Sibusiso Nxumalo
NAMIBIAN police are investigating whether a full- page advertisement in a Windhoek-based newspaper last month contravened the countrys Racial Discrimination Prohibition Act. A docket would be ready soon, according to Namibias attorney general, Hatmut Ruppel.
The advert — run on August 17, the anniversary of the birth of Nazi leader Rudolf Hess — described Hess as the last of the representatives of a better Germany and the deputy of the Fuhrer of the Greater Germany. It was placed in the daily Windhoek Advertiser.
The German ambassador in Namibia, Hans Shumacher, said this week he was disgusted that the newspaper had accepted the advertisement, which would have been illegal in Germany. He added that most Germans resident in Namibia supported his criticism of the paper.
About 60 to 70 Germans were signatories to a full- page advert in the local German paper, Allgemeine Zeitung, condemning the (Hess advertisement), said Shumacher. When approached to carry the offending piece, Allgemeine Zeitung had apparently refused.
A statement from the German embassy said there were a few neo-Nazi sympathisers who wanted to create the impression that Namibias 25 000 Germans shared their views. If the advert was found to be in contravention of the Namibian Act, the German government would seek to prosecute the individuals who are German nationals under German law. Said Shumacher: If the advert is found to be legal … we cannot prosecute them.
The Racial Discrimination Prohibition Act came under criticism recently when the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation was accused of having contravened it by broadcasting an interview in which a trade unionist questioned the loyalty of white policemen. The NBC has charged that the Act infringes the guaranteed freedoms of speech and media.
Shumacher said he felt the advertisement was an infringement of other peoples freedom.