By the end of the sixth week of the Namibian independence process, which was inaugurated on 1 April, none of the major provisions of the UN plan had been implemented according to schedule.
South African troops had not been confined to base nor reduced to 12,000, the South West Africa Territory Force (SWATF) and the Koevoet police unit had not been demobilised nor their command structures dismantled. Repressive and discriminatory legislation had not been repealed, and the return of refugees and the release of political prisoners and detainees had not begun.
Despite these violations of the timetable, a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Commission (JMC) with Angolan, South African and Cuban representatives, determined on 19 May that the plan should proceed. In the following three weeks, significant steps were taken to implement the UN plan. South African troops were confined to base and many were withdrawn, and on 6 June the first phase of the repeal of discriminatory legislation occurred.
Ceasefire breaks down In September last year SWAPO declared a unilateral ceasefire to prepare the way for the independence process, and its combatants inside Namibia ceased attacks. However, South African forces continued their patrolling and widespread intimidation of civilians in northern Namibia was reported. At 4 am on 1 April, with less than a quarter of the 4,650 UNTAG military personnel inside Namibia — and hardly any in the northern war zone — a ceasefire came into force between South Africa and SWAPO. South African and SWAPO forces were meant to be confined to base.
At 12 noon, a South African armoured column made contact with a group of combatants from SWAPO's People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). The PLAN fighters had told local people that they had no hostile intent and were seeking out UNTAG forces in order to be demobilised. According to eyewitnesses, the South Africans opened fire without warning.
In Windhoek the South Africans threatened to terminate the independence process and demanded that the UN authorise them to deploy their fighting units in northern Namibia. The UN Representative, Martti Ahtissari, consented, and for the following six weeks South African troops engaged in widespread killing of SWAPO combatants and civilians (see Namibia — the killing continues p.1).
SWAPO forces be withdrawn beyond the 16th parallel, about 160 kilometres into Angola, arguing that this was a provision of the tripartite agreement between Angola, South Africa and Cuba which preceded the implementation of the UN plan for Namibian independence.
CHRONOLOGY 1 April South African forces attack SWAPO fighters at Okahente; UN authorises deployment of six South African battalions 6 April South Africa claims 250 SWAPO combatants killed 8 April SWAPO orders its combatants to withdraw to Angola 9 April Mount Etjo agreement by Joint Monitoring Commission provides for UN assembly points for SWAPO combatants 11 April South African Administrator-General demands that SWAPO combatants at assembly points be interrogated 28 April Joint Monitoring Commission meeting in Cape Town gives South African forces 14 days to 'verify' SWAPO withdrawal 1 May Worker rallies throughout Namibia 4 May Kassinga Day rallies 10 May UN declares that its full military and police deployment is in place 15 May Joint Monitoring Commission meeting at Ruacana agrees that UN Plan should proceed; South African forces confined to base 18 May School boycotts begin 6 June First phase of repeal of repressive and discriminatory laws
SWAPO stated that the UN plan provided in its original formulation for PLAN forces to be confined to assembly points inside Namibia. Although South Africa later objected, and concrete plans were not drawn up, the original provisions were not superseded by any subsequent provisions, including the tripartite agreement. However, on 8 April SWAPO ordered its combatants to withdraw to Angola. Over the following month, more than a thousand combatants withdrew across the Angolan border. Although the UN attempted to set up assembly points for repatriation of combatants, South African troops surrounded them and the Administrator-General demanded that his forces be allowed to interrogate the combatants.
South African authorities claimed that 316 PLAN combatants were killed in the fighting, but the figure was disputed by SWAPO and local residents who said many of the dead were civilians. Captured combatants, held under Proclamation AG 9, were taken to Angola at the end of April. In a spontaneous demonstration of support, up to 5,000 cheering school children marched behind the UN vehicles taking the combatants to the border.
Elections While the deployment of South African troops led to what a UN representative called a 'dismaying' rise in intimidation, and delayed the implementation of the UN independence plan, some steps were taken in April and May to prepare for the elections scheduled for early November.
In terms of the UN plan, the South African Administrator-General (A-G), Louis Pienaar, is responsible for issuing electoral regulations and administering the process. However, his actions must have the approval of the UN Representative, and the UN will oversee the process and ensure that the election is free and fair.
In interviews during February and March the A-G said that he would be proposing an election on the basis of party lists, with candidates elected to the constituent assembly according to the percentage of votes their party obtained. The election would take place over four or five days during the first week of November following registration of voters starting in September. He estimated that 660 000 Namibians would register to vote, and proposed that the constituent assembly should consist of 72 elected representatives, who would be charged with drawing up a constitution and leading the country to independence. In terms of the UN plan, a two-thirds majority is needed to approve the constitution.
The A-G said that he intended to ban candidates and party officials from the vicinity of polling stations, and that South African personnel would supervise the voting, although the UN would monitor the procedure. His officials would 'assist' illiterate people to cast their votes, he said.
In late April a Draft Registration of Voters Proclamation was published by the A-G, setting out proposed procedures for registration. Earlier A-G proposals for a voting age of 21 and a residence qualification of only one year (see FOCUS 82 p.9) were dropped in favour of a qualifying age of 18 and residency of four years for people not born in Namibia. However, the draft proclamation was criticised for its failure to provide for adequate records of registration or the publication of the voters roll, and the fact that it did not specify the documentary proof needed for registration.
Experts commissioned in one study declared that the proclamation was 'incompatible with the goal of free and fair elections'. In a previous South African-controlled election in Namibia in 1978, there was widespread electoral fraud through false registrations, which could not be challenged because the electoral roll was not properly constituted. South African officials and military personnel in Namibia, as well as Angolans who are members of UNITA are expected to attempt to register. The commanding officer of one of the largest military units in Namibia, 91 SWA Brigade, called on his troops in April to register and vote, even if they had to travel back from South Africa for the purpose.
