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SV South West African People's organisation leader Sam Nujoma and Kurt Seibt, President of East German Solidarity with Namibia Committee, and other SWAPO members enter new SWAPO office in East Berlin. (2 SHOTS)
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SV ZOOM OUT FROM SWAPO and East German flags outside building.
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SV INTERIOR: SWAPO members gathered around Mr. Nujoma as he makes speech.
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SV Mr. Nujoma making speech and members listening. (3 SHOTS)
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Namibia, a former German colony, has bene under South African rule for more than sixty years, the last twelve of them in defiance of the United Nations. South Africa has insisted that elections are held in December, although the five powers have argued that such a poll would be deemed null and void by the international community. SWAPO has called for an United Nations Security Council meeting to impose economic sanctions against South Africa to force its government to allow the United Nations to supervise any elections in Namibia.




Initials JS/1650



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO), accused by the South African government of opting for war in Namibia, recently opened a new office in the East German capital of East berlin. The leader of the SWAPO guerrilla group, Mr. Sam Nujoma, attended the inauguration and commented on moves to find a constitutional settlement in Namibia.

SYNOPSIS: With Mr. Nujoma was the President of the East German Solidarity with Namibia Committee, Herr Kurt Seibt. SWAPO has been recognised by the United Nations as the official representative of the Namibian people, and the guerrillas group has continued its fight for complete independence form South Africa.

Mr. Nujoma's speech centred upon the Namibia peace plan proposed by the United States, France, Britain, West Germany and Canada. He accused the five powers of trying to protect their economic interests in southern Africa. SWAPO has since totally rejected the proposals worked out between South Africa and the five powers. These called for two polls in Namibia, one in December organised by South Africa, and another next year, run by the United Nations. The South African government has said SWAPO's rejection amounts to opting for war in Namibia.