wfn.org | Churches in Botswana, Namibia commend governments' efforts

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

       to resolve border dispute
LWF support sought prior to International Court of Justice ruling

KEMPTON PARK, South Africa/GENEVA, 2 May 1999 (lwi) - The Botswana
Christian Council (BCC) and the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) have
commended their respective governments' support for church involvement in
addressing the need to formulate concrete plans for common initiatives to
promote peace, reconciliation and justice with regard to ongoing border
disputes and irritations between the two southern African countries.

In a communique and plan of action issued in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, at
the end of the joint BCC CCN meeting convened by the general secretary of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Ishmael Noko, from 14 to 16 April
1999, the councils also acknowledge their respective governments'
determination to have the long-standing border dispute resolved by
appointing a joint team of technical experts to identify the border, and
upon successful outcome of that initiative, by referring the matter to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ).

They hope that the anticipated decision of the ICJ could be received and
implemented, and other border disputes resolved, in such a way as to avoid
disruption of traditional lifestyles and to ensure continued harmony
between the peoples of both countries.

The recent meeting, dubbed "Kempton II", is a follow-up of a similar one
last year, "Kempton Park I", which was convened by the LWF in an attempt to
diffuse the border dispute between Namibia and Botswana. At that time,
delegates of the respective councils also had the opportunity to visit
together the site of the principal border dispute in the vicinity of the
Kasikili/Sedudu Island in River Chobe. (See lwi Nos.5/98 p. 2 & 7/98 p.6)

Discussions at "Kempton Park II" also focused on the recent flight of
refugees and asylum seekers from the Caprivi region of Namibia into
Botswana, and on the need for a durable solution both for the uprooted
individuals and communities, and for the peoples of that particular region
as part of the nation of Namibia.

Noting that the predominant church group in the Kasikili/Sedudu Island area
and elsewhere along the southern edge of the Caprivi region is the Seventh
Day Adventist (SDA) Church, the BCC and CCN seek to engage the SDA in using
various public media to welcome and express support for the commitment of
both governments to respect the decision of the ICJ with regard to the
ongoing border dispute.

The councils also request the LWF to convene another meeting of both church
bodies in Kasane, Botswana, prior to the expected time of the ICJ decision,
in order to jointly inspect the area's topography.

In consultation and cooperation with their respective member churches, the
SDA church and ministerial fraternities represented in the Caprivi region,
the BCC and CCN plan to conduct workshops for clergy in the area in a bid
to empower and encourage them to prepare the local communities for the
anticipated decision of the ICJ and sensitize them to the potential
implications and consequences of the court's decision.

On the situation of Namibian refugees and asylum-seekers in Botswana, the
respective church councils will invite the SDA church to lead a joint team
to visit the Dukwe camp in Botswana and also the refugees' place of origin
in order to gather firsthand information from the victims about the root
cause of their flight. The team will also examine the conditions for the
people's voluntary return, including stability, security and the attitude
of the local community.

In consultation with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), the SDA, other church groups and ministerial fraternities
represented in the Caprivi region, the BCC and CCN plan to accompany a
small number of the refugees/asylum seekers to their places of origin so
that this group upon return to Dukwe can tell the others in the camp about
their experience.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/