Pauline Dempers
Encyclopedia
Pauline Frannzisca Dempers (born 28 April 1962 in Aranos
, Hardap Region
) is a Namibia
n human rights activist and politician. In 1996, Dempers became national coordinator for Breaking the Wall of Silence
(BWS), a group which advocates for the rights of those detained by SWAPO during the Namibian War of Independence. Dempers was active with the Congress of Democrats
.
prior to fleeing into exile in 1983 to join SWAPO. She and hundreds of other Namibian exiles were arrested by SWAPO in 1986 while living near Lubango
, Angola
. She was tortured and held in the 'dungeons' of Lubango prior to being released and repatriated to Namibia following the moves towards independence which culminated in March 1990. Dempers became national coordinator for BWS in 1999, three years after its formation.
In 2007, Dempers was part of a controversy as a member of the Central Committee of the then-party of opposition Congress of Democrats
. She and other committee members were expelled by a faction of the party led by Ben Ulenga
. She joined up with the faction led by Ignatius Shixwameni
and formed an 'interim national committee'.
In March 2008, close friend and fellow detainee Kalla Gertze
died from an asthma attack. Dempers eulogized
Gertze and called for members of the National Assembly members
to open the debate on the Lubango detainees.
Aranos
Aranos is a settlement in Hardap Region, Namibia. Since August 2010 it has town status. The place normally receives an annual average rainfall of , although in the 2010/2011 rainy season were measured.-Politics:...
, Hardap Region
Hardap Region
Hardap is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. It is home to the Hardap Dam.Hardap stretches the entire width of Namibia, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Namibia's eastern national border. In the northeast, it borders the Kgalagadi District of Botswana, and in the southeast, it borders...
) is a Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n human rights activist and politician. In 1996, Dempers became national coordinator for Breaking the Wall of Silence
Breaking the Wall of Silence
Breaking the Wall of Silence is a non-governmental organization in Windhoek, Namibia. It is named after Siegfried Groth book Namibia – Breaking the Wall of Silence, and was formed at the occasion of the book's release in 1996....
(BWS), a group which advocates for the rights of those detained by SWAPO during the Namibian War of Independence. Dempers was active with the Congress of Democrats
Congress of Democrats
The Congress of Democrats is a political party in Namibia, led by Ben Ulenga. It is an opposition party represented in the National Assembly.The party is an observer of the Socialist International.- 2004 elections :...
.
Career
Dempers was a prominent anti-apartheid activist in southern NamibiaNamibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
prior to fleeing into exile in 1983 to join SWAPO. She and hundreds of other Namibian exiles were arrested by SWAPO in 1986 while living near Lubango
Lubango
Lubango is the capital city of the Angolan province of Huíla. Its last known population was 100,757. Until 1975, the city's official name was Sá da Bandeira.-Portuguese rule:...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. She was tortured and held in the 'dungeons' of Lubango prior to being released and repatriated to Namibia following the moves towards independence which culminated in March 1990. Dempers became national coordinator for BWS in 1999, three years after its formation.
In 2007, Dempers was part of a controversy as a member of the Central Committee of the then-party of opposition Congress of Democrats
Congress of Democrats
The Congress of Democrats is a political party in Namibia, led by Ben Ulenga. It is an opposition party represented in the National Assembly.The party is an observer of the Socialist International.- 2004 elections :...
. She and other committee members were expelled by a faction of the party led by Ben Ulenga
Ben Ulenga
Benjamin Ulenga is a Namibian politician. A member of the National Assembly of Namibia, he is the President of the Congress of Democrats , an opposition political party....
. She joined up with the faction led by Ignatius Shixwameni
Ignatius Shixwameni
Ignatius Nkotongo Shixwameni is a Namibian politician. He is the leader of the All People's Party.-Early life and education:...
and formed an 'interim national committee'.
In March 2008, close friend and fellow detainee Kalla Gertze
Kalla Gertze
Reinhard Gertze was a Namibian university lecturer and parliamentarian as a member of the Congress of Democrats party. He was in the National Assembly from 2005 until his death in 2008. He had previously been a lecturer at the University of Namibia.-Personal:Gertze was born in 1960 in...
died from an asthma attack. Dempers eulogized
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
Gertze and called for members of the National Assembly members
National Assembly of Namibia
The National Assembly of Namibia is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It has a total of 78 members. 72 members are directly elected through a system of party-list proportional representation and serve five-year terms. Six additional members are appointed by the President.The...
to open the debate on the Lubango detainees.
External links
- Interview with Pauline Dempers, BWS national coordinator Advocacy Net, 28 July 2009