Namibia's Vote on UN Genocide Resolution Shameful

 

Namibia's Vote on UN Genocide Resolution Shameful

Opinions - Editorials | 2021-05-21

OVER THE PAST week, Germany seems to have formally accepted responsibility for what's recorded as the first genocide of the 20th century, agreeing to apologise and pay reparations to Namibia. It should therefore be puzzling that during the same week the Namibian government decided not to support a United Nations resolution against genocide and war crimes. More so because many  countries massively backed Namibia's drive to end apartheid, which was also declared a crime against humanity.

On Monday, the Namibian government looked the other way as 115 other countries voted for the resolution: 'The responsibility to protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity'.

Some 15 countries among the 193 UN member states were recorded as voting against the anti-genocide resolution. 

Namibia's international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah gave what amounts to a flimsy excuse for why Namibia abstained.

“That is a very dangerous resolution. Powerful countries can always invade countries where there is unrest under the guise of the right to protect.”

She told The Namibian that the 'responsibility to protect' provides powerful countries the carte blanche to intervene in internal conflicts, as was the case in Libya.

Nandi-Ndaitwah claims they chose abstention to avoid Namibia feeling guilty if powerful countries abused the resolution.

Namibian officials should have the courage of their convictions and admit their vote was meant to support several of their allies who are prone to committing crimes against humanity. And the likes of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi or Zimbabwe's Gukurahundi massacre may well fall into those categories.

Powerful nations, especially Russia, the United States, and China have been invading weaker states or communities at will – with or without UN resolutions.

This is no reason for Namibia to oppose a resolution that places the responsibilities on countries to protect human kind against genocide and war crimes. 

In 2017, when president Hage Geingob and several cabinet ministers were attending a UN General Assembly session, Namibia showed its true colours by expressly voting against a motion that led to this latest resolution.

Australia and Ghana wanted the motion 'Responsibility to Protect and the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing, and Crimes Against Humanity' included on the 72nd UN General Assembly's agenda.

Namibia was much clearer then not to have the issue even discussed. Now Namibia has chosen to rather do nothing, which in essence amounts to letting the powerful do what they want against the powerless.

It is shameful for a country that has suffered two major crimes against humanity in a space of 100 years to now choose to look the other way when regimes are given the responsibility of protecting vulnerable people.

Shame on Namibia.

https://www.namibian.com.na/101864/read/Namibias-Vote-on-UN-Genocide-Resolution-Shameful

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