On 1 April a new law, the *Regulation of Residence of Certain Persons in South West Africa Act*, came into force in Namibia. It empowers the MPC administration to ban and deport aliens - including South Africans - and requires anyone visiting the territory for more than 30 days to obtain a permit or face up to a year in prison. South African government officials as well as military and police personnel are exempt. (WA 1.4.86; NCC 8.4.86)
The law replaces and strengthens the powers of previous regulations, including Ordinance 12 of 1970. This required people classified in apartheid terms as Indian or Coloured to obtain a permit prior to entry into Namibia. Saths COOPER, a leader of the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO), was detained and deported to South Africa in February under the regulation. (WM 14.2.86; Nam 27.3.86)
Less than two weeks after the new law came into force it was used to deport to South Africa three members of 'Action Workshop', a community drama group from Cape Town. The group was prevented from putting on a scheduled performance, given an hour to gather their belongings and escorted to the South African border by Security Police. The three were accused by the MPC administration of being 'a threat to the security of the state'. In May the law was used to prevent the entry to Namibia of Frank CHIKANE, a South African UDF leader. The MPC administration stated that in future it would not allow any South African to address 'political meetings' in the territory. (WA 14.4.86; BBC 28.5.86)
The authorities have prevented leading Namibians from travelling abroad by refusing them passports or delaying the issue of passports to prevent participation at international events. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Bonifatius Haushiku, was unable to attend a conference on Namibia in Brussels in May because he could not obtain a passport. (Nam 9.5.86; NCC 12.5.86)
