accept the 732 refugees from Botswana by 31 December 2015.

Despite the agreement, a section of that group filed a court case on the eve of that deadline to stop the Government of Botswana from making them  leave the country.

 The court temporarily halted the deportation, which was a possibility after the Namibians’ refugee status expired on December 31.

The group’s legal representatives argued in court in January this year that “There is a concern that, once returned they will face prosecution for alleged political offences committed in Namibia prior to their fleeing to seek refuge in 1999”.

They further said the Namibian government was ‘a habitual violator’ of its obligations under the Refugee Convention, UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT).

The legal representatives of the group alleged that “there are instances of persecution. On 9 December 2015 some of the returnees were found guilty of treason, sedition and attempted murder, and sentenced to imprisonment”.

Iivula-Ithana rejected those claims and said Namibia is a democratic country governed by a Constitution.

“Those who participated in this act of violence would obviously stand to be prosecuted.

However, the majority of the 700-plus refugees in Botswana comprise young persons who left Namibia either very young or were even born in Botswana. What crime have such innocent persons committed?” she asked.

The court had ordered the Botswana Government to provide the applicants with a copy of the Tripartite Commission Report for the Go-and-See Come-and-Tell Mission of June 28 to July 4, 2015.

It further ruled that pending the written reasons to be made available on February 26, the respondents shall not deport the applicants. The case is still before the court.