Defying a ban on meetings, more than sixty representatives of church, community, women's, youth and political organisations, as well as the liberation movement SWAPO, met in Windhoek on 29 and 30 April. They issued a declaration committing themselves to mobilise the Namibian people for independence under UN Resolution 435.
Their statement was called 'The Ai-Gams Declaration', Ai-gams being the pre-colonial term for Windhoek. In the statement the organisations rejected 'South Africa's continuing delaying tactics' and its refusal to implement the UN plan for Namibian independence as set out in Security Council Resolution 435. They condemned the attempt to 'link the independence of Namibia to issues which are totally extraneous, such as the withdrawal of the Cuban troops from Angola'. The organisations also rejected the Multi-Party Conference administration which the South African regime installed in Windhoek in June last year.
The declaration ended with a pledge by the signatories to 'embark on a campaign of positive action' to abolish the MPC administration, resist military conscription and bring about Namibian independence under Resolution 435. The declaration was signed by the Council of Churches in Namibia - which convened the conference - and all the major Namibian churches, seven political organisations including SWAPO, the Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), Namibia Women's Voice and the Young Women's Christian Association. (NCC 1.5.86)
In their various ways, the groups signatory to the Ai-Gams Declaration represent the overwhelming majority of the Namibian population. Their action shows the growing depth of support for SWAPO and the demand for the implementation of Resolution 435. According to Abisai Shejavali, the head of the Council of Churches, 'the readiness of all to work together has been one of the hallmarks' of the Ai-Gams process. (WA 30.4.86)
In an apparent effort to stop the meeting, as well as other events planned for May Day and Kassinga Day on 4 May, the authorities banned all but religious and sporting meetings in the Windhoek magisterial area from 30 April to 12 May. The ban was imposed under the South African Riotous Assemblies Act by the MPC administration. SWAPO meetings in Namibia are also restricted under the Prohibition and Notification of Meetings Act. (WA 30.4.86)
Security police forcibly prevented a May Day seminar organised by the SWAPO Youth League from taking place in Katutura and a strong police presence was maintained in the township. However, the police were unable to prevent an ecumenical commemorative service to mark Kassinga Day. The service was attended by about 400 people, many of them dressed in SWAPO colours and wearing black rosettes or other signs of mourning. A group of SWAPO supporters marched through the township after the service. A gathering also took place at the Academy for Tertiary Education, although the scheduled SWAPO speaker, Anton Lubowski, was prevented from speaking. (WA 2/5.5.86)
