From: Bjoern Skolander PRESS RELEASE Stockholm 18-12-1996 THE PRESIDENT OF NAMIBIA INCITES TO HATRED AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS "Homosexuals must be condemned and rejected in our society". This fierce attack was made by Namibia's President, Sam Nujoma, at a public meeting. According to the newspaper The Windhoek Advertiser, 12 December, the Namibian President attacked gays in his speech at the opening of the Swapo Women's Council Congress in Gobabis on 7 December, 1996. Nujoma is reported to have said that "all necessary steps must be taken to combat all influences that are influencing us and our children in a negative way. Homosexuals must be condemned and rejected in our society". - We are deeply worried about this report, says RFSL's chairman Haakan Andersson. Homosexuality is still criminalized in Namibia, and the President's statement could be the starting signal of an active persecution by the Namibian authorities. RFSL has today written to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and asked for an investigation. - The rights of homosexuals are human rights, continues Haakan Andersson. Oppression and persecution of different groups should never be accepted. Will Sweden continue its aid program in Namibia if its homosexuals are persecuted? In 1996 Namibia received 112,5 million Swedish Kroner (112,500,000) in financial aid from Sweden. The Swedish Federation for Gay and Lesbian Rights (RFSL) Box 350 S-101 26 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN Tel: +46 8 736 02 13 Fax: +46 8 30 47 30